PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19351, 10 September 1926, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON ‘GLORIOUS NEW ZEALAND.’ “The finest scenery in the world,” ns Rudyard Kipling said of Now Zealand many years ago, is exemplified in no uncertain manner by tho screen classic which the Government is presenting under the title of, ‘ Glorious New Zealand.' It is calculated to make every New Zealand heart beat a littlo faster with patriotic pride. Strange how some people fail to realise that the dominion is the cameraman’s paradise. With a view to inculcating in the rising generation and New Zealanders generally a love of their own country, tho Publicity Office has sent the film on tour with a competent lecturer in Mr Tano Fama.

Tho toning and color tints are done i in the very latest process, and tho result is a gorgeous feast for the eye. Tho presentation of the film is such that a gripping interest is maintained throughout. The film prologue introduces scones showing the variety of our tourist interests. A passenger lands at Auckland, and is shown the extent of New Zealand mandatory powers. Samoa is introduced, Antarctic Ross Land is -shown in contrast. The glories of the Winterless Nort’h starts tho tourist from overseas on a zig-zag tour of the dominion. All the main features of our scenic resorts are shown; but, best of all, the patron who gases at the silver sheet is shown little-known glories of our.bush, mountain, fiord, and natural history such as tho tourist seldom has time to visit. Out-of-the-way places whose undreamod-of beauties amaze one are vividly depicted on tone-colored film with such startling realism as to make one gasp with delight. The marvels of our forest flora vie, with the beauties of mountain, lake, and stream, or challenge tho interest of deep-sea fishing or our volcanic areas. Milford Sound, Stewart Island, Lake Wakatipn, Lake Paradise, the Wanganui River, Bowen Falls, Mount Egmont. Franz Josef Glacier, Tongariro Park,, tho Winterless North are all shown in this the finest cinematograph representation of New Zealand’s wonderful scenery. Tho production of tho feature is such as to compel interest and wonderment throughout. The subjects are so numerous and varied that all industries had to be held over for another occasion; thus wo have in ‘Glorious New Zealand ’ a film entirely devoted to scenery, sport, native studies, and Maori life. The result is most delightful. Summed up, Now Zealanders will have an opportunity of seeing the dominion per medium of tho cinema in a way which only the most opulent of our citizens could afford were they to visit the places in person. ‘ Glorious New Zealand ’ is to open a season at the Octagon Theatre to-night. A delightful prologue, which will include Maori love songs, hakas, choruses, and poi dances, will bo staged by Kuini Parata and her troupe of entertainers. Those taking part in the prologue will be Ira Tniaroa. Mapapere Pareti, Mare Teri Rurcti, Kuini Parata, Rangi Erehana Main' Parata, Ruke. Rangi, and Timi Karcno. EMPIRE 1 Ben Lyons and Blanche Sweet enact loading roles in ‘ The New Commandment,’ the new headliner at the Empire Theatre. This picture was taken from tho novel ‘ Invisible Wounds,’ and none of the stirring and dramatic situations of the book are lost in the picture. - The love theme is refreshingly new, and tho production offers an artistically arranged medley of excitement, drama, romance, and pathos, and presents them in a fashion quite new to picture patrons. Mrs Ormsby Parr, a petty, scheming society Tvoman, who has buried three husbands, contemplates marrying her stepdaughter to Billy Morrow, sop of the wealthiest man in America. Billy is disinterested in tho idea—and, as a matter of fact, in life in general. Mrs Parr arranges a yachting party for a European trip, at which Billy’s father and her stepdaughter arc to be included. At tho hour of sailing Mrs Parr and her stepdaughter nervously await the belated arrival of Billy, who at tho Inst moment dashes up in a taxi. Red, the taxi driver, remarks that the dream of his life has been to make a trip in a yacht. Billy, for tho sake of a littio excitement, offers to take him along. In Parts they find Gaston