PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19518, 28 March 1927, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE A tale of love set amidst scenes of natural splendor in the South Sea Islands is shown in ‘ Aloma of the South Seas,’ which is being screened at the ' Empire Theatre. Gilda Gray is the featured player, and assisting her are . Warner Baxter, Percy Mann out, Jul- ' anne Johnstone, and William Powell, I while Maurice Tourneur produced the | picture. Briefly, the story tells of I J3ob Holden, a young man, who was I reported dead, but returns from the | World War to find his pal, Van Tern* i pleton, has married Sylvia. Bob goes j to the South Seas with Sylvia’s unde. There he dissipates and stirs up .so much trouble that the uncle sends him Ito a hut in the jungle. Aloma, abean- | tiful native girl dancer, who loros him, t going as housekeeper, Nuitane, Alo- ! ma’s native lover, kills any rthite man who wants to harm Aloma, hut Bob I treats her with respect. Aloma uses all her, charms to win Bob. She does I the dances for which she is lamous. 1 But being too square to take her love, Iho says he will marry her. Before the marriage his sweetheart, Sylvia, comes to the island and discovers him alive. Her husband, being a rotter, tries to make love to Aloma. Nuitane solves the tangled love problem by taking the husband out in a boat Curing a storm. The sharks get him, Bob wins Sylvia, and Nuitane persuades Aloma that he, a native, s the proper husband foi her. A feature of this film will bo the wonderful cloud effects, which were obtained through using panchromatic films. Those were specially made, and are far superior to the ordinary film used. OCTAGON The screen version of the delightful comedy, ‘The Family Upstairs,' which is the chief attraction at the Octagon Theatre this week, is based on the New York stage success by Harry Delf. The troubles and joys of the crane family are pictured in this story of the average run of people such as most of us know, Allan Simpson plays the bashful lover and Virginia Valli is tho shy girl who never had a lover. J. Farrell MacDonald, ns tho father of the family, gives one of the finest interpretations of the harcssed head of the house seen in a long while. Lillian Elliott as the nagging mother with her “infernal trouble” must have studied her character from life. The two younger members of the _ family are there, too. The irrepressible sister, played by Jacqueline Wells, will be recognised by many as someone they know very near home. Nor is the character of Willie, the sheik eon, as played by Edward Piel, jun., to be easily forgotten. All around it is the kind of picture that will make one leave the theatre with a. reminiscent smile. Director J. 6. Blystone deserves congratulations for ins very sympathetic development of the story. His avoidance of the obvious and his delicate touches of humor manr him as an outstanding director of fine comedies.

The Octagon Orchestra, under the direction of Mr L. D. Austin, supplies a fine programme of music.

QUEEN'S An extremely lovable family, whose members have various weaknesses, is presented on the screen of the Queen's Thatre, where ‘ The_ Old Gouk ’ is the current feature. This family is a typical family. Its troubles and foibles are handled by the expert directorial hand of Edward Sloman, now recognised widely as one of the screen’s most successful directors. Jean Hersholt, who has been going to the top i.y leaps and bounds, has the star role '.n tins picture. Two love stories run through it, that of the “ Old Soak ” and his wife, and of their son and a chorus girl. A cast of merit includes George Lewis, June Marlowe, William > V. Mong, Gertrude Astor, and Louise Fazenda. The programme includes excellent supports. EVERYBODY’S Twenty years ago Edwin Carewe was a tramp. To-day he is known as one of the foremost directors and producers in the film industry. He is now very proud of his tramp experience, because the days he spent on the road proved valuable to him in his direction of ‘Pals First,’ the attraction at Everybody’s Theatre. The story has ono episode which deals with the life of three tramps, and there are many intimate touches Carewe interpolated which occurred to him during his experiences. He made the First National picture much more colorful than it otherwise might have been by the inclusion of these true incidents. Lloyd Hughes, George Cooper, and Alec. B._ Francis pliv the roles of the tramps in ‘ Pals. First,’ and were coached by Carewe. Much of the sordidness surrounding the usual tramp biography_ was alleviated by Carewe’s method in directing this story. Dolores del Rio plays the leading feminine role, and others in the cast are Edward Earle, Dot Farley, George Read, and Mattie Peters. ‘ The Ago of Innocence,’ starring Beverley Bayne. Elliot Dexter, Willard Toms, and Edith Roberts, is the second attraction. PLAZA AND GRAND Enacted by a distinctive cast and enshrining a .delightful love story, ‘ Thru the Flames,’ at present providing entertainment for patrons of the Plaza and Grand Theatres, has an instant appeal to all classes of theatregoers. Jn the making of the film the entire lire department of Los Angeles co-operated, with the result that one of the finest and most spectacular blazes ever shown on tho screen was staged. The star, Richard Talmadge, needs no introduction to the screen. Smiling, daring, care-froo, and with a winning personality, ho has gradually climbed the ladder of success, and in ‘ Thru the Flames ’ he gives his greatest portrayal. The programme is completed with the showing of ‘ Paris,’ a vivid drama of tho Paris underworld, in which Charles Ray (the leading artist) as an American tourist, participates in a strange plot. Tne chief supporting player, Joan Crawford, is seen as an Apache dancing girl. KING EDWARD Dramas of tho South Seas generally make good entertainment, but few have such an alluring story ns * Aloma of tbe South Seas,’ now showing for a short season at tho King Edward Theatre. It is a picture of love and regeneration, and tho talented_ dancer, Gilda Gray, is seen in the leading part. A choice cast supports her.