PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19443, 29 December 1926, Page 8

PICTURE THEATRES

■ 4* EMPIRE The story of ‘ Sally, Irene, and Mary,’ the principal attraction' on the current programme at the Empire Theatre, deals with three beautiful chorus girls who are in search of fame and love, and the adventures they experienced in finding their ideals. ‘ Sally, Irene, and Mary ’ is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor screen version of the famous stage success 'by Edward doubling. The girls in question, who are associated with a musical show, differ widely in type. Sally. O’Neil, Joan Crawford, and Constance Bennett, although comparative newcomers to the screen, give magnificent portrayals in the three leading feminine roles; and William Haines is fascinating ns the Irish plumber, Mary’s unasuming sweetheart. The production is admirably balanced, blending delightful comedy with gripping drama. Each of the four main parts is an individual triumph, and collectively make the picture exceptional in artistic worth and qualities of entertainment. The photography leaves little to be desired. Included on the bill is the first of a series of pictures of Amundsen’s flight to the Polo. OCTAGGh 'A Kiss for Cinderella,’ with Betty Bronson in the leading role, is at the Octagon Theatre this week. Miss Bronson gives a finished and compelling performance in this picture, which was taken from the James M. Barrie novel of tho same name. She lives the role of Cinderella, thereby lifting the character of make-believe into the real. Tom Moore plays tho part of the fairy prince, who turns out to be a policeman. Esther Ralston makes a lovely fairy godmother, while Dorothy Gumming and Flora Finch are also in a distinguished supporting cast. The heroine is a lonely, lovable little halfstarved waif, and the hero is a sympathetic policeman. The story of tills little Cinderella slavey, who dreams of the day when she will be invited to a marvellous ball, where a handsome prince will pick her out ns his princess, is one that only Barrie could have written—altogether delightful, filled with tears and laughs, and enlivened by all those whimsical touches that are part and parcel of every Barrie tale. QUEEN’S The kingdom of Koronia was invented for the purposes of ‘Just Suppose,’ the picture now at the Queen’s Theatre. Richard Barthelmess lia« the lending role in the picture, and is seen as a prince who has a very keen desire to avoid tho numerous functions gcmnally associated with Royalty, and that desire is strengthened as a result of an accidental meeting with a very pretty girl, who exercises such an influence over him that ho tolls a court friend that no one else could ever claim his affection. EVERYBODY'S There is a double-feature programme at Everybody’s Theatre this week. The first picture is ‘ Sea Horses,’ in which Florence Vidor appears as a beautiful young girl who goes in quest of her missing husband. Begging a passage on tho tramp steamer Panda, she finds herself the only woman among a crew of rough men who have been looking forward to a Christmas at home, only to bo turned south to Africa instead. Her beauty lias a startling yet differing effect on the officers, and leads to an upheaval. The second film is 1 The Shining Adventure,’ and features Percy Marmont. PLAZA AND GRAND ‘The Yellow Back,’ a thrilling picture of the West, featuring Fred Humes, mingles comedy with romance and adventure in a 'delightful way. This production is on the screen at the Plaza and Grand Theatres; and is supported by ‘ Paint and Powder,’ the story of which moves rapidly from the sordidness and pathos of the tenement, through tho cheap gaiety of the Bowery to tho glamor of the stage and its people. There is disillusionment in the story of ‘Paint and Powder’ for those who hold tho common views of the off stage life of actors and actresses. Here for perhaps the first time is a fair and thorough representation of the lives of those who sacrifice so much for our entertainment. KING EDWARD A pleasing story of the stage is show ing at tho King Edward Theatre in ‘ Sally, Irene, and Mary.’ It is filled with the gay humor and tho hidden tragedy of theatrical life, and is faithfully and vividly portrayed by an excellent cast headed by Sally O’Neill and William Haines. ROSLYN THEATRE Heralded as one of the best comedies ever transferred to the silver sheet, ‘ Clothes Make tho Pirato ’ will ho on tho screen at the Roslyu Theatre tonight. Introducing many new and novel ideas, this clever comedy should not fail to please. Leon Errol, who will be remembered by many for his fine work in ‘Sally,’ has the leading role, and is given support by an allstar cast.

The second episode of the serial. ‘ Samson of the Circus,’ will form the main supporting item.