PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19002, 25 July 1925, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON * Argentine Love ’ was shown for the first time at the Octagon Theatre last evening. The story tells how Juan. Martin, a wealthy and powerful owner of vineyards in the Argentine, m return for financial assistance to Emanuel Garcia, mayor of tho little old-world town of Alcorta, has been promised this executive’s daughter’s hand in marriage. The girl, Consuelo, has just returned from the States following the completion of her education. In addition to absorbing modern ideas of independence while at school, the girl has become engaged to Philip Sears, an American engineer, who also arrives in the Argentine on the same boat, where he is to do construction work. The girl’s aunt tries to break off the engagement. only to have Consuelo come out bluntly that she loves onlv Scars. Juan Martin comes to claim his bride. The family points out that her education ami even the clothes on her back have been paid for by him. Consuelo is furious, vows to take nothing more from Martin, and leaves her protesting elders to live with La Mosca, her nurse, in a deserted hacienda that was once her father’s old home. Martin sends a spy, Pedro, to watch the movements of the girl. On the night of a gx-oat fiesta in town Consuelo is induced to dance the tango with Juan Martin. Sho attracts the attention of Raphael, an ardent young Argentine. In defiance of Martin the girl encourages him. There is a quarrel between the two men, find Raphael is killed. The townspeople vent their antagonism on Consuelo, whom they regard as the cause of the tragedy. Following tho murder, Senator Cornejo, father of the victim, and several high officials come to Alcorta to enforce justice. Thev find tho townspeople and the Jefe (Gonsuelo’s uncle) reluctant to prosecute the powerful Martin. A jealous rival of Consuelo turns the Senator and ; the people against her. Tho crowd attacks her, tie her to a cart, and flog her. Philip arrives in time to save her from tho mob. There are further strange developments which ‘finally result m happiness for Philip and Consuelo. As usual, the musical programme contributed by the Octagon Concert Orchestra, under Mr A. Neate, is a. fcature. '

EMPIRE

Colleen Moore is the leading player in ‘So Big,’ which was initially screened at the Empire Theatre-last night. In I So Big ’ Miss Moore is declared to have done her best screen work. The story, based on life in the old Dutch settlement near Chicago in the latter part of the past century, gets her an ay from the frivolous flapper roles with which she has been associated. It presents her as the wife of a stolid Dutch farmer, toiling amidst the cabbages and radishes of a truck garden. A baby son is all that makes her life worth while, and, ns she toils, she visualises the time when he Will become “so-o-o big ” in this worjd of affairs. It is a surprising role for young Miss Moore, and it grows more surprising as, with the passage of years, she is seen slowly transforming: into a middle-aged woman. Nothing could he so remote from the gay and giddy flapper of yore. The story permits the mother to all but realise bei* life’s ambition. Her babv, now a man, stands at the portals or fame as an architect. But as he does so, a woman enters his life—a married woman of wealth who would drag him into disgrace and failure through an elopement. It is then Miss Moore, rushing to the rescue of her baby-man, facing his would-be despoiler. and finally dragging him back to the pathway of her ambitions, reaches the pinnacle, of emotional heights. First National has relieved the tenseness of the drama with a world of good comedy, based upon the rural antics of the Dutch farmers. A notable supporting cast, including Wallace Beery, Phyllis Haver. Ford Sterling, John Bowers, Ben Lyon, Dot Farley, and others, was given the picture to attain this. The Empire Orchestra-, under Mi* C. 1 Parnell, provides a good programme of incidental music.

EVERYBODY'S

In ‘Rcsita,’ Mary Pickford appeared as a grown-up young woman, with tho famous curls held in plane by a baretta comb, and her admirers immediately accepted her with the same enthusiasm as they did when she was a child on the screen. As the street singer of Seville, Mary portrayed a. characterisation totally different from anything she has ever done in the past. In ‘ Dorothy Vernon of Hnddou flail,’ the United Artists release now at Everybody’s Theatre, Miss Pickford again appears,as a grown woman, but instead of the rags of the street - , she wears gorgeous clothes against a background of beautiful settings, and is a fashionable lady of Elizabethan England. It is a real test of The versatility of this star, and she rises to greater histrionic heights than at any time during the past. The part of Dorothy Vernon calls for the utmost in dramatic acting, with expressions varying from the comedy for which Miss Pickford is famous, to extremely dramatic moments, one of which shows what happens when she realises that in her haste she has caused an order to he given for the death of her lover. As Dorothy Vernon, Mary Pickford appears more beautiful than ever, and the vivacious and wilful little Indy of Haddon Hall will win’ the hearts of those who see the picture, just as in it she wins tho heart of Sir John Manners. The part of Sir'John Manners is played by Alan Forrest, who recently worked in Jackie Coogan’s Mn the Palace of the King.’ Anders Randolf. who appeared in ‘The Bright Shawl/ takes the part of Sir George Vernon, and Marc M’Dermott, well known on stage and screen, makes an admirable Sir Malcolm Vernon, cousin of Dorothy, to whom she lias been betrothed against her will.

QUEEN'S

1 Between Friends,’ which features Anna Q. Nilsson and Norma Kerry, is the chief attraction at the .Queen’s Theatre. The supporting picture is ‘ The Sign of the Cactus.’ Jack Hoxie is tlio star. There are two unusually big spectacular scenes promised in the picture: one when Hoxie, in his character as the nemesis of a grasping irrigation company, blows up the dam which impounds the water needed by ranchers facing ruin, and the other when Hoxie saves from death in a rushing river, the daughter of the head of the irrigation company. Helen Holmes, famous serial star, is Hoxie’s leading woman, and others in a strong cast are Josef Swickard, Francis Ford, J. Gordan Russell, Jack Pratt, Frank Newberg,’ Muriel Frances Dana, and Bobby Gordon.

This picture is also being screened al the King Edward Theatre.

PLAZA AND GRAND

Buck Jones has the leading role in ‘The Arizona Romeo,’ now at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. The story, taken from an original screen story by Charles Kenyon, is unique in screen plots. Although Buck Jones is cast for a part in which every opportunity is given him for daring riding, gallant fistic encounters, and with the locale in the West, there are several unusual ■ situations in which clones meets his audiences in in a new role! The companion picture is ‘Wolf Blood.’