PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19924, 21 July 1928, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT The war of non-combatants deprived of th% tools of war; men and women goaded by thoughts of murder and destruction, but lacking the opportunity to give vent to their feelings! This is 1 Barbed Wire,’ the new Pola Negri starring vehicle, which opened at the Regent Theatre yesterday, ‘ Barbed Wire,’ a dramatic love story of power and appeal, has been acclaimed the most unusual war picture ever filmed. It is unique in that it is not primarily a story of the battlefield tiself; it reveals the dark currents of the back eddies from the time of the declaration of hostilities until after the Armistice was signed. The story is from the great English author, Sir Hall Caine, being an adaptation by Jules Furthman of the novel 1 The Woman of Knookaloe.’ ‘Barbed Wire’ had the benefit of international production, for it was guided through the studio by Erich Pommer, the German producer, and Rowland V. Leo, the American director. i The players are also of international fame, the star, Pola Negri, being Polish; Clive Brook, English; Einar Hanson, Swedish; Gustav Von Seyffcrlitz. Austrian; Clvde Cook. Australian; and Claude Gillingwater and Charles Lane, Americans. 1 Service for Ladies J is a tale of an unconventional head waiter who posed as a nobleman and won a. pretty girl. Adolphe Meninu is in the title role, and Kathryn Carver is the leading lady. Winter sports in the Swiss Alps, including a stirring race down fastest toboggan slide in the world, and a snectncnlar ico carnival, are some of the features of this production. A further attraction is the orchestral music, which leaves little to he desired. OCTAGON ‘ The Chinese Parrot,’ tho Paul Leni production of the Earl Derr Biggers’s story of the same name, which was for months a weekly fiction in the ‘ Saturday Evening Post,’ and which is now showing as a screen play at the Octagon Theatre, has certainly made a deep impression on local motion picture patrons. Last evening tho largo crowd filled every scat in tho theatre. Here is a photoplay which will live in the minds of those who see-it lor years to come. It is made without crowds or massive settings; without sensationalism or feats of daring; yet it keeps tho audience on tho edge of their seats throughout tho entire showing of tho masterly acting under this directorial genius. The plot is simple—that of a man who goes out into the world to amass a great fortune so that ho may repay tho girl who spurned his love in his own sensational way. But after ho gains his wealth and the opportunity arises ho is .not capable of following through with his original plans. The actors aro few, but perfectly cast. Marian Nixon and Edmund Burns carry the feature roles in the picture, although Hobart Bosworth and ' K. Sojin, noted Chhose actor, are also prominent. To them and to Leni, that great Teuton artist of the screen, goes the credit for a perfectly-presented melodrama, full of fme acting and good directing. The acting is not tho vigorous hand-and-chest type, hut is tho more delicate and more difficult typo which depends on the moving of a land or the turning of a head for its rare finesse. This is the most difficult sort of picture to direct, yet is without doubt the most interesting to watch. Many good supports aro also shown, and the programme is greatly enhanced by the musical numbers by Monsieur De Rose and his orchestra, who play many special numbers in conjunction with tho main attraction. STRANG ‘Sorrell and Son,’ the remarkable United Artists’ production, had its local premiere at the Straud Theatre yesterday. The love and self-sacrifice of a father for his son, and a son’s devotion to Iris father are the themes of ‘ Sorrell and Sou,’ which has been acclaimed as the greatest portrayal of father and sou comradeship ever seen. The picture is at times full of pathos, but is entirely free of any sentimentality, v,finch would not be in keeping with the fineness of the characters and the depth cf the final tragedy. As the self-sacrificing father, Captain Stephen Sorrell, who undertakes any labour which will enable him to educate his son, H. 13. Warner acts with a sincerity and depth of feeling which cannot fail to appeal, while in the role of the younger Sorrell Nils Asther gives another tine characterisation, marked by a remarkable finish and restraint. Anna