PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19613, 20 July 1927, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON The story of the lives oi two children whose parents were divorced and their struggle to achieve the happiness that they”lost through this state of ali'nirs Is told in ‘ Children of Divorce,’ winch is being screened at the Octagon Theatre. With Clam Bow and Esther Ralston in the stellar roles, and lea taring sncii players as Gary Cooper, Elinar Hanf,nn, and Norman Trevor, the various characters arc splendidly portrayed. The story tells ot Kitty i* landers and Jean Waddington, whose parents have been divorced. Kitty’s niotner in anxious that the girl should marry _a rich husband. Kitty, however, is in love with Prince Vico, hut he must also marry for money, and thus their love can never ho inlfilled. The Prince s guardian suggests that Jgpn is the solution of their problem. A ■wealthy young daredevil, Tod Darrahee, refuses to accept Kitty’s advances, hut when Jean appears an old love between them is revived. One day Kitty, with a host of friends, invades his office, and hoping to get rid of them he goes with them. Later Kitty coolly announces that she married him the previous evening, while, to make matters worse, a letter arrives from Jean tolling him that sho will marry him. in despair he goes to her and she advises him to carry on with the marriage^for a time. Later Jean meets the Prince again, and he begins a courtship, which lias frankness on both sides. Tim Larrabces, with their baby, conic to Paris, and Jean finds herself .still in love with Ted. and the Prince with Kitty. The latter offers divorce as a solution. Tins, however, was vetoed, and a sensational climax concludes the story.

EMPIRE The picture ‘ Love ’Em and Leave ’Em’ which is being screened at the Empire Theatre is a story ol modern youth. There is nothing pretentions in it—no night clubs and no mob scenes—but the story keeps tho audience engrossed through the whole screening. The central figures aro Maine Walsh and and her fiance. Bill Billingsly, who work in the same store. Billingsly is helped ini his work by Maine. Janie, Marne’s sister, is treasurer of funds tor the Social Club of tho employees. _ Lem Woodruff tells her of a “sure winner” at tho races, so she uses part of the funds for tho bet. In the meanwhile Maine has gone away for a, holiday. Before she goes, however, Bill proposes to her, but she begs time to think oyer it. Finally she decides to accept him. On her return, however, she finds that Janie has made love to Bill, amt upbraids them both. When Janio discovers that Lem has hoaxed her sho docs not know what to do. Tho committee of the Social Club declares that it must have the money. When Miss Streeter arrives Janie lets her think that Marne took the money. Miss Streeter demands the return of the money that night. Marne comes home, and Janie confesses she used the money to bet with Lem. and that she allowed Miss Streeter to think Mamo was to blame. Janie is sent to the ball, while Mamo tries to wheedle the money from Lem. She manages to get it and send a call to Bill. But iust as sue is about to tell him Lem drags her from the ’phone. On the other end Bill hears her cries and rushes home. Together they get the money and return to the dance. Maine is dismissed, but realises that Bill loves her and is happy. Janie has gone homo in the car of the owner who had awarded her a'prize for licr costume.

