PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19778, 31 January 1928, Page 10

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE ‘The Cat and the Canary,’ a Universal super, mystery drama, is the premier attraction at the Empire Theatre. As a stage play it was conceded to be* one of the greatest mystery plays ever written, and, according to critics, the him version is even more mysterious than the play. The plot hinges about a murder in an unoccupied country residence, where six persons have gone at the hour of midnight to hear the reading of a will. Any one of the main characters might be the murderer, and ssiipiciou falls on first one and then the other. The logical though unusual ending is one that is impossible lor the audience to lorotell. Thu picture was directed by Paul Leni, noted European director, who was brought to America by Universal. The all-featured east in addition In Miss La Plante embraces such known actors as Arthur Edmund Carew, Crchditou, Hale, Forrest Stanley, Gertrude Astor, Flora Finch, George Siegmann, Tully Marshall, and Martha Mattox. The special musical score played by the Empire Orchestra, under Mr C. Parnell, adds greatly to the enjoyment of the programme. OCTAGON The underworld and the subway hear as close a relationship to each other as their bclow-surfacc terminology suggests, if one is to judge from the startling entanglement of crookdom and subway trains which enmeshes Monte Blue iu "his latest starring vehicle, 1 Wolf’s Clothing.’ now being screened at the Empire Theatre. The star’s adventures* in this stirring Artlii:. 1 Somers Roche story of a country youth who seeks fortune and romance in New York encompasses a medley of surprising development, which progress logically from one breathless incident to another in rapid succession. As an imaginative but unassuming youth in the unromantic role of a subway guard, Monte Blue finds his fortunes'cast with t hose of'a maniac and a charming woman. When the underworld easts a cloud over the fortunes of the principals, the ramifications of the story introduce unprecedented thrills. Patsy Ruth Miller plays the star m this remarkable Master picture. Roy Del Ruth directed it. and it was adapted by Darryl Francis Ztunick from Arthur Somers Roche’s pmiplar story. The Octagon Orchestra, under Mr L. D. Austin, plays a selection from 'Carmen ’ (Bizet), with a grand organ accompaniment. by Mr C. A. Martin. QUEEN’S The daring him version of ‘ Damaged Goods ’ is drawing crowded houses to the Queen's nightly. Eugene Bneux’s novel was banned in New Zealand some years hack by the authorities, hut 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 ere especially asked to see the him, so that they may be armed with a weapon, so to speak, to protect their children bv inculcating in them when opportunity odors the means_ by which they can avoid dreaded evils that so often lie in the path of life of the young. Bv order of the New Zealand him censor mixed audiences are prohibited, and it has therefore been decided that women only will bo 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 do admitted.

EVERYBODY’S AND KING EDWARD A prisoner in the swamps, accused of" stealing diamonds front the mine where he is foreman; stripped ot his decorations and drummed out of the French annv; wrecked on the shoals of a passionate love! Finally, winning happiness and honor once more. This is an outline of the adventures of Milton Sills in ‘ Framed,’ now at the Everybody's and King Edward Theatres. , No more thrilling historical incident could have been chosen as a background for Tim M'Coy’s histrionic_ talcnts_ than tlm Boxer uprising in China, which is told in a picturescpic and colorful manner in ‘ Foreign Devils,’ the supporting attraction. Oriental intrigue runs rampant throughout the entire screen story, and gives to the picturc-gocr a fair insight of oriental cunning and intrigue. One of the high lights of this remarkable picture is the terrific siege undergone in Peking by the white legations. M'Coy plays the role of the American military attache, and Claire Windsor has the role of-a noble English woman visiting the Chinese capital.

PLAZA AND GRAND ‘ Outlaws of Red River,’ with Tom Mix and Tony and a cast of screen favorites in support, is now being screened at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. This Fox Films drama of Texas Rangers has proven a treat for local audiences, as it is one of the best Westerns shown this season. It deals with the romantic adventures of Tom Morley, played by Mix. His horse Tony again performs feats of almost human intelligence, and a fine cast supports the star. Marjorie Daw has the leading feminine role.

Dick Talmadgo is the star in ‘ The fsle of Hope,’ which takes for its theme the very familiar 1 Treasure Island ’ motive; but the story of piratical plunder buried in the South Seas has been so dressed up by James Bell Smith that it seems entirely fresh; and no story offers more possibilities and is more usually delightful entertainment than this.