PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

QGTAm A picture that presents the _ inside story of Royal lives is ‘Confessions of a Queen,’ tho chief film at the Octagon Theatre. Tho featured players, Alice Terry and Lewis Stone, need no introduction - whatever : to Australian and Now Zealand audiences. . Each player has enacted many distinguished roles here in recent months, and never before have they been so sought after as they.are to-day. But a stop below the principals are John Bowers and Helena D’Algy, who have, long been playing leading parts, with, conspicuous success. Their work in this picture is in every way worthy of them, having both depth and brilliancy of finish. There is dazzling action throughout the production, action that bring the spectator to ms feet,.be it tho king’s vain endeavors to get over tho political difficulties arising out of his marriage, or the wide sweep of drama when a monarchy goes down into oblivion before the 'rage of its subjects, tho action takes place in a little mid-European kingdom. King Christian.il. of Illyria married Fredncka, Princess of Dalmatia, and a coolness is soon created between the Royal couple owiim to machinations of a secret band or revolntionarics. An is born, and soon afterwards. no rev'olntion breaks out. The King, Queen, and Crown Prince trick their captors, and escape to Paris, where a real love grows up between tho couple. Iho revolution is soon suppressed, and the crown is again offered to Christian, The climax is most unusual. The Octagon Concert Orchestra ploys a special musical programme, which includes the overture Iho Light Brigade ’ (Gniemvakl), .the Surprise Symphony’ (Haydn), first and .second movements incidental music to- Monsieur Beaucairo ’ (Rosso), ‘ Intermezzo ■ (Ancliffe), ‘ Ballet Valse ’ (P nhe ‘ Canzonetta No. 3,, Op. 35/ (Godard), ‘Tempo Di Gavotte’ (Sopio). EMPIREFashion parados, tableaux, comedy„ and action are all contained m ifio American Venus ’ which was screened last evening at the Empire iheatro before a big audience. Ihe plot deals with the efforts of a small town girl to win the national beauty contest, inaugurated by artists for tho"purpose of discovering tho modern American Venus. There is a business motive in her desire to win, for her father is a cold cream manufacturer, on the verge of bankruptcy, and her winning would naturally bring a nation-wide demand for his beauty products. Opposed to her is tho financial power and sinister scheming of a rival lotion manufacturer, but to offset that she has the help of an enterprising publicity man who is romantically interested in her. Tho picture has been produced on a magnificent scale. A gorgeous - fashion show, a series of artistic tableaux, scenes in technicolor, an exciting motor cycle race, and some daredevil airplane stunts are some of the outstanding high lights of the production.. Tho leading roles in ‘The American Venus’ are portrayed by Esther Ralston, Lawrence Gray (who was Gloria Swanson’s leading man in ‘Stage Struck’), Ford Sterling (noted film comedian), and W. T. Benda (tlio internationally famous artist). The singing of the latest waltz song, ‘ Always,’ by Mrs Wilfred Andrews was well received. Various items were played by the Empire Select Orchestra. PLAZA AND GRAND The screen version of W. _,T. Locke’s famous book, ‘Stella Maris,’ is tho premier attraction at tho Plaza and Grand Theatres this week. The outstanding feature of this picture is undoubtedly very fine double characterisation of Marv Philbin, who plays tho name part in ‘Stella Maris,’ and also the part: of a charity girl. One .is .a beautiful piece of acting, and the other a very lino study of a _ typo not easily impersonated. It is really wonderful work on the part of this highly-popular star. Stellar Maris, invalid daughter of English aristocratic people, has been unable to walk from birth, and has spent her days in a silken fairyland where two male adult friends have put in hours and hours in an attempt to make the girl happy. Cue of the friends, John Risen, has a fiend of a wife, who is sent to prison for three years for torturing a charily girl named Unity Blake. To assist tho girl, John adopts the little slave girl. John and the other friend succeed in securing tho services of a famous surgeon, who is able to make tho invalid girl walk. John and Stella soon discover that they are actually in love with each other. From then on tho story works up to a startling climax. On the same programme is the comedydrama, ‘ The Paco That Thrills.’ QUEEN'S AND KING EDWARD * That Devil Queraando,’ as,tho attraction at (he Queen’s and King Edward Theatres is named, tells of a daring and mysterious young man of wealth who sweeps down on a little border town io right wrongs and swing off with beautiful girls on the saddle in front of him. Fred Thomson is in tho title role, and his almost human horse, Silver King, plays a prominent part. Supporting the star are Albert Priscoc, Nola Lnxford, Byron Douglas, Joseph 8011, Gloria Hope, Alan Roscoo, and lloscoo Can Hero. EVERYBODY'S ‘ln Search of a Thrill,’ at Everybody’s Theatre, is the story of a social butterfly who is unable to make an impression on the man of her choice. To do this she masquerades as an Apache and attempts to rob his house, but he sees through the disguise, and sets out to show her tho evil and poverty in (lie Apache quarters of Paris. This gripping picture has Viola Dana and Warner Baxter in the leading roles. On the same programme is Betty Bronson in ‘ Tho Golden Princess,’ a romance of the Golden West, and of a bravo girl who enforced law and order in. tho old mining days.