PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19712, 12 November 1927, Page 11

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON Clara. Bow, the popular Paramount star of ‘ Rough House Rosie.’ which is being screened at tho Octagon Theatre, has won her way into the hearts of Dunedin theatregoers, With her vivacious and striking personality, she keeps the story going with a swing throughout the entire screening. The themo deals with tho adventures that were met with by Rosie O’Reilly’, vho is the leading dancer in a cabaret act. Sho meets Arthur Russell, and is so impressed bv his wealth and social position that she momentarily forgets her fiance. Joe Hennessey. The latter, a boxer, realising that he is about to lose tho girl, studies a book oh etiquette, but his trainer advises, him to adont “save man tactics.” Rosie rose tits this manner of love-making and punches him. Ho trips, aim, striking his head ou a table, becomes insensible. . When he regains consciousness he decides to forget girls, and to train himself lot a' approaching championship bout. Rash attends a party at Russell’s place, ar.d Is so disgusted with what goes on that sho decides to return to Joe. On the evening of his important bout she oi> tains a ringside seat, and by constantir attracting the attention of Joe’s oppo went with her flashing smiles enables her fiance to win tho fight. An added attraction to the nro gramme is the appearance of liltir and West, a pair of comedians who keen the audience amused with songs and stories. In addition to other musical nura hers, the Octagon Orchestra, under tho direction of Mr L. D. Austin, plays ‘ Rose Mario ’ (FrimD as an overture. EMPIRE

In Lon Chaney’s latest picture, ‘Mr Wu,’ the "star has transformed himself into a Chinaman, not by the uncanny tricks of make-up alone, for every action, and even his personality, seems to bo Chinese. It is said that this feat was performed by constant study or Chinese customs, literature, and philosophy, till he actually thought from a Chinese standpoint. The theme deals with the revenge of a Chinese mandarin. full of the lore of an ancient and the newer wisdom of a Western college, on an English family which had wronged him. Renee Adoreo plays the part of Nang Ping, tho daughter ot } ‘Mr Wu,” who falls in love, with an English boy, and her make-up is no less I amazing than that ot the star. Gertrude Olmstead plays tho beautiful Eng- ‘ lish girl, while her brother is por trnyed by Ralph Forbes. Louise Dresser is the boy’s mother, and gives a wonderful characterisation. The story centres about Basil Gregory, a young Englishman, who wrongs the daughter of a powerful Chinese mandarin, Mr Wu. The latter conceives a terrible vengeance against the English family. First he kiils the daughter, in accord 1 ance with his ancient laws, and then captures Gregory. Ho then lures the , hov’s mother and sister to Ins home, 'and prepares to avenge his daughters 1 death, Mrs Gregory is kept in anguish for hours, and finally stabs the C nnai man and rescues her son and daughter. The Empire Select Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Chas. Parnell, renders ! ‘ln a Chinese Garden’ (Ketelby) as an overture, while tho entr acte is 1 Chinese Patrol ’ (Cammeyer). QUEEN’S ‘ All Aboard,’ Johnny Hines’s latest comedy, which was screened at the Queen’s Theatre yesterday afternoon for the first time, provides a not ot fun. With Johnny Hines in the leading role, there is no wonder at that, for he is ono of the most capable mirthprovokers on tho screen to-day. How all get “ aboard,” and some ‘ come to port,” is delightfully told by those fillTng the cast. Edna Murphy has been selected to play tho leading female role, i which she does to something approachUng perfection. ‘All Aboard’ is, or ' course, broad comedy, and m it 1 Johnny, originally a clerk with a bad ! memory, obtains a position as guide to 'a party of tourists travelling to the jFar East. He falls in love with his : employer’s daughter. A sheik, who is in an approaching matrimonial entanglement, appears on the scone, and solicits Johnny’s assistance in escaping from the entanglement in a rather subtle way, and Johnny finds to his dismay that he has to marry a fat and rather unattractive young woman. After a desperate struggle he escapes, and all ends well. EVERYBODY'S ‘ Love’s Greatest Mistake,’ the new attraction at Everybody’s Theatre, is a well-rounded drama. It has delicious touches of comedy hero and there, to set off tho seriousness of the story. Briefly it concerns the adventures of a young girl, who, bored with her small homo town, comes to New York to seek . excitement. She achieves a mental stability and a true valuation of life only after a series of harrowing episodes that nearly result in her losing the man she really loves. Evelyn Brent, William Powell, James Hall, and Josephine Duun are the featured members of the cast. ‘The Substitute Wife,’ starring Jane Novak, makes an excellent supporting picture. Niles Welch, Co it Albertson, Louise Carter, Gordon Standing, and Mario Majeroni are tho principal players. PLAZA AND GRAND f’Tiie Happy Warrior,’ which opened yesterday at tho Plaza and Grand Theatres, is the latest novel by A. S. M. Hutchinson to reach tnc . screen, and is said to have supplied his finest screen material. Readers of the novel will recall that tho story; fairly bristles with vivid, melodramatic situations; tho sort of situations that aro most effective on tho screen. The production was made by J. Stuart Blackton, with a cast that includes Malcolm M'Gregor, as Ralph; Alice Calhoun, as Dora; Mary Aldon, as Aunt Maggie; Wilfred North, as Mr Letham; Anders Randolph, as Stingo Hannaford; and Otto Matiesen, as Egbert; Olive Borden, ns Ina. Others in tho cast are Eulalie Jensen, Gardner James, Andrew Tourner, Jack Herrick, Philippe do Lacy, and Bobby Gordon. A skilful blending of Western drama and hilarious comedy is achieved in ‘ A Hero on Horseback,’ the second feature. Hoot Gibson, the popular cowhoy star, is seen in a new role, with Hoot playing tho part of a cowpuncher "with gambling proclivities, from which he is weaned away through the alchemy of love. The girl in the case is beautiful Ethlyno Clair, who supplies h charming foil for the inimitable Gibson. 'Tho Riddle Rider,’ starring William Desmond, is on the same bill. KING EDWARD . ‘ All Aboard,’ with Johnnie Hines in the'leading vole, is the chief attraction at the King Edward Theatre this week. Tho story deals with the adventures that befal a guide who is conducting a tour in Egypt, and who meets with excitement and romance. The second - ■ picture •is ‘ Tho Substitute Wife,’ featuring Jane Novak. The story deals with the wife of a blind man , who,, in order to indulge ,;n an illicit love affair with her husband’s .doctor, persuades another girl, to take her place iu the home of the blind man. The story works up to a powerful climax, and contains some wonderful acting. RCSLYW A social drama entitled ‘ Driven From . Home ’ will bo screened at the Eoslyn Theatre to-night. The picture was adapted from Hal Reid’s famous play of the same name, and has Virginia Lee Corbin in the leading role. Tin theme is of a highly dramatic nature, interspersed with an almost continual vein of wholesome humor. The cast l is a versatile one, and the director has giVcn the individual players plenty of scope to display their plviJiLn/xn,,. '