PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE ! Scnorita,’ which opened at the Empire Theatre to-day, is a clever comedy, with Bebc Daniels, one of the most popular comedians of the present time, in tho title role. As the spirited South American girl who has been blessed with boyish habits, Miss Daniels gambols in ' her usual blytho fashion, spreading largesse of comedy and merriment on her way. The spirit of South America, a country a little mad and full of action, has been caught by the camera, and is apparent throughout the picture, with the result that it becomes an extremely laughable effort. The story deals with an episode in tho life of Francesca Hernandez, a young girl of Spanish parents, who was born m San Francisco, and who should have been born, a boy. She can outdo many men: in the field of sport, and rides, shoots, and handles a sword with masterly success. Her uncle, Don Francisco, who is m .South America, and believes his grandchild to be a boy, sends for “him” to help retrieve the family fortune, which has been steadily ebbing owing to tho depredations of old enemies, the Oliveros. In order to save the old man from pain Francesco masquerades as a hoy and rallies round her the old family retainers. With their help she brings confusion upon their rivals. Roger Olivero, who has been travelling in Europe,' returns to she ranch, and the replenishing of tho Hernandez property is represented to him as outlawry. At a carnival Roger and Francesca meet, the latter in feminine clothes, and they fail in love with one another. Later hr tho course of the feud she engages in a _duel_ with Roger, ami her true identity is revealed when she falls wounded. Roger’s hatred for a Hernandez then gives way to his love and admiration for tho girl, while her grandfather is both astounded and delighted The first of a new sporting series entitled ‘The Collegians ’ will also be shown, while Mr lies. Dailey will sing ‘ Lolita ’ and ‘ln a Little Spanish Town.’ The Empire Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Charles Parnell, will render a selection of Spanish airs.

OCTAGON Since Syd. Chaplin was catapulted into tame as tho leading character in ‘ Charley's Aunt * ho has been: a firm favorite among picturcgoers all the world over, in his latest picture, ‘ Oh,

What a Nurse,’ Chaplin has the part of Jerry Clam, a reporter, who dived from a ferry boat to save a girl who had fallen overboard, lie is rescued by tho crew of a rum runner. In order to escape detection from the coastguards tho bootleggers force Jerry to adopt feminine garb in the pockets of which he finds some papers incriminating his captors. lie escapes, and, still in the disguise, goes to his office, whcrc hc is sent to interview an old man. His disguise is revealed, however, and in his flight he trips over a suit ease, throwing out a nurse’s uniform. He quickly changes into the uniform, and poses us a new attendant for the aged Mr Harrison, who is living in the house. Harrison is trying to make his ward, June, marry Clive Hurst against the girl’s will, but she has decided not to marry him. Harrison then gets the rum running captain to take them aboard the boat and marry them at sea. Jerry, still in tho nurse’s costume, manages to slip aboard, too, and breaks up the wed-

cling by declaring that, “ she-” was CUve’s real wife. The captain then decides to marry the girl himself, but Jerry “vamps” him until he wishes to marry tho nurse. His wig happens to slip off, however, and the disguise is again revealed. A wildly exciting chase then commences, and Jerry finally overcomes tho entire crew in a novel manner > and ■ rescues the girl in a thrilling climax. Patsy Ilnth_ Miller has the role of Juno, while David Torrance is seen ;j£ old Harrison, ’She rum-running captain is Mathew Betz, and Edith Sorke portrays Jerry’s mother. The picture was produced by Warner Bros, from a story by Robert E. Sherwood and Bertram Bloch. The comedy.was in tho hands of “Chuck” Rceisncr, who made the “gags” that helped Charlie Chaplin to fame, and later became Byd. Chaplin’s director when ho produced ‘ The Man 6u the Box.’

EVERYBODY’S ' ‘The Monkey Talks/ Fox Films version of the sensational Paris, London, and New York stage success, directed by Raoul Walsh, maker of ‘What Price Glory?’ opened at Everybody’s Theatre this afternoon. This picture has been attracting capacity audiences all over the country, as its remarkable combination of direction, casting, and story makes it one of the outstanding pictures of tho present season. Olive Borden has the stellar role, while Jaques Lerner, the creator of the monkey that talks in the original Paris stage play, enacts the same role in the screen version. The second,attraction, ‘ Heaven on Earth.’ is a picturesque I comedy of Southern France, with Hence Adorce add Conrad Nagel in the lead- I ing roles.

QUEEH'S Virile roles that prove the quality of a real man have fallen to the lot of Milton Sills naturally, because of his own character and appearance, lie is a powerful .man with a powerful mentality, and both have boon brought to play' in his First National pictures, the latest of which is called 1 Tho Sea Tiger,’ and commences at the Queen’s Theatre this afternoon, in this fimi Sills is a fisherman, a lowly occupation, perhaps, but one demanding a maximum of courage to fight the stormy seas off tho Canary Islands, where the story is laid, lie does a tremendous piece of acting, and his work throughout is characterised by its vividness. Mary Astor is his leading lady. KING EBVMIID ‘ The Sea Tiger,’ the chief attraction at the King Edward Theatre to-night is a spectacular drama of Spanish love and sea storms. Milton Sills' is in the starring role, with Mary Astor as Ids leading lady. In ‘Heaven on Earth,’ the second feature, Renee Adoree and Conrad Nagel are the stars. Nagel plays tho first Frenchman of his career, and he is seen in tho role of a vpga-, bond, Renee Adoree plays opposite him in' tho role of a young gipsy girl.