Picard, a painter. Picard, though betrothed to Countess Stoll, is nevertheless in love with Rone Darcourt, his model. They take Rene to a fashionable cabaret in the Montemarto. In tho meantime Billy and Red jump off tho yacht as it nears European shores when Billy learns of his father’s scheme to have him marry Mrs Parr’s stepdaughter. Upon arriving in Paris Billy and Red buy clothes and go to a Parisian cabaret. There they see Reno Darcourt, Picard, and Countess Stoll. A fight starts, and Billy and Red upset tho entire cabaret Parisian police chase them, and Red jumps into Billy’s car. They fall in love at first sight. Next day war is declared, and Billy and Red join the Foreign Legion. Months pass and they seem to be completely separated, when Billy is wemndded and taken to the chateau of tho Marquis do la SaJJo, which has been turned into a hospital. Rene and tho Marquise are in charge, and are personally caring for the wounded soldiers. So Reno and Billy come together again at last. Tho Empire Select Orchestra renders as an overture ‘ Pique Dame ’ (Suppe). PLAZA AND GRAND A picture of heroism and of heroic pathos is shown under the title of ‘ Reveille ’ at tho Plaza and Grand Theatres. It is a story of tho war and the whirlpool of hectic, artificial gaiety that had its centre in London towards the end of 1918. Betty Balfour is the featured player, and is supported by Frank Stanmore, Guy Phillips, Stewart Rome, Charles Ashton, and Donald Searlo. The picture shows vividly “Whelks,” tho cockney ex-soldier, penniless and helpless; “Nutty,” who enters tho war under the belief that he is fighting on the side of righteousness, in a war to end war; “Mick,” tho heroic little flapper who bravely calls “ Nutty ” a coward when he becomes a revolutionist. Besides the story there is a good deal of comedy and tragedy. Also showing is ‘ The Circle,’ a startling story of erring wives. Eleanor Boardman is in the leading role, and is supported by George Fawcett, Alec. B. Francis, Malcolm M'Gregor, and i Creighton Hale. The picture opens with a prologue, in which tho wife of an English lord elopes with their mutual friend; Thirty years later tho son of tho deserted lord finds himself in the same position that his father was in. QUEER'S AND KING EDWARD The new head-liner at the Queen’s and King Edward Theatres is entitled ‘Chip of the Flying U,’ and is a thrilling comedy of the Western ranches. Hoot Gibson has the role of Chip Bennett, of the Flying U ranch. He is an amateur cartoonist and a woman-hater. When he is assigned the task of bringing his employer’s sister, Dr Della Whitmore, from the train, he shows his disgust by making an imaginary caricature of her. Della does not live up to his conception of her, and Chip falls in love with her, although he will not | admit it. When Duncan Whittaker, a neighboring rancher, pays attention to her he becomes desperately jealous, and when he learns that she is engaged to Dr Cecil Grantham his jealousy increases. Cecil Grantham, howefer, turns out to he a woman who is visiting Della. After this swift action and thrills become plentiful, /the story is brought to a successful conclusion. EVERYBODY'S Pola Negri, in ‘A Woman of tho World,’ is tho new attraction at Everybody’s Theatre, The story tells of tlia > Countess Elnara, who retires tram tho

gay Continental life to live with relatives in the United States. Her arrival in the littlo village whore her people live cj-iscs a sensation, and the slanderous gossip finally reaches the ears of the district attorney, the town’s paragon of virtue. He orders her to leave the town. Sho refuses, and at a public gathering he brands her as an immoral woman in the course of an impassioned oration. Later the infuriated countess horsewhips him. Ho accepts bis punishment in a chastened spirit, finally realising that bo has fallen in love with her; while she experiences the same feelings for him, thus bringing the incident to a successful conclusion. In addition is ‘The Silent Partner,’ which tells of an ambitious_ young broker who strikes out on his own against the counsel of his _ wife, who would prefer him to keep his job. At first, he is successful, but finally the slump comes, and then ho secs that his wife was right.