PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19639, 19 August 1927, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON ‘Rewi’s Last Stand,’ the picture, of lovo and war-time adventure during the early days of New Zealand, winch opens at tho Octagon Theatre to-night, was written and produced in the 1 »- minion for Maori War Films, Ltd., h\ Rudall Hayward, while Mr James Cow; *1 attended to the historical correctness. A romantic story has been woven round tho Waikato War. With all the races with which British arms have come in conflict, none were finer fighters than the Maoris; and of all the battles between Maori and pakoha none showed to better advantage the warlike qualities of the former than the battle ol Orakau. Shut up in a hastily-con-structed pa, a force of 300 s poorlyequipped Maori men, women, and children, with little food and no water, endured continuous rifle fire tor three days, and kept at bay a British fom or 1,800 men. History scarce afford.' a parallel to the dauntless reply of tin natives, when, after three days they were offered their freedom if they wouk; surrender. “Wo will fight on for eve. and ever!” they declared, and whei tho offer was made to let tho women go free answer came in tho same spirit “The women will fight as well as the men!” It was impossible for the Maori to hold out long under such conditions, however, and, seizing a favorable opportunity, they slipped out ol the pa and made a dash lor tho hush. But loi the fact that a troop of cavalry warhandy at tho time they would - have escaped practically scot tree. _ Bat the horsemen rode down tho fugitives, and many of them foil before they could roach safety. Woven into the hostorical episodes of tho war is the story of a, voung Englishman who is captured hv the Maoris prior to tlie battle of Orakau, and falls in love with the daughter of ono of the native chiefs. A second attraction will be a turn by Art Kamo, a hanjo-inandolmcst rim handles Ins instrument with remarkable skill and dexterity. The Octagon Orchestra, under the baton of Mr L. D. Austin, will round off the projjramnie with several excellent musical numbers. EMPIRE Th loading role in ‘The Silent Lover,’ which opened at the Empire Theatre today, is taken by Milton Sills. 'The picture shows how three young women—each different in character from the others—prove vital factors in the life ol (fount Pierre Tornai, a Balkan nobleman, who is also a lieutenant in-the French Foreign Legion. The t first woman’s influence is so bad that Tornai is driven to embezzlement, to the verge of suicide, and eventually to the mountains of Morocco, there to battle with the Riff tribesmen. In a small village near his outpost Tornai meets the second woman, Scarlza, whom ho saves from slavery by buying her himself and setting her free. , Complications sot in, however, when .she declines to take her freedom. The third young woman is Vera Sherman, an American, who is travelling with her father. The count rescues her from tho tribesmen and from a scheming brother officer, and lor her sake risks death and meets treachery from the most unexpected quarters. Supporting Sills is a strong cast, which includes Natalie Kingston, Arthur Edmund Carew. William V. Mong, Viola Dana. Claude King, Charlie Murray, Arthur Stone, and Alma Bennett. . In addition is ‘The Gorilla Hunt,’ an amazing story of Africa’s darkest jungle. . , An excellent musical programme is rendered by the Empire Select Orchestra under the direction of Mr Chas. Parnell, including the overture ‘ Black Rose’ (Brockton), and as an entr’acte tho cornet solo ‘ Lovo Eyes ’ (Zamecnik). . . , T , A return visit is announced of Jack Lumsdainc. QUEEN'S AND KING EDWARD Even though ‘ Tho Mysterious Ridor ’ is a Western picture, Betty Jewell’s part affords her opportunity to wear more smart clothes than tho ordinary society drama. For in this newest Paramount Zane Grey picture, which opened at tho Queen’s and King Edward Theatres to-day, starring Jack Holt, she is cast as Dorothy, the daughter of Mark King (David Torrence). an Eastern capitalist who is out west on business of his company. Her costumes arc as varied as her adventures in tho open spaces. She makes eighteen changes of clothes, including snappy sports outfits, riding habits, and evening gowns. She finds life in the West exciting. While her father is busy attempting to gain control of tlie homesteaders’ lands for the power company which ho represents, she rides about the country. And Miss Jewel can ride, notwithstanding the fact that a balky horso losses her into a quicksand bed, from which sho is rescued most opportunely_ by the dashing Jack Holt, who, fleeing from a band of lynchers, stops to pull her out. She is thus drawn into a pleasing romance that has for its background the struggle of the homesteaders to make a living out of their meagre desert holdings against tho obstacles of Nature and the machinations of Cliff Harkness (Charles Sellon), who holds an ancient Spanish grant that supersedes their title to the land. The foiling of tho villain and tho pursuance of the lovo affair are loft in the capable hands of Jack Holt, who, as Bent Wade, “the mysterious rider,” exhibits some of the most remarkable horsemanship of his screen career. The lighter touches of the drama arc left to tlie discretion of Tom Kennedy, who has already made a name for himself in ‘ Behind the Front,’ ‘ We’re In tho Navy, Now,’ and ‘ Man of the Forest.’ The cast also includes Arthur Hoyt, Aired Hart, and Guy Oliver. EVERYBODY’S The Arsenal Library in Paris, where aro to he found old hooks of science, magic, and hypnotism, was one of the many locations of interest utilised by Rex Ingram in the filming of his production of ‘The Magician,’ with Alice Terry and Paul Wegener, which had its first .showing at Everybody’s Theatre to-day. Located on a .short and narrow street in tho heart of tlie Montparnasse district of Paris, this old building from the outside has the appearance of a real arsenal. Tho stone front with its heavy pillars is blackened by age, and no attempt has been made to change it. Tho interior is just what would be expected of a library that laid been in operation for hundreds of years and contained volumes on tho occult sciences, dating back thousands of years. The rooms are high and few windows make them rather dark. There are books of every size and description on the shelves which start at the stone floor and go up as high as the ladders will reach. An old man, who has spent practically all his life in the library, is in charge. Ho knows every hook in the library, and is acquainted with every student of magic and the occult sciences who has ever visited tho library, and that includes learned men of every country and of every nationality. The men and women who study in the library, daily resemble characters from fiction. They are not self-conscious of their personal appearances, but are deeply interested in what they can find among the musty volumes in “the huge room. Root Ingram spent a great part of his time for several weeks in this old library before he started the filming of ‘ The Magician,’ which is a story dealing with the occult sciences, magic, ami hypnotism. He talked with tho old keeper, who told of many of the famous characters who had frequented the place during the past half-century, find gave much other valuable information which was of great assistance in the filming of tlie Somerset Maughan story. Alice Terry, Paul Wegener, Finnic Gemier, and Ivan Petrovitch

enact the leading roles in ‘The Magician.’ The entire production was made in Europe. ‘ The Man Upstairs,’ starring Monte Blue, is the supporting picture, and in this mystery drama Monte Blue plays a young man alone in London, who is in search of romance. Dorothy Devore plays the pretty girl with whom ho falls in love and woos by sending her a series of thrilling letters to satisfy her craving for adventure. Hcinio Conklin plays a colored servant, Helen Dunbar Miss Devore’s aunt, and John Boche an army officer, who helps give Monte some of the thrills which his imaginary murder provided for Dorothy Devore. PLAZA AND GRAND A picture filled with thrills and suspense, loaded with comedy scenes, and tilled with an interesting love story, makes ‘ The Desperate Game,’ starring Pete Morrison, at the Plana and Grand Theatres, most entertaining. Morrison, the popular dashing western hero, aided hy Ids uncannily intelligent horse and dog, speeds through the picture with ids usual vigor and personality. Ho starts his role with some splendid comedy of a young man returning ,to the cattle ranch owned hy Ids father after several years in the cast, and attempting to appear n bold, bad westerner for the benefit of the cow-punch-ers. A fend of several years’ standing between two neighboring ranches is brought into the story, and Pete’s efforts to win out in the quarrel for his father’s sake combine to make the story a fast-moving and colorful tale. Morrison performs some rdmarkablo feats of horsemanship and lights like a squad of marines. The. climax, in fact, comes in a battle-royal staged between the cow-punchers of Hie two feudal ranches, with Morrison leading’ his cohorts on to a spectacular victory. ‘ The Desperate Game ’ was directed by Joseph Franz, and adapted from the magazine story by William C. Jcnks. The supporting cast includes Dolores Gardner. Low Meehan, James Welsh, A 1 Richmond, Boss Carling, J. P Cockney, William Merrill M‘Cormiclc, and others. 1 Wolves of the Border,’ featuring Franklyn Farnum, is also showing.

, “Never play poker with a dcnlisl.” “Wliy?” “He draws and fills too easily.”