PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19775, 27 January 1928, Page 8

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE ‘The Cat and the Canary,’ now being screened at the Empire Theatre, has all the elements of suspense, mysterious disappearances, murder, and emotional climaxes which go to make an intriguing mystery drama. The story was taken from the famous stage success of the same name, by John Willard. It concerns the adventures of a group of six people who are gathered together in an abandoned country mansion at the hour of midnight. They had been brought there by” the reading of a will left by a wealthy recluse. The attorney reveals that the' testament names Annabelle West, played by Laura La Plante, as the chief legatee. Almost immediately alter the contents of the will have been disclosed things begin to happen to those who had gathered in the spooky old mansion, which had been in the sole care of a negro voodoo-wor-shipping mammy. The story is characterised by interesting and effective photographic shots, reflective of tire genius of director Paul Leni. His instinctive sense of beauty and drama bring into play an interpretation of the values of the plot, producing the audience-reaction so eagerly sought after by directors. Laura La Plante is admirable as the harassed heroine, and her supporting cast does splendid work. The other featured players are Arthur Edmund Carew, Forrest Stanley, Tully Marshall, Martha Mattox, Lucien Littlofield, George Siegmann, Flora Finch, Gertrude Astor, all of whom interpret their parts with finished dramatic artistry. Special musical effects will bo played by the Empire Orchestra, under. Mr C. Parnell. ‘ Sunshine and Showers ’ (Flath) and ‘The Sneak’ (Brown) are included in the musical numbers. OCTAGON Monte Blue has never had a better starring vehicle than ‘ Wolf’s Clothing,’ the premier attraction at th» Octagon Theatre. The story, by Arthur Somers Roche, tells of a subway guard who has come to New York from the country in order to enjoy the life of the Great White Way.- But his job is a night job, and the train upon which lie works, while it runs along Broadway, runs under the big street, and the guard never gets a chance to see what the White Lights are like. That is, not until one New Year’s Eve, and then lie sees sights that open up his great big blue eyes. Looking on at the same time is a society girl, who had never ventured to the White Way before without being heavily chaperoned. She cuts loose from convention on New Year's Eve and goes “ slumming ” alone away from Park avenue in ,-T wild night club. She meets the subway guard and thinks he is a great gentleman. And she fairly knocks him off his feet with lovelike emotion. They are having a whalo of a, time when they run into a crook mystery .that _ carries them through a whirlwind ot melocliaimatic excitement. This excitement is intensified through the excellent production that the Warner Bros, have given to the storv. Monte Blue is the star, and he is a star who is steadily increasing in popularity. As the subway guard he has a chance to show melodramatic force, comedy, pathos, tenderness, and rip-snorting joy of life. It is a role made lor Monte Blue, and he acts it with_ contagious glee. Playing opposite him is Patsy Until Miller, as the society girl, who has her Arabian Night. She plays the role beautifully. And vivid performances are given by John Miljan and Douglas Go-rare!. T The Octagon Orchestra, under Air L. D. Austin, will play a selection from ‘Carmen’ (Bizet), with a grand organ accompaniment by Mr C. A. Martin. GRAND AND PLAZA ‘The Outlaws of Red River,’ which is ou the new programme lor the Grand and Plaza Theatres, is a story of a long search lor a bandit gang. ■ Tom Aiix has the role of a Texas Ranger. The story begins with Tom as a boy crossing the Texas bad lands, when outlaws raid the wagon of his loster parents and sister. The parents are slain and the girl carried away. Tom grows up determined to find his playmate and her mother. He becomes a ranger, and is sent to break up the gang that is operating along Red River. Ho poses as an outlaw, and robs a stage coach for which the gang is waiting. After the stage robbery ho races away ou Tony, and leads the gang a wild chase until he escapes. Later he comes upon them and proposes a merger, with him joining the Red River outfit, because competition ruining the stage-robbing business. The outlaws agree, and lead Tom to the stockade where they have their lair. There he finds Lola, played by Marjorie Daw, the childhood playmate who was abducted. Their plans for escape are frustrated, hut Tom gets away, and, with other rangers, returns in an armored coach. With great difficulty they drag this up the inclme_ until it is on the top of the mountain above the outlaws’ stronghold. Then they flock in and start the coach crashing down hill and into the bandits’ fortress, where they are just in time to save the oirl. The young lieutenant has just slain the aged outlaw leader, who has protected the girl and is preparing to seize her, when Tom leaps from the coach for the final battle. . ‘ln the Isle of Hope, the second attraction, Richard Talmadge outdoes himself in flying leaps, swings, stunts, and general acrobatics, and he has an excellent story in which to work. Ihe nart of the youthful adventurer who cannot he chained down to an office desk by his wealthy father, but who insists on roaming the seven seas in search of a hidden pirate treasure is eminently suited to his ability. Hie picture, which proves Dick s best, is filled with sensational and dramatic action. The cast is particularly well chosen, and gives the star fine support. QUEEN'S As a. result of the world’s recent great upheaval leading scientists, both m the war zone and out of it, have educated the public mind to regard the important subject dealt with in the play ‘ Damaged Goods,’ which was staged in New Zealand some years ago, in a serious and straightforward way. From the film production of ‘ Damaged Goods.’ which opens at the Queen’s Theatre to-day, any crude detail occurring in the book or play has been eliminated. Eugene Brieux’s novel was banned in New Zealand some years back by the authorities, but it is quite safe to assume that, with the experience that the war has brought, the novel would now be gladly received, not only by the medical faculty, but by those broadvisioned workers who have come out in the open and insisted upon the scourge being attacked and stemmed. Parents are especially asked to see the film, so that they may be armed with a weapon, so to speak, to protect their children by inculcating in them when opportunity offers the means_ by which they can avoid dreaded evils that so often lie in the path of life of the young. By order of the New Zealand film censor mixed audiences are prohibited, and it has therefore been decided that women only will be admitted to the dress circle and men only to the stalls. The censor has made another proviso—viz., that no individual under the age of sixteen years is to be admitted.

EVERYBODY'S AND KING EDWARD Milton Sills, First National star, is becoming a “ foreign actor.” Ho lias been playing roles depicting various nationalities with amazing skill. He was a Frenchman in ‘The Silent Lover ’; in ‘ The Sea Tiger ’ he was a Spaniard. Now he is a Frenchman again in ‘Framed,’ the current attraction at Everybody’s and the King Edward Theatres, where it is being received enthusiastically. He is drummed out of the French army during the World War as the result of a. false accusation. He repudiates his native land and goes to Brazil to become a foreman in the diamond fields. There he is again ‘‘framed ” and sent to a penal settlement, where he is finally vindicated. It is a story of thrills, and has a fascinating background. Natalie Kingston is the leading lady. John Miljan, E. J. Fadcliffe, Charles Gerrard. and Ed Piel all have admirable roles. Colonel Timothy M‘Coy has been a soldier, rancher, and globe-trotter, and is an expert in Indian lore. He starred with great distinction in ‘War Paint.’ ‘ Winners of the Wilderness,’ ‘ California.’ and ‘The Frontiersman.’ _ In ‘ Foreign Devils ’ his flair for virile out-of-door drama is afforded a unique opportunity, and he has made this Ins best picture to date. Besides being supported by beautiful Claire Windsor, there are Frank Currier, Cyril Chadwick, Emily Fitzroy, and Sojjn, who give masterly performances in this drama of danger, romance, and cyclonic action.