PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19318, 3 August 1926, Page 1

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON Big audiences are attending the Octagon Theatre nightly, when the humorous war picture ‘ Behind the Front ’ is shown. Tho story has to do with Riff Swanson and Shorty Ray, who go to the war together. Soon after their arrival in France they are locked in tho guard-house for misconduct, hut that night they escape. The military police pursue them, and they are taken to the trenches. The officer in charge calls for two volunteers to go over to the German trench to try to learn a secret. Swanson and Ray unwillingly step forward. They get into the German trench, and are soon made prisoners. However, a bursting shell wrecks the dugout, and in tho ■general confusion the two escape disguised as German officers. In No Alan’s Land they encounter a tank belonging to the enemy, throw out the driver, and start careering wildly about. A number of Germans try to stop them, but are captured. The heroes start back, for their own lines, expecting praise for their capture. But they are arrested for continuing hostilities after the signing of the armistice. The Government eventually releases them, and they start back home to sec the girl they both love. At the girl’s homo they find her gotting_ married to a shirker. There is a big cast in ‘ Behind tho Front,’ including Wallace Beery, Raymond Hatton, Alary Brian, Chester Conklin, Richard Arlcn, and Louise Lorraine. EMPIRE Some very good effects have been achieved lately by means of a. now process of color photography, a lino example of which, is scon in ‘We Modems,’ which is on the screen at | the Empire- Theatre this week. The climax of the story, which takes place {in England, comes when an aeroplane containing a wild party of youths and girls comes into violent collision with a. raiding Zeppelin, which bursts into flame and crashes to the ground. The whole episode is done in natural color, thus making the incident unusually realistic and spectacular. The story of ‘ Wo Alodcrns,’ which deals with English youth during and after tho war, provides Colleen Moore with an exceptionally fine role, of which she Likes full advantage, and to which she doo-s more than justice. Alany of tho biggest scenes were taken actually in London against backgrounds which, ii.ro bywords tho world over, as, for instance, Piccadilly Circus, the Strand, Trafalgar square, and many other equally famous spots. EVERYBODY'S ‘ Stage Struck,’ with Gloria Swanson in the main, role, is the attract ion at Everybody’s Theatre, The tale tells of a waitress in a small town who goes on to the stage in order to make a hoy take some notice of her. Instead of bo.ng attracted, the boy is repulsed, and tho girl attempts to drown her,self in a river. She is rescued by the boy, however, and they open a restaurant between them. In addition there is tho story of a girl who war: a millionairess fpr an, hour, entitled ‘ Her Fata! Millions.’ in which Viola Dana has tho leading role. QUEEN’S ‘ Drums of Jeopardy,’ with Elaine Jlanuuorstein in the feature role, is the current headliner at the Queen’s Theatre. The theme centres about a disguised Russian prince who is being pursued by a. band of crooks, intent on stealing some famous jewels that are in Ins possession. He is befriended by an American girl, and Hawksloy, the prince, induces her father, a hanker, to take the custody of the gems. Sonic days later ho in murdered, awl the evidence points to Hawksley. However, after numerous adventures tho right criminals are captured, and tho story is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. PLAZA m GRAND ‘The Circus Cyclone,’ which is the attraction at the Plaza and (fraud Theatres, has Art A cord in the leading role. Tho story tells of a young man who rescues a horse from the brutal ringmaster _of a travelling 'circus. The man falls in love with tho lady rider of the show, and when the ringmaster accuses the girl’s father of thedt he makes a thrilling dash to save tho talker from being lynched by the infuriated mob. Also showing"is ‘Married Flirts,’ a drama of other men's wives, with Paulino Frederick in the loading role. KING EDWARD ‘Wo Alodcrns’ is showing at the King Edward Theatre. Colleen Moore brings an entertaining role to the screen in Alary Sundale, the English flapper heroine of I We Moderns.’ She is supported by Jack Alulhall. MSLYfI THEATRE ‘ Daddies ’ will be screened at tho Roslyn Theatre to-night. It is a highly amusing story, in which tho various characters are well portrayed and acted.