EVERYBODY'S The double-feature bill, with Charlie Chaplin in ‘The Gold Rush 1 as the chief attraction, lias proved a big draw to Everybody’s Theatre during the week. During the making of this comedy-drama, in a scene where -,oU) men were employed as sourdoughs for tho crossing of “ Chilkoot Pass the most disappointed man in the whole outfit was tho company's physician. Players who have important parts_ in this production aro Alack Swain. 1 oni Murray, Georgia Hale. Malcolm V aitc. and Henry Bergman. Claire Windsor, who plavs a leading part in the supporting picture, ‘ A Little Journey,’ appears opposite W’illiam Haines, who made such a hit in ‘ Brown ot Harvard.’ Harry Carey arid Claire M'Dowcll aro "a iso featured. Prod Niblo's Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr production, ‘ The Temptress,’ filmed at tho Culver City studios from the novel by Vicente Blasco [hanez, is tho attraction for Friday. Greta Garbo, Antonio Moreno, and a cast including Lionel Barrymore, Boy D’Arcy, and other celebrities appear. It is a, spectacular drama, of South America.. 1 Blonde or Brunette,’ with Adolphe Mcnjou, Gretta Kissen, and Arletlc Marchal in the leading roles, will also be shown on Friday. QUEEN’S ‘Steele., of the Royal Mounted,’ sounds dashing and gallant enough lor ■a film title, and a. picture of that name, from the widely read story of the same title by James Oliver Cur wood, is now being shown at the Queen’s Theatre. All Ctirwood stories arc capital reading, full of vigor and vitality of the west or the north or the Mexican border, whichever he sets his versatile hand to, and 1 Steele, of the Royal Mounted ’ is a dashing ami dramatic story of the Canadian North-west Mounted Police, packed with intelligent and natural thrills, with human interest and Hashes of rare comedy, with splendid acting by Bert Lyttcl in the title role. Stuart Holmes makes a typical backwoods villain. Richard Barthelmess joins the ranks of sheiks in his latest production, ‘The AVl)itc Black Sheep,’ which commences on Friday, and which Sydney Olcott directed for First National. Dick wears a beard for the first time, and it was the envy of the extras who participated in the mob scenes, laid in Asia Minor. It was the first time Dick appeared in a role with an Oriental background. A cast, which includes Patsy Ruth Miller, Ervillo Alderson, Gino Cnrrado (who portrayed tho Prince Regent in ‘The Amateur Gentleman’), Albert Frisco, Colonel O. Jj. M‘Donncll, and Sam Appel, surrounds tho star. PLAZA AND GRAND Johnny Hines, the movie comedian, evidently believed that “ it’s the little things that count,” when he signed a .troupe of fourteen midgets to play with him in his latest picture, ‘ Stopping Along,’ which opened at the Plaza and Grand Theatres yesterday. Although this miniature group of comedians arc well known in theatrical and vaudeville circles as “The Midget Follies,” this will mark their debut in the screen world, and it is declared that a slewmotion camera was not necessary to register their miniature emotions when they once got under way. Mary Brian plays opposite Hines. Ruth Dwyer, William Gaxton, Edmund Breese, Dan Mason, and Blanche Craig complete the cast. ‘ Butterflies in the Rain,’ featuring Laura La Plante, is tho second attraction. KING EDWARD Charlie Chaplin’s comedy-drama, ‘ The Gold Rush,’ which is hailed by many critics as one of the greatest of comedies, is the star attraction at the

King Edward Theatre this wen!;. Malcolm Waite, who plays the role of Jack Cameron—Jack, the ladies’ man—in this comedy, is a comparatively newcomer to the screen. His appearance in this picture is the first real part lie has played; hut lie brings to the screen a naturalness ol' delineation which promises to prove very popular witli the public. Mack Swain and Georgia Hale arc also lea hired. EOSLYM Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton, in the rules of sailors, keep audiences in roars of laughter during the whole •screening of ‘ We’re in the Navy Now,’ the attraction at the Roslyn Theatre to-night. Neither of them had any intention of enlisting until they wandered into a training camp. Then, on trying lo get out. a burly guard stopped them witli n command to “fall in.” Before they had time to turn round the boys found themselves aboard an army transport—bound for France. The trials and tribulations on their trip, with incidental comedy being supplied by the featured players—Chester Conklin and Tom Kennedy, and a love, theme enacted by Donald Keith and Lorraine Easoiv—combine to make ‘ We’re in the' Navy Now ’ one of the season’s funniest farces. Emily Fitzroy is the domineering Lady Heriot in Fox Films ‘ Marriage License,’ the. dramatic; story of mother love, in which Alma Rubens is featured, and which will also be shown to-night. Walter M'Grail, Charles Lane, Richard Walling, Walter Pidgeon, Edgar Norton, Langhorne Burton. Lon Poll, and George Cowl arc included in the all-star supporting cast.