PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19352, 11 September 1926, Page 10

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Another fine programme was given initial screening at tho Empire Theatre last evening. The principal attraction was ‘The New Commandment,’ a First National picture, taken from the popular novel, ‘ invisible Wounds.’ Ben Lyons and Blanche Sweet enact the chief roles. ‘The New Commandment ’ is a picture out of the ordinary. The love theme is distinctly new, and tho production is artistic from every point of view. Adventure, drama, pathos, comedy, and romance are all cleverly welded together. The scheming society woman, Mrs Ormsby Parr, contemplates marrying her step-daugh-ter to Bill Morrow, son of the wealthiest man in America. Bill is more or less a woman hater. Mis Parr arranges a yachting party for a European trip, at which Billy’s father and hm step-daughter are to bo included. At the hour of sailing Mrs Parr and her step-daughter anxiously await tho .arrival of Billy. At the last minute he dashes up in a taxi. Red, the taxidriver, remarks that ho has alwayi wanted to go on a yachting trip. Foi the sake of a little excitement, Billj offers to take him along. Billy soon becomes “ fed np ” with the stepdaughter, and eventually, while the yacht is lying at anchor in tho harbor, ho and Rod climb overboard, secure a rowing boat, and got ashore. In, Paris thev find Gaston Picard, an artist. Ho is betrothed to the Countess Stoll, but, nevertheless, he is in love with bis model, Renee Darcourt. The Countess and Picard take Benee to a fashionable cabaret in tho Latin quarter. Billy and Red also attend tho cabaret. They see Picard try to force his attentions upon Renee, and immediately start a fight. Tho entire cabaret is upset, and they are obliged to eo with Renee to tho country. Bed and Renee fall in love at first sight. War is declared, and Billy and Red enlist with the Foreign Legion. Months pass and Billy is wounded and taken to the chateau of the Marquis dc la Salle, which has been converted into a hospital. Renee and the Marquis are in charge and personally caring for tho wounded soldiers. Renee and Billy again come together, and tho picture ends happily. The rest of tho programme is made np of a comedy and an interesting gazette. Tho Empire Select Orchestra, under Mr Chas. Parnell, plays suitable music.

PLAZA AND GRAFT

This week Master Pictures presents ‘Reveille’ at the Plaza, and Grand Theatres. There is a strong cast, which includes Betty Balfour, Frank Stanmore, Guy Phillips, and Stewart Rome. Tho story cannot bo explained in conventional terms of film entertainment, because it follows the ordinary formula of neither film drama nor film comedy; it has no plot at all—it is a vivid impression of life in London or any other town in Britain in the years 1918 to 102.9. A year of war and a year of peace . . . what strange happenings, what joys and sorrows, what excitement, turmoil, artificialities, pretence, and disillusion. Strange contrasts . . . hectic gaiety in Lon-

don—death in Flanders; the riotous laughter and song of the celebration of seven days’ leave, /and an elderly mother’s only lullaby, “Rock me to sleep, mother”; armistice night, and a War Office telegram; “a land fit lor heroes,” and processions of unemployed, 1918 and 192.9. Tho supports are headed by Eleanor Boardmnn, in ‘ Tho Circle.’ QUEEN'S AND SING EDWARD The king of the great outdoors. Hoot Gibson, is the featured actor in tho screen version of B. M. Bower’s novel, entitled ‘Chip of tho Flying ll.’ Included in tho picture arc spectacnlai feats of horsemanship, the like of vvhich have seldom been seen on tho screen. In this story Hoot plays the unusual rule of a cowboy cartoonist, mimed “ Chip ” Bennett. Ho is a womanhater, and when the task of bringing bis employer’s sister, J)r Delia Whitmore, from the train is assigned_ to him, he shows his disgust by making an imaginary sketch of her. Della, however, does not live up to his conception of her, and the cowboy lulls in love with her, though he will not admit it. Duncan Whittaker, _ a neighboring rancher, pays attention to her, and Chip becomes desperately jealous, and when he learns that she is engaged to Dr Cecil Grantham his jealousy knows no bounds. Cecil Grantham, however, turns out to be a woman friend who is visiting Della. Alter this swift action a-nd thrills become plentiful, and the story is brought to a successful conclusion. EVERYBODY’S Pol a Negri is the featured player in ‘ A Woman of tho World ’ at Everybody’s Theatre. The story deals wilri the Countess Elnora.who, disappointed in love, retires to the quiet, life of a country town in the United State-, whore she has relatives. Her arrival causes a sensation, and Sam Pore, her relative, comes in for censure. Slanderous gossip finally reaches the oars ot tho district attorney, the town s paragon of virtue, lie orders her to leave the town. She refuses, and at a pubiK* gathering he makes an impassioned speech, branding her as an immoral woman. Later the countess horsewhips him. and strangely he accepts it in a chastened spirit. Ho realises that lie loves her, and tbo_ countess experiences the same feeling for him. The chief support is entitled ‘The Partner.’ a domestic drama of New York. The story tells of George Coburn, a young and ambitious broker, who strikes out on his own against the council of his wife, wlto would preifphim to keep to his did work. Tie is successful fin- a time, and when Die slump comes he finds that it would have been better to have accepted bis wife’s advice, ROSLYH THEATRE ‘The Re-croation of Brian Kent.' is the feature at the Roslyn Theatre tonight. The story was written -i. , famous author Harold Bell Wright, and was supervised by him in transferring it to the screen.