EMPRESS THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 7

EMPRESS THEATRE.

The film association of the blonde Vilma Banky and the swarthy Ronald Caiman reaches the apex of team work in "The Magic Flame," now at the Empress Theatre. Miss Banky rises to great dramatic heights in the role of Bianca, circus performer, beloved of Tito tho clown; Biauca is pursued by Count Casati, whose resemblance to Tito is remark- 1 able, but unnoticed on account of the difference in their social status. A false message brings Bianca *» the apartments of the libertine, whither Tito follows, but the girl escapes by a clever ruse, her trapeze art standing her in good stead. Tito has a struggle with the count, during which there is a sensational fall from the window to the rocks below. Tito, to save himself, poses as the count, and, is claimed as heir to the Illyrlan throne. Bianca, believing Tito dead, vowa vengeance on the king, and in a tense scene in the castle is about to kill him, when Tito reveals himself. The pair then have to escape from a scheming chancellor, and Tito exercises a royal privilege by ordering his carriage right under the nose of the plotter, and a happy ending sees Tito and Bianca back at the circus, performing aerial feats at a dizzy height. Ronald Colman takes the two male parts. The picture grips right from the first, and the circus scenes are interesting. Mabel Normand and Theodore Yon Eltz are starred in an hilarious comedy, "Tho Nickel Hopper," the tale ot a dance-hall girl and a wealthy man, and another film of moment shows the Montmartre cabarets. Another offering shows the Prince of Wales in many moods. Orchestral accompaniments add to the enjoyment.