Q. Nilsson, as the sopliisticatcd, heartless mother, and Carmel Myers as the vixenish beautj' who makes Captain Sorrell’s life at the Anchor inn a purgatory, are both excellent foils to the central characters. Tho story is that of a British war veteran whoso wife deserts him and libs six-year-old son. Tho veteran, Captain Stephen Sorrell, M.C., thereafter struggles against ingratitude, poverty, vice,,and physical exhaustion_ to rear and educate his beloved sou, in whom ho is ultimately well pleased. Interwoven with the story of father and son devotion are the sub-plots of Stephen Sorrell’s friendship with Fanny Garland, Kit Sorrell’s love for Molly Roland, Roland’s kindness for Stephen Sorrell, Sergeant Buck’s enmity lor Sorrell, Florence Palfrey’s scorn of her drunken husband and angry passion for Captain Sorrell, and Dora Sorrell’s bitter struggle to win front her husband the love of their son Kit. Throughout tho evening a delightful musical programme is rendered by Mr L. D. Austin’s Symphonic Orchestra. EVERYBODY'S ‘The Climbers,’ starring Irene Rich, supported by a large cast, in which there arc natives of Australia, D.&.A., Denmark, India, and Italy, is the present attraction at Everybody’s Theatre. Briefly, the story tells of tho Duchess of Arrogan, who' through machinations of a climber in the Spanish Court, is subjected to arrest when found in the company of the Duke of Cordova, who has entered her boudoir _ without her knowledge. Both aro banished to New Spain—the mother parted from her small daughter, Laska. In New Spain Cordova becomes a bandit leader, and tho Duchess, _ embittered against all men, grows rich and hated. Cordova, the bandit, coming to her hacienda to rob, stays to make love. The daughter, Laska, now a young woman, escapes from the Court of the King and comes to New Spain, seeking her mother. Cordova has given up the leadership of the bandits, and protects the girl from them. He sends her to her mother, whom ho has also protected from the marauders, being himself wounded. When Laska comes her mother docs not know her, and lashes her from her door. When Cordova explains both go in search of the girl. They bring her back, and the Duchess marries Cordova. ‘The Triumph of the Rat’ is the title of tjie additional attraction, which introduces Ivor Novello, Isabel Jeans, Julio Suede, Marie Ault, Lewin Mannering, Charles Dormer, and Mrs Hayden Coffin. Dale Austen’s picture, 1 Miss New Zealand in Movieland,’ is also being screened. GRAND AND PLAZA ‘ The Law of tho Range,’ the story of brother against brother in love and battle, is tho current attraction at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. Tho story is remarkable for its_ gripping drama and rapid action. It is the tale of two brothers lost to each other in I’fc, and to their murdered parents, through the swift and vengeful onslaught of a posse of Red men suddenly swooping down on a wagon train. One lad escapes, the other is taken prisoner and brought

up by the Rod men until h«, iofl, escapes years afterwards. _ Now, in maniiood, tho older brother k a Tszaa Ranger, his name known wherever hard riding, courage, and straight shooting is admired and feared— the other is, where, and what? A supporting programme of short pictures is also showing.

KING EDWARD Clara Bow and Antonio Moreno are the starred players in ‘lt,’ the main feature of the bill now being presented at the King Edward Theatre. ‘ The Land Beyond the Law,’ a new Western picture, is the other film, introducing Ken Maynard and Dorothy Dwan. STRAND The last opportunity of witnessing the remarkable production 1 Ben Hur * will bo afforded Roslyu Theatre patrons to-night. The most enthusiastic and flower}' claims that have been made for ‘Ben Hur’ are but the veriest truth. Tho story of Christ, reverently handled, is, in its beauty _ and its dignity inspiring. Its conception alone is < thc‘work of inspiration, particularly the opening scene, when the Star of Bethlehem .trailing a cloud of glory, swims into the ken of the humble watchers of the fields, and abides in the eastern sky, a glorious promise to mankind. A graphic picture is drawn of the attitude of the Romans to the Jews, whom they hold in bondage,; and as the great epic unfolds the audience follows the history with breathless interest, with quickened pulses, with sympathy for the suffering of Judah Bon Hur, and with rejoicing at his restoration to fortune.