PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19521, 31 March 1927, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON ‘The Family Upstairs,’ headed by Virginia Valli, will be finally screened at the Octagon Theatre to-night. The picture gives a faithful transcript of the daily life of any American family in moderate circumstances, according to J, G, Blystone, who directed Fox films’ version of Harry Delf’s intensely human comedy. Virginia Valli is the bashful girl who never had a sweetheart. Allan Simpson is the young bank clerk, J. Fnrrr' 1 MacDonald is cast as the hardworking but underpaid car inspector, and Lillian Elliott is the fussy but well-moaning Mother Heller. The cast includes Cecille _ Evans, 4 Jacqueline Wells, Edward Piel, jun., and many others. MARY PICKFOED IN ‘SP.ARROWS.’ * Sparrows,’ the new picture coming to the Octagon Theatre to-morrow, promises a treat for theatre patrons. Mary Pickford, one of the favorite screen stars, is in the leading :j!o. This role is an ideal one for this star Combining laughter and tears, comedy and drama, the picture visualises the heroism of a little girl protecting nine fellow orphans in a swampland “ baby farm.” The part receives' sympathetic treatment from Mary Pickford, a treatment that is primarily entertainment, but thoughtful and inspiring of pity for the waifs whom she in her role so tenderly mothers. Oth members of le cast include Boy Stewart, an old favorite of the films, in a sympathetic role that marks him as a finished actor; Gustav Von Seyffertitz, a villain who gives the characterisation of Grimes, the baby farm-keeper: Charlotte Minian; “Spec” O’Donnell; Mary Louise Miller; Monty O’Grady; Baby Muriel M’Cormac; and Billy Butts, one of the cleverest youngsters in picture* EMPIRE Those who love the beautiful scenery of the South Seas will have their final 1 opportunity to-uight of witnessing some of the gorgeous scenes in ‘ Aloma of the South Seas ’ at the Empire Theatre. Gilda Gray, who created many South i Sea Island dances, and brought them 1 to the height of their popularity on I Broadway and throughout America, I plays the title role, that of an untutored Polynesian dancer in love with , a white man. Percy Marmont and Warner Baxter play the chief supporting roles. ‘THE RAINMAKER,’ ‘ The Rainmaker,’ Paramount’s mighty love drama, is the feature scheduled for screening at the Octagon Theatre to-morrow. Clarence Badger directed the picture, which Hope | Loring and Louis D. Lighten adapted j from the magazine serial ‘ Heavenbent,’ 1 by Gerald Beaumont. The cast is one of the production’s important assets including such, screen favorites ns Ernest Torrence, William Collier, jun., and Georgia Hale, who had the temi- j nine lead opposite Charles Chaplin in ‘The Gold Rush.’ ‘The Rainmaker may be picturesquely described as the story of a jockey and a dance hall girl, runners on life’s race track, against whom tho opening odds are heavy. Each overcomes a bad start, runs fair and true for a little while, then weakens and falls back into the ruck. Their final race is run in a little border town where the sky is tho limit, and anything can happen and does happen. William Collier, jun., portrays the jockey, who receives a severe injury a thrilling race, while Georgia Halo nurses him back to life. The romance ends in a little south-west border town, where they meet again. Tho boy, who is still connected with the race track, is popularly known as the “The Rainmaker,” because of his apparent ability to call forth rain any time he pleases. The girl returns to her old position as a dance hall entertainer. Torrence is the dance hall owner, QUEEN’S ‘ The Old Soak,’ a story of everyday life, will have its final screening at tho Queen’s Theatre to-night. When it nomes to comedy Louise Fazenda, who appears in this picture, is in the front rank. Tho photoplay was directed by Edward Sloman, and has a cast inclnding George Lewis, June Marlowe, j George Siemann, Lucy Beaumont, Wil- I liam V. Mong, Tom Ricketts, and Arnold Grigg. ) ‘ Battling Butler,’ the new picture I for to-morrow, features Buster Keaton and Sally O’Neill. The story deals with a succession of convulsing, ludicrous incidents that leave one helpless with laughter, lb concerns the adventures of a rich weakling who poses as a famous pugilist, in order to win tho ■ girl of his heart. When tho real j champion puts in an unexpected ap- 1 pearance it marks the beginning of a I month of physical and mental torture I for the unhappy impostor, who is com- j pelled to train in anticipation ot a ; fight with the Alabama Murderer,” j a notoriously vicious fighter. It is all I a deep-laid hoax by the real chain-1 pion, but the other does not discover this until the night of the fight. Then, in an agony of mortification, he turns on “ Battling Butler,” and soundly thrashes him, afterwards promising his bride that he will never fight again.

EVERYBODY’S The two attractions at Everybody's Theatre will conclude to-n'ght. ‘ Pals First,’ adapted from the successful novel by Leo Wilson Dodd, is an entertaining romance of three men friends who live their lives as crooks. ‘ The Ago of Innocence ’ is a modern society story. The now features for to-morrow are ‘The Savage’ and ‘Hold That Lion.’ * The Savage,’ in which Ben Lyon and May M'Avoy have the leading roles, tells how Danny Terry, wild animal writing expert for a scientific magazine, goes to the Mariposa Islands and plays the part of a white savage to put over a hoax on a rival magazine that has representatives accompanying Professor Atwater, who is searching for lost white pavages. He is found and brought back to New York and placed on exhibition at a jungle ball which Mrs Atwater gives to celebrate the announcement of the betrothal of her daughter to Howard Kipp. ‘ Hold That Lion ’ features Douglas Maclean being chased by the animal through miles of jungle; as well as through the intricacies of a native African vi”-"e, wit If very little coaching on the part of the owner. “ Numa’s ” big moment in the comedy came when he got entangled in a huge net. He presented a perfect imitation of a lion gone raving mad, but promptly quieted down at a word from his trainer. _ In addition to Mac Lean, Walter Hiers. Constance Howard, Wade Boteler, Cyril Chadwick, and George Peace were also called upon to meet the lion professionally. KiHG EDWARD The final screening will be given of ‘ The Age of Innocence ’ and ‘ Pals First ’ at the King Edward Theatre tonight. To-morrow’s programme introduces Buster Keaton and Sally O’Neil! in the 1 Battling Butler.’ -a screen comedy. One of the greatest fights ever staged in pictures is included in the photoplav. The supporting cast includes Snitz Edwards, Francis M'Donald, Tom Wilson, Mary O’Brien, Walter James, and Eddie Borden. PLAZA AND GRAND ' Paris,’ a bright comedy of the Paris underworld, and Richard Talmnclge in ‘Through the Flames’ will be finally screened at the Plaza and Grand Theatres to-night