PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19310, 24 July 1926, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

QGTA&OH Marion Davies, in her now picture for Metro-Goldwyn, ‘ Yolanda,’ makes her latest appearance at the Octagon Theatre. ‘ Yolanda ’is one of the most artistic productions in which Miss Davies has appeared. The entire film is full of the glamor of the 15th century in Franco. The story has to do with the Princess Mary of Burgundy, daughter of Charles the Bold. Mary has inherited a love of adventure that Royalty would stifle. She defies her father, who learns that she has been corresponding secretly with the penniless Maximilian, Prince of Styria. In a fury the Duke orders her to enter n convent, but Mary manages to subdue his rage with the promise, which she has no intention or keeping, that she will have nothing more to do with Maximilian. He takes from her a ring which Max had given her ■in exchange for one she had sent- Max, dreaming of the Princess in far-off Styria, comes to a momentous decision, and soon afterwards is on the road to Burgundy, accompanied by his friend, Sir Karl de Pitti. As Basle, Max meets a young girl who captures his interest. Ho Ifearns that her name is Yolanda, and that she is a member of a merchant caravan under the leadership of Master George Castleman, a prosperous silk merchant and a counsellor of the Duke of Burgundy. When Max further learns that the caravan is returning to Burgundy, and that Castleman is seeking to engage guards for the_ journey, he and Sir Karl offer their sendees, which are accepted. On their travels Yolanda quickly penetrates Maxs identity, but he is in ignorance of the fact that she is really the Princess Mary. They are nearing Burgundy, when the news comes that the Duke, who has been absent for some months, is hurriedly returning to his castle. Mary, fearing the convent, rides ahead, escorted by Max and Sir Karl. They reach Peronne just in time. Yolanda continues to meet Max outside the castle until they are surprised by Count Campo-Basso, of the Duke’s Italian guard. The’Count insults Yolanda, and Max strikes him. The same evening Max is seized and thrown secretly into a dungeon of the castle. Some days later Mary is horrified to hear the Duke order the execution of Max. She appeals to his sense of justice, and the Duke orders a tVial by combat. Max thus proves his innocence, but only after Mary has saved him from the Italian’s treachery. It is here for the first time that Max has suspicions as to Yolanda’s real identity Aiter many stirring incidents the Duke dies, and Mary accepts the throne, but soon shares it with Max, Incidental music is rendered by the Octagon Orchestra, under Mr £>. D. Austin. The overture is ‘ Orpheua in the Underworld ’ (Offenbach). EWIBE This week, patrons are being well catered for at the Empire Theatre, where Reginald Denny is showing in ‘ What Happened to Jones P’ Ths picture was taken from George Broadhurst’s stage play of the same name. ‘What Happened to Jones?’ is Denny’s latest and best effort. Containing many humorous situations, it is a comedy well above the average, and gives the star many opportunities to display his unusual talent. Tom Jones, a wealthy Bible manufacturer, on the eve of his marriage, promises his fiancee to travel the path cf strictest rectitude. Unfortunately, he is inveigled into a poker game, which is raided by the police. In his efforts to escape from the law ho exits via the fire escape, only to find himself in a woman’s Turkish bath. The steam room becomes too hot for him, and he sheds his clothes. Discovery being imminent, he purloins a woman’s dress, in which disguise ho manages to make liis way into the street. Eventually he reaches the homo of his friend, but the friend’s clothes do not fit him, being made for a man weighing a'bout 3001 b. Just then announcement is made that his friend’s brother, a bishop, is on his way to the house, and ho had sent his clothes on in advance to be pressed. Tom seizes on the clerical garments, and finds them a perfect fit. Just as he is about to leave his friend’s wife enters, and mistakes him for the real bishop, she never having met the latter. From then on the fun is fast and furious. The hapless hero becomes involved in more aud more trouble. Eventually, of course, ho just manages to clear himself. Otis Harlan heads the supporting cast. He is seen as the blundering old friend who gets the hero into all sorts of difficulties. Marion Nixon plays tho part of Jones’s fiancee. Other important parts are played by Zasu Pitts, Melbourne M'Dowell, Frances Raymond, Emily Fitzroy, Margaret Quimby, Ben Hendricks, William Austin, and Edward Cecil.

The supporting items include two good comedies and a gazette. A fine musical programme is supplied hv the Empire Select Orchestra, under the direction of Mr Chas, Parnell. The overture is a descriptive piece, ‘The Smithy.’ QUEER'S AfID KIKG EDWARD ‘ Zander the GreuQ' the lamous Broadway stage success, which has been adapted to the screen, and which stars Marion Davies, is at the Queen’s and •King Edward Theatres. Seldom has Miss Davies been so admirably cast as in the role of the whimsical yet humorous Irish heroine of ‘ Zander the Great.’ Several comedy characters have been introduced into the screen version, and they are responsible formally now and entertaining situations that have been added to the original plot. The story has to do with Mamie, an orphan, who is seeking the father of _ a motherless boy in the wilds of Arizona. There she meets all kinds of trouble, eventually learning that I the boy’s father had been killed months before. She then settles in the west j with a cowboy who has fallen in love | with her, and keeps the boy for good. The leading male role in ‘ Zander the Great ’ is taken by Harrison Ford, who lias an interesting part, it is one of those _ rare occurrences in which the hero is a “ bad man.” He is a manufacturer of illegal liquor, and is a source of mystification to Mamie, who does not rest till she has learned his secret. Hobart Bosworth, Holbrook Blmn, and Harry Myers are seen in the supporting cast. EVERYBODY'S An unusual story is told in ‘The Best People,’ the star attraction at Everybody’s Theatre. The picture portrays a rich New York family, horrified to learn that the son wants to marry a chorus girl, and that the daughter wants to marry the family chauffeur. The father arranges a meeting with the chorus girl ia a notorious night club, and discovers to his surprise that she is a sensible, hard-working girl, and has about the only influence in his son’s life. He then meets, the chauffeur-, and finds that he is an honest fellow, and comes of a good family. After many complications the mother and' father find themselves in the position where they have almost to beg the chauffeur and the chorus girl to marry their children. The featured players are Esther Ralston, Warner Baxter, and ICnthlyn Williams. Splendid supporting item's are shown. PLAZA AM GEARS Mary Astor and Lloyd Hughes are co-starred in ‘The Scarlet Saint,’ which is showing at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. There is a lovo story of a beautiful American girl who has bean betrothed to a foreign nobleman by her father, according to the foreign custom. When the noble■jmjsmiM i.#. M

bride he finds she is in love , with a stalwart young American, owner of a racing stable at Now Orleans. Mary Astor is the American girl, and Lloyd Hughes is the young racehorse owner. Frank Morgan plays tho part of the foreign" nobleman, and Jed Prouty is. seen as the father of the young Indy. Tho locale of the picture is laid in New Orleans. Some of the most colorful and spectacular scenes depict this squthern city’s famous Mardr Gras carnival. The chief support is * The Dark Swan,’ which tells of a plain-looking girl who refused to let her lack of charm act as a detriment. Marie Provost and Monte Blue are the featured players.