PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19714, 15 November 1927, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE _ Lon Chancy has built a high reputation as a master of disguise, and in * Mr Wu,’ the picture at the Empire Theatre this week, that reputation is enhanced, to no small extent. Chaney has contrived, not only to disguise his features, but his manner and habits appear to become those of a Chinese mandarin. Basil Gregory is the central figure, and he falls in love with the daughter of the powerful mandarin, Mr Wn. The latter ■ conceives a terrible revenge against the Western family, and kills his daughter in accordance with his ancient laws. He then captures Basil, and prepares him for death. Not content with this, he lures the boy’s mother and sister to his home, and tells the former that her son’s laic lies in her hands. Finally, after hours of heartbreaking torture, Mrs Gregory stabs the Chinaman and frees her son. Assisting the star is a strong cast of players, which includes Louise Dresser, Reno Adoreo, and Ralph Forbes. OCTAGON ‘Rough House Rosie,’ with Clara Bow in the leading role, is still attracting large audiences to the Octagon Theatre. This picture is a comedydrama that keeps the audiences amused and interested throughout the whole screening. Miss How lias the role oi Hosie O’Reilly, whose fiance, Joe Henncssoy, is training for a championship boxing bout. The girl meets Arthur Russell, and he so fascinates her that she forgets Joe for the time being. At a party given at Russell’s residence, however, she becomes so disgusted with that form of society that she leave*, and attends the stadium, where Joe ,is to box that night for the championship. Her presence acts as a. spur to the boy, and ho wins his match and becomes reconciled to the girl. Clara Bow has shown in other pictures what she is capable of, and in ‘ Rough House Rosio ’ she gives a vivid impersonation of the vivacious Rosie. Playing opposite to her are Reed Howes, Arthur Housman, Doris Hill, Douglas Gilmore, John Miljan, and Henry Kolkcr. QUEEN'S A picture with Johnny Hines in the title role generally provides a good deal of merriment, and in ‘ All Aboard, lus latest production, there is no exception to the rule. This delightful comedy, with Edna Murphy in the lomimnc lead, is now being screened at the Queen’s Theatre. ‘ All Aboard ’ is, ol course, broad comedy, and in it Johnny, originally a clerk with a bad memory, obtains a position as guide to a party of tourists travelling to the Far East Ho falls in love with his employer's daughter. A sheik, who is in an approaching matrimonial entanglement, appears on the scene, and solicits Johnny’s 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,’ which is now showing at Everybody’s Theatre, has Josephine Dunn, James Hall, Evelyn lircut, 'William Powell, Iris Gray, and Frank Morgan in the principal "roles. Miss Dunn who plays ( the leading feminine role, and iris Gray, in an important characterisation, are graduates of the Paramount school. ‘Love’s Greatest Mistake’ is the talc of tiic adventures that hclall Honey, a small-town girl in search of a thrill in New York, who innocently becomes involved in the nefarious schemes of a blackmail gang. With Jane Novak’ in the title role, ‘The Substitute AVilo ’ makes an excellent supporting feature. PLAZA AND GRAND The feature picture at the Plaza and Grand Theatres this week is ‘ The Happy Warrior,’ which is an adaption of A. S. M. Hutchinson’s novel of an English circus and the prize ring. The cast includes Malcolm M'Grcgor, Alice Calhoun, Wilfred North, ami Mary Aide n. ‘A Hero on Horseback,’ starring Hoot Gibson, is the second team re, and provides the first important IcadingTole for the vivacious and winsome Ethlyne Clair. Her auburn-haired beauty continually diverts Hoot from more serious pursuits in this picture, ,widely is the screen version of Peter B. Kync's short story, ‘Broad Upon the Waters.’ ’I ho cast includes Edwards Davis, Edward Hearn, and Dan Mason. The serial picture, ‘The .Riddle Rider,’ is on the same bill. KING EDWARD ‘Mr Wu,’ showing at the King Edward Theatre, displays Lon Chancy in a new angle to his old arts. As is usually tho case in his outstanding plays, Chaney uses intricate make-up for an intricate character, hut this time ho goes beyond his usual portrayal. Ho invades another race for his character, as tho silent, subtle, and sinister Chinese mandarin, versed in the knowledge of ages; almost uncanny in his insight into human character and his enormous power, pursuing his relentless programme of revenge against a lamily who wronged him. ‘Love’s Greatest Mistake’ is also showing.