PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19616, 23 July 1927, Page 10

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE The .first of the new British films under the title of ‘Mademoiselle From .\i-i.n utieres ’ was shown at the Empire Tneatre last night before an enthusii astic audience. It is essentially a British production, breathing the sentiI merits that have given her world-wide supremacy. During tho. f days of the war, when the famous song was being sung by detachments on the march all along the western front, many rumors .were rife concerning the real identity of ‘Mademoiselle from Armcntieres.’ (The hero.ine of the drama, howi ever, is quite a new version of the lady 'so celebrated in song and story, and the actress who portrays her brings an altogether new technique to the screen. Apart front the personal drama and tumultuous emotion of this picture, all the primitive thrills of war are a vital part of the story. It is not, however, a war film in the accepted sense of the words, but Mademoiselle’s story is so indissolubly bound up in the history of the conflict that scenes of intensely realistic fighting nro necessarily, introduced. And these sequences arc wonderfully accurate and .effective. There is no travesty, no * stagecraft war or ; kid-glove fighting, I but'the genuine article, a little terrifying even from the safety point of a theatre seat. Hut it lends a vivid suggestion of atmosphere to ' the film, which, coupled to the very human story it tells, makes engrossing entertainment. There is pathos in the story and ft grim - tragedy about the war scene*, but there is humor also, and the dividing line between laughter and fears is almost negligible. So ' Mademoiselle from Armentieres ’ is a picture ; which strikes a note of pleasant reminiscence throughout. As Mademoiselle Estelle Brody is a vivacious and sparkling little creature, “ who kissed the colonel and called him ‘ Dear,’ ” so doubtless that is why the delectable tale is told in such a hearty and fascinating manner, for, it will be remembered, it is fold from the colonel’s viewpoint, John Stuart heads the supporting ' east, and enacts his soldierly role with admirable skill. Opening in London, the scone soon changes to the western front, where the hero, John, is in love with Iho pretty niece ol the proprietor of an estaminct. The girl agrees to encourage the friendship of one Monsieur Bran/, in order to report his mode of living to the divisional headquarters. She .finds that Hrnm, is an enemy spy. John does not know of the girl’s role, and believes her to-be false when he sees her visiting I Iranis alone in Ins house. John's company is ordered to advance, and he will not seo the. girl before he goes. Unable to rest till she lias explained the reason of her conduct, Mademoiselle finds her way to the lines. Zero hour has passed; and John’s section has captured a farmhouse, but is without supports with which to hold it, and it is later recaptured. John is ‘aken prisoner, amt Braim is praised for his good work. The girl is then brought in, and is about to be shot as a spy when a shell wrecks the dug-out. When tbe smoke clears away the .pair find themselves alone with the dead body of Bronx. A party of poilns rescues them, and the picture is* brought to a successful conclusion. ‘Mademoiselle From Amen-, tieres ’ hats as much of the spectacle of fighting as is necessary for the unfolding of the story, hut ite strongest asset is its accuracy, and the logical sequence of the details of life at the front. The fact that eveyy man in flic east (with the exceptioirof one who was suffering from a physical infirmity) saw military service during the war is an assurance that it is not a travesty of the conditions under which the immortal combat was fought and won. The Empire Select Orchestra, under the direction of Mr Gluts. Parnell, renders'a fine programme of martial music, including the overture 1 Tommy Atkins.’ It is announced that on Thursday afternoon and evening next a farewell will be given to the dominion finalist’s of the Miss New Zealand' 1927 (: contest.

OCTAGON A faithful epic depicting life in the golden days of buccaneering near the end of the eighteenth centuryj and the hectic doings of the daredevil'roamers of the Spanish Main during that erf) is told in ‘The Black Pirate,’ which is allowing at tho Octagon Theatre. In every way it is the biggest production that Fairbanks has ever attempted,' and from beginning to °nd it is ti I loci with the unique athletic feats that place a Fairbanks picture in a class by itself. The entire picture has been filmed in a remarkable new color process known as technicolor that reproduces with exactitude every tint, shade, and hue of Nature itself. Unlike many other color attempts, technicolor is entirely natural, minus all exaggeration, and restful to tho eyes. The story opens with a burly pirate tearing the rings from the fingers of his captives. A young boy who has been captured offers to join the crew with the secret intention of avenging th© death of ids father, who was killed by the pirate. In ortler to prove himself the boy says that he will capture a ship singlehanded. In this he is successful. He joins the band, and is named “The Black Pirate.’ Among the passengers of the captured ship was a beautiful girl, for whom the pirates drew lots. It was her misfortune to bo won by tho villainous second mate. The Black Pirate falls in love with her, and in order to protect her he suggests that she be held unharmed for a day in order to ransom her. As the boatleaves for the ransom ho smuggles a note aboard -summoning aid, but his plans are frustrated by the second mats. While attempting to rescue the girl the pirate is denounced and ordered to walk tho plank. Through the agency of a friend, however, he is able to slip Ids bonds and escape by swimming to the mainland. Ho returns with” a ship and men, captures the pirate vessel, and saves 1 the girl. The east supporting Fairbanks is a notable one. The leading lady is the lovely Billie Dove. Numbers of bloodthirsty pirates appear during the action, and tho leaders are supported by such actors as Donald Crisp, Sam Do Grasse, Anders Randolf, Charles Stevens, J 5. J. Batch ffe, Charles Belcher, Boy C-oul-sou, and John Wallace. ‘The Black Pirate ’ was directed by Albert Parker, who has served in a similar capacity with several other Fairbanks pictures. Dwight Franklin, the noted artist, whose specialty is the depicting of pirate life, acted as consultant during the filming of tho production. The Octagon Orchestra, directed by Mr L. D. Austin, renders an appropriate musical programme. QUEEN'S AND KING EDWARD Richard Barthelmess encountered new experiences of make-up during the filming of ‘ The White Black Sheep,' which is- now hTiing shown at the Queen’s and King Edward Theatres. As a British soldier in Palestine who disguises as the beggar of Kefr Saba, Barthelmess was required to first grow a full-fledged beard. Then for his later shots, he had to shave it, leaving a trim moustache, which in turn came off during the final week of “ shooting.” It was his first beard or moustache. Dick had to wear the garb ol an Arab beggar for several weeks, during which time he was chased by Arab troops, beaten up by a Greek cafo,owner, imprisoned in a dreary dungeon, and buried in sand up to his neck as a target for spear-throwers in a hairraising torture scene. Aside from these physical tribulations undergone by Barthelmess, the story itself inflicted upon him such mental trials as discovering his fiancei dishonest, being ejected from- home by his father, and being branded a deserter. Of course, all are mistakes. Advance reports claim for Barthcl mess new histrionic achievements in ‘ Tho White Black Sheep,’ jvhich Sid-

