PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19999, 17 October 1928, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

HEW EMPIRE ‘ The King of Kings ’ continues to draw crowds to each of the two daily sessions at the New Empire Theatre. Catholics, Protestants, Jews, nonChristians, have all alike been profoundly impressed. Alter all major or minor criticisms have been spoken, tho effect remains —the verdict is_ really unanimous—tho ‘King oj Kings’ is a great gift to civilisation. The picture will go round the world lor years and years. All races can grasp its sublime measure, all creeds can agree on its perfect beauty, all religious hearts will throb with its vital persuasions! ‘‘What can I say?” said a great British journalist and religious leader, writing in the ‘Christian World’’ (London). “ 1 can say nothing. My friend and 1 walked out into the street and home in silence.” In Chicago, an editor of perhaps the mast powerful religious journal in America, says ho stood and watched the aristocrats and the wage-earners going in—and nearly three hours later —coming out. Ho was amazed at the change in their faces 1 Tho Alan of Sorrows, the sacrifice for human sufferers—bad gripped Chicago’s multitude as He used to do Jerusalem’s crowd. Tho beautiful musical score which has accompanied the picture throughout the world is tastefully rendered by Hie Empire Symphonic Orchestra. The realism of some of the effective scenes in the film is still further enhanced hy the vocal offerings of Aliss Meda Paine, who sings ‘ Lead, Kindlv Light,’ and ‘Abide With Ale.’ REGENT The current programme at Hie Regent Theatre continues to delight large audiences. Fred. Alayliekl and his Cowboy Band are no doubt the chief attraction,_ with ‘ The Spotlight ’ heading the pictorial attractions. Fred. Alayficld’s band is a musical combination of unusual talent, and senes up a programme of bright ami, snappy music, containing many of tho latest hits. The band is comprised of nine players, each of whom can play several instruments with success. Another feature of the pmscntatioiis is the colourful background of a,.Western ranch scene, and the cowboy attire of the players. ‘ The Spotlight ’ is a drama of the life behind the footlights, with Esther Ralston in the loading rule of Lizzie Stokes, who masked her identity and became famous in a day. From out of the unknown flashes came a new name in electric lights on Broadway. She was an instant sensation. Toast of the clubs, eagerly sought niter, and idol of the town, this famous Russian woman was for all that an enigma. No one knew anything about her, and sbo herself would never (speak ol the past. Into her life came fine and romance. And then she knew Hint before happiness could bo hers, she would liavo to sacrifice all the glamour and success and tell her secret. Two exceptionally good comedies—a ‘ Krazy Kal. ’ cartoon and ‘ Goofy Ghosts,’ ami tho latest Paramount news picture, showing interesting scenes from all over the world—arc the supports. Appropriate music is supplied by Air Arthur G. Frost and the Regent Operatic Orchestra.

OGTAGOH first iu importance on i 1 u; .pictorial programme at the Octagon 'theatre is a comedy with those inimitable laughmakers, Karl Dane and George K. Arthur, in the leading roles. The now production plunges the heroes into a series ol circus adventures. Dane, a. rouseabput, gets a job a,s animal trainer and Arthur gels the post ol Press agent, and then the fun begins. There is a. huge gorilla in the picture, too. Ho chases the heroes over a careening circus train, and Arthur gets tangled up with % trapeze, and thrills and laughs mix in profusion. A complete circus was built, and the whole performance was staged for tho picture, so one gets a circus along with tho rest of the inn. Altogether it is tile most ambitious and one of the funniest Dane-Arthur comedies, The. love interest is between Arthur and Louise Lorraine, and in spite ol all tho fun-making Arthur lias opportunity for some really romantic lovemaking, and some of his scenes with Miss Lorraine arc almost heart-grip-ping. Tho romance runs through a background ol thrills and laughs. The supporting lllms aro oh. u high calibre, while tlie Octagon Orchestra, under tho direction of M. Do Rose, provides an incomparable least oi music. In addition to a splendid programme of musical compositions, this very talented and popular combination plays tho selection ‘Tho Mikado ’ (Sullivan). EVERYBODY’S The double-feature bill now being presented at Everybody’s Theatre is headed bv a lino comedy drama entitled ‘ Soil Living,’ featuring Madge Bellamy, a story of a girl who wauled alimony more than a husband. She sets out to capture a, young lumber king, who on Ids wedding day overhears the plan of campaign, 'the result is that lie does not lake Ids bride to Honolulu, but to liis lumber camp in tho wilderness, where lie leaves her in charge of two Irishmen with instructions that they are Swedes with no knowledge of English. The cure is perfectly successful, and Madge finishes by wanting a husband more than alimony. A story of gipsy life in the- mountains, starring Jack Holt, entitled ‘ The Tigress,’ is tho other picture. FRIDAY’S PROGRAMME. Opening a season at Everybody’s Theatre on Friday will he ‘ Why Sailors Go Wrong’ and ‘ The- Garden of Eden.’ The former attraction stars Ted M'Namara and Sammy Cohen, tho two comedians of ‘ What Price Glory •'’and ‘ The Gay Retreat.’ There is a storm at sea which, unlike other such affairs in pictures, is one continuous source of merriment for tho audience, the wreck on a cannibal island and the final rescue of the heroes "by a battleship. Perhaps the most mirth-provoking situations m a picture abounding in laughter arc tho episodes picturing the boys on'' the island, their hairbreadth escapes from Hons, alligators, and other ferocious beasts and their final capture by cannibals who offer to spare them from the stewpot if they will take cannibal wives.

