PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19773, 25 January 1928, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON Sally O’Neil, the heroine of ‘Mike,’ < glide, Kelly, Slide,’ and ‘ ’Frisco Sally Levy,’ has never appeared in a more lovable and winsome characterisation than she does in the title role of < Becky,’ now showing at the Octagon Theatre. She reveals an unsuspected depth of feeling in the emotional scenes. ‘Becky’ is a swiftly moving drama, teeming wdth the color, glamor, and thrills of city life. It affords an intimate glimpse into the lives of shop girls. Sally O’Neil is seen in the role of ‘ Becky,’ a child of the city, who starts life as a shop girl, and who, after some surprising adventures, becomes a sensational stage hit. Owen Moore, Gertrude Olmsted, Mack Swain, and Harry Crocker have prominent parts in the supporting cast A feature of this delightful entertainment is a selection from 4 11 Trovatore,’ played by the Octagon Orchestra, with an organ accompaniment by Mr C. A. Martin.

EMPIRE ‘ Lost at the Front,’ tho premiere attraction at the Empire Theatre, provides entertainment of the most hilarious kind. Charlie Murray and George Sidney are the featured comedians, and they keep the audience in a roar of laughter with their inimitable antics. The story is based on friendship between an Irish New York policeman and a German saloon keeper. They are true comrades, and occasionally they become friendly enemies. One of these occasions arises when they both become interested in Olga, a sculptress who has her studio not far from the saloon. Then the war begins, ami a short time after the German has invested in a discarded wireless set, sold to him by a wily commercial traveller, he is called up as a reservist to fight for the Fatherland. Tho policeman and Olga know of tho wireless set, and be- > come convinced that it is some deadly ( contraption to further the _ power of i Germany in America, so Patrick decides that it is his duty to enlist on the offchance of finding his erstwhile friend 1 and destroying the apparatus before j it hurls destruction on the American army. This situation gives scope for diverse complications, which are calculated to amuse the most dour of audiences. There are excellent supporting picturm on the programme, and the music by the orchestra enhances the enjoyment of the evening.

QUEEN'S Everv vital aspect of the most cyclonic fistic battle in boxing annals is vividly and graphically shown in the film of the Dcmpsey-Tunney struggle which is now atracting crowded audiences to the Queen’s Theatre. Round by, round Tunney is seen in defence of his world’s heavy-weight boxing title, and just what a wonderful come-back Dempsey really made is apparent from the picture. "‘Alias the Deacon,’ with Jean Hersholt in the starring rolo, is an excellent supporting attraction, and features the star in his most famous role. The second episode of ‘ The Silent Elver,’ starring Silver Streak, the wonder dog, is also showing.

EVERYBODY'S ‘Over the Hill.’ the chief attraction at Everybody’s Theatre, is a picture which is wholesome, clean, and inspiring. It is not a great spectacular extravaganza, calling for massive settings, gilded scenes, or an expensive cast; yet, with its homely story-—a little oldfashioned mother, an affectionate but weak-willed husband, six_ children, a dog, and a humble home—it has an appeal which sets the other and more pretentious settings in the shade. Evelyn Brent ains fresh laurels in ‘ Lady Robin Hood,’ the supporting picture, which is a thrilling and interesting romance. Commencing on _ Friday, Milton Sills will bo seen in his latest First National picture, ‘ Framed.’ and in this story of the Brazilian diamond: mines is depicted a “mud rush.” From all accounts this is one of the most thrilling scenes ever enacted for tins screen. Natalie Kingston is the loading Indy. The dashing Tim M‘Cny is ll’c >iar in the second feature, ‘Foreign ■ Devil?,’ which is a powerful, realistic story of a Iwautiful romance amid (.ho terrors of (lie Chinese Boxer rebellion.

GRAND AND PLAZA Ken Maynard seems to become more popular with every now production, and in his latest picture ‘ Fighting Courage,’ which heads the hill at the Pinza and Grand Theatres, ho handles his role like a general and gives promise of winning for himself and his favorite mount,'Tarzan, wide additional following. Those who have seen 1 J ighting Courage ’ pronounce it among the best Western screen entertainments yet filmed. The supporting production is ‘ The Wreck,’ featuring Shirley Mason and Malcolm M'Gregor. Here is a melodrama of crooks and romance that ■ speeds along at a breathless pace. A strong cast includes such well-known players as Francis MacDonald, James ’ Bradbury, jun.. and Frances Raymond. A special attraction is announced for Friday, when the popular Tom Mis will be seen ns the Phantom Falcon in ‘ Outlaws of Red River.’ Dick Talmadge is also featured in this story of adventure on the high sens.

HOSLYH < Rough House Rosie,’ starring Clara Bow, is the attraction hilled for presentation at the Roslyn Theatre to-night, Here is a bright comedy-drama, specially suited to Clara’s vivid personality. Clara Bow proves that she is not' one of those delicate, fragile beings, addicted to milk baths and noontime rising, in her latest picture. Sin proves herself an accurate hasehal thrower, a hefty sledge-hammer wielder an indefatigable chorus dancer, a powerful swimmer, and a glutton for pngilis tic punishment in ‘Rough House Rosie. The production is as ' energetic am | breath-taking ns the name indicates.

0 KING EDWARD :t South Dunedin movie patrons will be y well served at the King Edward Theatre b to-night, when ‘ Lost at the Front ’ will he shown. The two inimitable 0 comedians Charlie Murray and George i- Sidnev are the principal fun-makers, fc- ‘ The Collegians ’ is on the same bill, n ——

' that it would be made available to us. His explanation of why ho has taken , r this extraordinary course is heavily j ' overdue. It is my opinion—and in ' forming it lam fortified by disclosures made by the Prime Minister of the j magnitude of the Samoan revolt—that . ’ the “big stick” policy of .the New 7 Zealand Government in Samoa has utterly failed; that the recall of General Richardson is an immediate necessity; and that, if the situation is to be r " retrieved, and the historic rights of !g the Samoans conserved, the League of f Nations must awaken to a sense of its ' responsibility, and take prompt action. "V To me it seems deplorable that, he- ' cause of the failure of those in J authority to understand the psychology ; r of the natives, and their refusal to t 0 apply the ordinary principles of British f justice in Samoa, the main outcome of ‘ 1- New Zealand’s rule should be a situation big with possibilities of disaster, n- and that our authorities should only is- be capable of meeting such a situation he with a threat of additional administrate five violence and injustice.”