ney Olcott directed. lUe cast is of exceptional proportions, with Patsy Hath Miller playing the leading feminine role. She plays the exotic role ot Zelie, the Greek dancing girl, in the Barthelmess tale of desert warfare and wooing, and her characterisation is one of exceptional imagery and color. Pat, as she is called by her friends, was born in St. Louis and received her primary education there. In the summer of 1921 she came to California with her parents and became interested in the movies. She was selected us a Wampus baby star, and was placed under contract by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and later by Warner Brothers. Among hei most notable roles is the leading feminine part in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame.’ The balance of the cast.is ol unusual merit and includes Ernville Alderson, Constance Howard, Gino Corrado, Albert Prisco, William H. Tooker, Templar Saxe, Sam Appel, and many others of note. EVERYBODY’S ' ‘ me KiiiputM,' i/.ie nuicu-iieraldod screen \crsiou oi i iconre i>lasco iounez's noica no;ei, opened nisi nignt at Everyouuy s ineaue. JU slam on someuiing new in timlis ana puwertui drama, m snowed tno tsweuisu neuuty eireta uaroo, as a dramatic actress aim emotional artist, pernaps unequalled on tne screen, and Uo power and her artistry left tno anuienee almost breathless. Miss Garbo and Antonio iUoreno prove an ideal combination as tbe Russian enchantress and the Spam.su engineer—one a pampered pet or me non wno is capable of turning into a human tigress wool) love finally comes to her; tne other a man battling tno fastness ol nature in gigantic engineering problems. The spectacular null whip duel; the wreck, or the great dam (the climax of the drama) —these are some of the inodents in the story, a romance that will never be forgotten by those who see it. Praise must lie given the acting of the huge cast; such artists as Lionel Barrymore, Roy D’Arcy, Marc M‘Dermott, Armand Kaliz, Virginia Brown Faire, Hector V. Same, and others in the mighty epic. Greta Nissen, that lovely Norse beauty, is one of the stars in Adolphe Blcnjoiris latest starring vehicle, ‘ Blonde or Brunette,’ the supporting feature. Arlette Marehal, who was last seen here in ‘ Diplomacy,’ also has a leading role. PLAZA AND GRAND Mario Prevost is the star in ‘ The Seven Sinners,’ the current attraction at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. The story tells of how .seven daring crooks invade a mansion on Long island. One poses as the owner of the house, some impersonate guests and servants, while the others gain entrance through cunning devices, but all come with the purpose of looting the safe. Eacli of them operates independently in the game ol crook outwitting crook. A queer trick of chance makes them all prisoners in the house, each striving to ontinaiifcuvrc the other six in a tantalising, rushing avalanche of merriment that inundates the photoplay with thrills and laughs. The cast includes Clive Brook, John Patrick, Claude Gillingwater, Heinic Conklin, Matiide Brnndnge, and Fred Kelsey. The picture was directed by Lewis Milestone, who, with Darryl Francis Zannek, wrote the scenario. Art Acord, star of ‘The Terror,’ the Universal Blue Streak Western which is screened as the second feature, is an animal trainer as well as an actor. He has two animals—a horse and a dog—which give him admirable support in lit* highly popular Western pictures. Clifford Smith directed ‘The Terror,’ ami Velma Connor has the feminine lead. 89SLYM ‘Stella Dallas,’ which will he shown at the Roslyn Theatre to-night, is a vivid photographic recital, at times most heart-rending and at others quaintly, • almost laughably, romantic; but unveiling and poignantly analysing all those problems of love, self-repres-sion, and .sacrifice that have beset the path of womankind from all time. It stirs the emotions of every father, every mother, and every daughter; for in every street, suburb, and city in the world there is a Stella Dellas—the girl whose foolish little soul craves.for love, grandeur, and romance—the jolly, generous-hearted lass, who trips her careless way through life innocent of the blame and scandal that slowly but surely attache to her namc~ti!) tragedy comes with a reckless marriage that brings a pitiful chapter- of sacrifice and sorrow in its train.