‘ The Garden of Eden ’ takes its name from the gardens of the Eden Hotel, just outside Monte, Carlo, to which place the little Toni Lebrun, played by Corinne Griffith., an unspoiled girl with an ambition for grand opera and only a sordid cabaret experience to recommend her, is taken by the costume mistress of the Palais de Paris, who is momentarily in funds, and who has the right to call herself a baroness. She meets Richard Spanyi, scion of a long line of wealthy and snobbish society folk, as bashful and repressed when he comes to propose as any Freudian subject could be, but naturally a sprightly young man. And through various vicissitudes Toni welcomes—one might almost say “ pursues ” —the man of her heart, only to turn him down when he finally proposes, because she is not what he thinks her. - STRAND ‘The Loves of Carmen,’ Fox Films’ adaptation of Bizet’s world-famous opera, is the feature at the Strand Theatre at present. Careful selection is apparent in the long list of brilliant screen luminaries portraying the princiual roles in this picture, which was produced under the direction of Raoul Walsh, maker of ‘’What Price Glory. 1 Heading the cast is Victor M'Laglen, whoso recent characterisation of Captain Flagg firmly established him as

one of the most talented players appearing before the camera. In this picture the stalwart actor takes the role of a toreador, in the pivotal feminine rolo is Dolores Del Rio, who likewise won millions of admirers because of her portrayal of Charmaine in ‘What Price (3 lory '? Miss Del Rio is seen as Carmen, a role which fits her fiery temperament as naturally as old lace (its lavender. Don Jose is characterised hv Don Alvarado, a young screen plaver who has risen to the front ranks with amazing rapidity. Alvarado’s Spanish ancestry admirably with the screen role. Naircy Nash, who plays Michacla, has been featured in Fox features, and is recognised as one of fdradon’s shining lights. The Strand Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mr L. D. Austin, plays a specially-arranged musical programme of numbers from ‘ Carmen,’ GRAND AND PLAZA A programme well worth seeing by every member of the family is that wdiic'h is being shown at the Grand and Plaza Theatres this week. The main feature, ‘The Shield of Honour,’ concerns tire adventures of fatherland son, both of wdronr arc in the police. The father is retired on superannuation, much to his sorrow, but he finally wins his way back by waylaying a gang of diamond crooks. Neil Hamilton and Dorothy Gulliver have the leading roles. The second film is a, first-class mystery play, entitled ‘ The Thirteenth Hour,’ which embraces every known constituent of popular entertainment. KING EDWARD Oh the new programme wTiich was initially screened to a large audience at the‘King Edward Theatre last evening, the chief attraction is ‘The Dove,’ Norma Talma dge’s latest starring vehicle for United Artists Corporation. This film tells of the adventures of a beautiful Spanish dancer employed at a cafe. Two men fall in Jove with her, and the things done by the more powerful one to bring about the downfall of his rival make the xncturc an interesting one. ‘ The Tigress,’ introducing Jack Holt, is also showing.