PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19890, 12 June 1928, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

THE REGENT

With a cross-section of life in the Hawaiian Islands for its background, ‘Hula,’ one of the attractions now showing at the Regent Theatre, is a most charming setting for the appearance of the dashing Clara Bow. The story is adapted from the modern novel of the same name by Armine Von Torapski. and deals with the adventures or a Hawaiian girl who loves an English engineer. Clive Brook has the leading male role opposite Miss Bow, while other prominent members of the cast are Arletto Marcbnl, Arnold Kent, Albert Gran, and Agostiim Borgato. * Honeymoon Hato ’ is the amusing tale of a woman’s journey half round the world to find the man she loves. He turns out to bo an Italian prince who is also a shopkeeper and a professional guide. ‘ Honeymoon Hate ’ develops through the unfortunate motto of the Prince’s house: “Wo shall bo obeyed.” Florence’s father is a manufacturer of steel, famous for its resistance, and she adopts the trade mark as her slogan. Set in lovely Venice, the picture glides along the canals in picturesque gondolas. Florence Vidor is the chief star.

The Regent Operatic Orchestra plays ft delightful programme.

OCTAGON

The world-famous juvenile screen star, Jackie Coogan, gives his admirers a new thrill in ‘ Buttons,’ now showing at the Octagon Theatre. The thrill is a sensational shipwreck, when a modern palatial deep-sea liner plunges headlong to a watery grave, and hundreds of passengers struggling in the dark waters «ro rescued by searchlight on life rafts It is a spectacular ending to a fascinating. well-presented story. Among the supporting players is Lars Hanson, who gave ft trenchant performance in ‘ Captain Salvation.’ Ho is the ship’s master again in ‘ Buttons,’ showing that ho is a powerful actor with his impressive portrayal of a big role. Pretty Gertrude Olmsted is in the feminine lead, and challenges admiration. Polly Moran, who scored in that mystery drama, ‘The Thirteenth Hour,’ provides many laughable moments, while Roy D’Arcy, master of suave villainy, also appears. Many good supports are shown, while the delightful music by Monsieur De Rose’s orchestra. greatly enhances an excellent entertainment.

EMPIRE

There are few who have not been delighted with the acting of Charlie Murray, that finished exponent of Irish impersonations. Ho is at his best In ‘The Life of Riley,’ an irresistibly funny comedy being screened at the Empire -Theatre. Playing with him is George Sidney, another famous comic actor of the silver sheet. The principals combine their public duty of police and fire chiefs with much courtship of a wealthy widow. There is deadly rivalry between the two, and this is responsible for some very laughable situations. ‘ Gigolo 5 is on the same hill, and "is Rod La Roque’s new picture dealing with life in Parisian cafes in the period after the war. The opening scones are laid in America, and show Gideon Gory and Mary Hub* be! as sweethearts. Subsequently Gideon returns to Europe, and joins the Lafayette Escadnllo on the outbreak of the Great War, during which he is badly wounded. The story after that is a combination of romance and pathos, with many thrilling adventures in the course of the unfolding of the plot. 'Die theme is an attractive one, and is nicely worked out to a happy ending. The local features cover the second and third days’ racing at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting, and the South African war veterans’ memorial parade. The orchestral music is an added attraction.

GRAND AND PLAZA

Francis X. Bushman and Anna Q. Nilsson are the leading players in ‘ The Thirteenth Juror,’ the chief attraction at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. The plot of the story surrounds the unalloyed friendship of a prominent and wealthy barrister, who loves tho wife of his best pal, who has not been so successful in the business world. Their friendship continues even after tho mar riago of Marsden and Helen Fraino, am) not until George Quinn, a political boss, infers relations between Desmond and tho pretty wife does doubt creep in. Desmond, to prove his feeling toward Marsden, takes his case when Quinn is found murdered, and Marsden is held for the crime. How he saves his friend from life imprisonment is told in dramatic fashion in a crashing climax. ‘ The White Sister ’ is the second feature on the bill.

EVERYBODY'S AND KING EDWARD

Antonio Aloreno and Olivo Borden are tho stars in ‘Como to My House,’ which is now being shown at Everybody’s and tho King Edward Theatres. It tells about Joan Century, a girl who has beauty, intelligence, and every luxury money can buy, but who cannot master her own heart. She is continually tom between the man to whom she is engaged and another, who has flashed across her life like a meteor. In a, moment of weakness she visits this man’s house and i; discovered. She is an outcast from society. All avoid her except the man to whom she is betrothed. Distraught, she does not know whether she loves her staid fiance for bis loyalty, or whether it is the dashing man who has completely captured her fancy at first sight. The other picture is ‘ Moot tho Prince.’

QUEEN'S

The chief attraction on the programme at the Queen’s Theatre is ‘ Down to tho, Sfea in Ships.’ Tbo most

exciting moments in the picture are shown when a “ bull ” whale is harpooned, and, realising what little chance he has of escaping, turns on his captors, sweeps ope side of the boat, leaving but the stumps of broken oars in the hands of the fear-stricken crew. The harpoon Is still embedded deeply in the back of the whale, and in one last effort to rid himself of the lifetaking iron the giant mammal swims off to a distance of several hundred feet, turns, hesitates an instant, and then charges the boat with the speed and force of the fastest express. _ It is only a matter of seconds nntil the whale has hit the boat square in the middle, smashing it to bits and tossing its crew into the air. The title of the supporting film is ‘ The Eagle,’ in which Rudolph Valentino and yilma Banky are emitted.