PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19765, 16 January 1928, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE All; those in search of screamingly funny entertainment should visit the ' Empire Theatre this week and see I ‘ Firemen, Save My Child.’ Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton are the featured stars, and they provide one of the funniest pictures to date with their clever and inimitable antics. These stars were landed in the net of popular approval with ‘ Behind the Front ’ and ‘ We’re in the Navy Now,’ but they are even more preposterous in their latest farce. To make the reunion complete, the entire production line-up which scored so heavily in the two earlier pictures was behind the camera for ‘Firemen, Save My Child.’ Edward Sutherland, who directed the two previous Beery-Hatton triumphs, again weildecl the megaphone. Monty Brice, who was comedy constructor on those two pictures, and has since been elevated to the post of director, laid down his megaphone for this production and served as_ he did before, creating comedy situations. Mr Ernest M'Kinley’s songs are also a feature of the programme. His numbers include ‘Hail, Caledonia,’ ‘My Little Banjo,’ and ‘ Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes.’ Included in a fine picture programme is the eighth production of the popular ‘ Collegians ’ sporting series. The Empire Orchestra, under Mr Chas. Parnell is in excellent form, and a. very pleasing musical programme adds to the enjoyment of the evening. OCTAGON Patsy Ruth Miller and Glenn Tryon are featured in the all-star cast of ‘ Painting the Town,’ the exhilarating and mirth-provoking comedy now being screened at the Octagon Theatre. Miss Miller, who portrays the role of a madcap beauty of the Follies, has no diffi- ' culty in bringing to the screen an exceptionally fascinating character, .or 1 she plays practically the same role in real life, and is famous for it in Hollywood. Patsy Ruth is generally looked ' upon as a lovable tomboy in the mov.e i colony—one of those breezy types of 1 carefree gorgepusness who are said to j make good pals as well as good swiethearts. She makes her entrance m ‘ Painting the Town ’ in a way that is typical of the Patsy Ruth Miller •'ho I is known to her friends as Pat. Speeding ahead of a pair of motor inspectors, sho runs into a brick wall painted on canvas by the deft hand of a small town wise-cracker played by Glenn Tryon. Incidentally Glenn proved in this picture such a rare wise-cracker that he 1 fell into a contract with Uni- [ versal Pictures to keep us laughing for five years more. In addition . o nnnging out the new stellar comedian as a surprise, the picture affords Miss Miller the best opportunity of her career. And this is no surprise, for in the role of a dizzy Follies girl Patsy may be depended upon to do the three things she does best—dress, dash, and “look.” This farce was made under the direction of William James Jraft from the original story by Harry 0. Hoyt. The production has an all-star oast, which includes, in addition to Patsy Ruth Miller and Glenn Tryon, George Fawcett, Charles Gerrard, Sidney Bracy, Monte Collins, and Max Ascher. The Octagon Orchestra, under the direction of Mr G. D. Austin, contributes an excellent musical programme. EVERYBODY’S AND KING EDWARD One of the most popular teams in the hearts of movie fans are now appearing in ‘ Skinner’s Dress Suit,’ now showing at Everybody’s and the King Edward Theatres. Reginald Denny is the leading star, with Laura La Plante in support. Not since ‘The Fast Worker ’ have they been seen in pic-1 hires together, and requests for their I joint appearance have been so numerous i that Carl Laemmle. president of Universal, instructed that they be east jointly. Some of the supporting play- I ers include Hedda Hopper, E. J. Rat-1 cliffe, Arthur Lake, Lionel Brahm, and I Lucille Ward. ’ j ' The supporting attraction, ‘ The : • Gilded ‘Highway,’ starring Dorothy; Devore and Johnny Harron, is the drama of a middle-class family who inherit millions and are plunged into the glitter, the sparkle, the gaiety of wealth, but who - somehow fail to “fit in” in the golden circle. Hero is a modern pilgrim family’s progress in the realms of the worldly wise, a romance of fluctuating fortunes, and a deeply human story of hearts and dollars. QUEEN'S There is much to commend in ‘The Country Beyond,’ the screen version of James Oliver Curwood’s widely-read novel, now being screened at the Queen’s Theatre. A fine story of absorbing interest, containing pathos, humor, and action in just-the right proportions, with a star whose winsome beauty captures the hearts of audiences. Olive Borden plays the part of Valencia, Curwood’s bewitching girl of the Canadian wilds. And both as the unsophisticated child of Nature dancing in the moonlight among scense of natural beauty and later as a premiere dancer on the New York stage, she is equally delightful. Ralph Graves plays 1 opposite Miss Borden as her lover, . while J. Farrell MacDonald is cast as the whistling sergeant of the Mounted. The second production is ‘ Mulhall’s Great Catch,’ featuring the popular Lefty Flynn. Hero is another of those peppy, fast-raoving-action pictures that I the athletic star lias been specialising in of late. The film of the Dempscy-Tunney fight, which will have its initial screening at the Queen’s Theatre on Friday, has excited a great deal of interest wherever it has been shown. Every phase of the sensational battle is vividly portrayed. PLAZA AND GRAND Fascinating Norma Shearer rises to new heights m ‘ After Midnight,’ which is one of the attractions at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. This production possesses a modern story, which’ tells of two sisters, one a cigarette seller m a night cabaret, the other a chorus girl. One is thrifty and steady, while the other is extravagant and flighty. But in their hour of greatest need—when the steadv, dependable girl does not care whether she lives or dies—it is the jazz-mad Maizie who protects her regardless of her own safety. ‘ The Prince of Headwaiters, with Lewis Stone, Priscilla Bonner, Lilyan Tashman, Ann Rork, Robert Agnew, and E. J. Ratcliffe as the featured players, is the second attraction. It is ono of the really exceptional pictures of the year, with Mr Stone in his most dramatic rok> of the season.