PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19411, 20 November 1926, Page 10

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON It would be difficult indeed to single out the most dramatic incident in 1 Old Loves and New,’- First National’s release, now at the Octagon Theatre. 1 Old Loves and New ’ was adapted from-.the novel, ‘ The Desert Healer,’ by *E. M. Hull, whose previous effort, ‘ The Sheik,’ created a sensation when it was Screened here. Barbara Bedford is the heroine of this desert romance, and Lewis Stone appears opposite her. Lord and Lady Carew are separated when official orders compel the immediate departure of the husband. Carew obtains leave from active service, and’ returns to his wife, only to learn of the death of his son, and the fact that his wile is keeping company with Lord Geradinc. Disgusted, he leaves for the desert to live among the Arabs. Here he rescues Marny O’Mera, a young girl, who has been captured by the Arabs. Later ho learns that the girl is the wife of Lord Geradine. He takes her to her home, and is about to leave the house, when lie hears the girl scream. Rushing back, lie finds Geradine thrashing his wife. He quickly turns the tables by whipping tho husband. Drink hastens the death of Lord Geradine, and the unfaithful wife of Carew, seeing the growing admiration of Marny _ for Lord Carew, tries to reclaim him. Lord Carew tests her by pretending to be penniless, and learns that his wife no longer loves him. Later Marny and Carew find the love that had for so long been denied them.

Tho Octagon Orchestra supplies the usual splendid programme of music. ‘ COLLEGE DAYS.’ Harold Lloyd has followed up his previous successes with a new' comedy feature, ‘ College Days,’ which will come to the Octagon Theatre on Friday next. Lloyd has taken a very serious idea, and', without.belittling the subject, has got a tremendous lot of fun out of it; and, without preaching,'has taught a lesson. ‘ College Days ’ introduces the psychology of being yourself in a story of a first-year student at college whoso sole ambition is to be tho pride of his college and the idol of his fellow-stu-dents. But instead of achieving this worthy pinnacle by himself, he imitates others who have been popular. Instead of expressing his own personality, he is a reflection of everyone’s pranks and tricks, because of a willingness to do everything asked of him—all in the hope of becoming a good iellow. Harold Lamb, as the character is named, is a pathetic figure, so that, even while you laugh at him, you are filled with sympathy for him, and when lie finally triumphs you want to join tho whole college in cheering him. Tho leading roles are played by Hazel Keener as the college belle, Brooks Benedict as tho biggest bully, and James Anderson as its most popular student. Jobyna Ralston is the heroine. Others in tho cast are Pat Harmon as the football coach, and Joe Harrington as a fidgety tailor. QUEEN'S AND KING EDWARD An epic of the Far North is told m ‘Barce, Son of Kazan,’ at the Queen’s and King Edward Theatres. The picture, which is the screen version of James Oliver Curwood’s famous novel, centres about an animal, half wolf and half dog, which was befriended in the wilds by Ncpeese, a young Indian girl, who has attracted tho attention of M'Taggart, the unscrupulous fur-buyer. One day, when the girl’s father, Pierrott, is away, MTaggart goes to the Indian’s cabin, and is embracing tho girl when he returns. A fight ensues, in which the Indian is killed, and Nepeese rather than fall into the hands of M'Taggart, throws herself into the river. She is rescued by old Tuboa, and at his cabin she meets Jim Carvel, whom she had onoo nursed when his log had been broken. Baree then discovers M'Taggart, and tho old animal instinct bids him to repay.the.kicks he has received from the factor. He springs upon him and buries bis fangs in the latter’s throat. The old enemy was thus silenced for ever, and Jim, Nepeese, and Bare© set out on the trail for tho priest’s house. EVERYBODY'S ‘Miss Brewster’s Millions,’ showing at Everybody’s Theatre, tells of Polly Brewster, a’penniless actress -who receives a legacy of a million pounds, on tho condition that she invests it. Ned Brewster, her Uncle, then tells _ her that if she spends this million within three months he will bequeath her his entire fortune, which amounts to considerably more than a million. Investigations and wild cat schemes oiler her opportunities for getting rid of the money, hut in the end, §ome of them prove profitable, and she spends the last few dollars in. knocking down a man in her car. _ Tom Hancock then tells her that it is the end, and she welcomes the news. Her uncle Ned tells her, however, that ho has lost everything on the Stock Exchange. In despair she goes back to the stage, but Tom comes to tho rescue aiid marries her. On the same programme is ‘Manhattan Madness,’ featuring Jack Dempsey. Tho story deals with the adventures of a young man who says that there is not sufficient excitement in New York for him; so his friends show him his mistake.

PLAZA AND GRAND Noma Shearer has the leading: role in ‘‘ A Slave of Fashion ’ at tho Plaza and Grand Theatres, and sho is assisted by Lew Cody and William Haynes in tho masculine rolcs._ As the result of a railway accident, Katherine Emmerson, is enabled to take possession of Nicholas Wentworth’s bachelor apartments while ho is away in Paris. She mtikcs the acquaintance of Dick Wayne,' a fascinating young society man, and soon forms a great attachment for him. Katherine’s parents come to the city to see her, and she tells them that she is married to Wentworth, and tries to got them to return home, but it is of no avail. Her mother, being old fashioned, looks with alarm upon tho growing friendship between Katherine and Dick, finally cables to Wentworth to return home to look after his wife. Ho is amazed, and curious to know who is posing as his wife. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Katherine seeks to explain tho situation, but be refuses to listen, and insists that she play the part of his wife. She refuses, and her innocence attracts him, and they find happiness together. & ROSLYN THEATRE ‘Laughing at Danger,' featuring Richard Talmadge, will be shown at the Roslyn Theatre to-night. The story deals with Alan Rommington, who pines for excitement. His father’s secretary, Darwin Kershaw, is in reality a secret service agent who is plotting to steal a death-ray machine invented by Professor Leo Hollister. He makes his attempt, but Carolyn, his daughter snatches the controlling device and throws it out of the window. Then follows an exciting chase, in which the spies, Alan, and the professor take part, thus giving the boy all the excitement he wishes.