PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20022, 13 November 1928, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Norman Dawn’s magnificent; South Sous production, ‘Tho Adorable Outcast’ is enjoying a most successful run at the Empire Theatre. Dawn’s ability as a producer was strikingly exemplified in his last Australian production, ‘For the Term of His Natural Life,’ alter which Australasian Films immediately lengthened his engagement lor the production of ‘ The Adorable Outcast.’ It was adapted from Beatrice Grimshaw’s well-known work ‘ Conn of the Coral Setts.’ The principals ar-2 Edith Roberts, Edmund Burns, and Walter Long, all of whom were especially brought from Hollywood to Fiji lor the one picture. The other members of the cast, including Jessica Harcourt, Jack. Gavin, Compton Courts, and others who made good reputations in ‘ The Term 1 were sent from Sydney. In addition, hundreds of Fijians, with their canoes, wore engaged. The result has been probably the best Aus-tralian-mado picture that has yet been seen. A pair of twin beds play prominent parts in ‘ Breakfast at Sunrise,’ tho brisk-moving farce of Parisian life, which is the second picture on the programme, with Constance Tahuadgc in the starring role. Tho beds are iho result of a spile marriage indulged in by Bliss Tahnadgo and Don Alvarado, her leading man. At the end _ of tho play, however, tilings tiro satisfactory, and the two become real friends, though married. For the benefit of patrons, the management announces that it in lends to screen all the election results to-mor-row night. OCTAGON A most entertaining programme is being presented at tho Octagon Theatre. Not only is the programme composed of an excellent photoplay, but the musical and supporting items are of tho usual high Octagon entertainment. The main pictorial attraction is ‘ The Patsy,’ a story of an American Cinderella, starring the popular character actress Marion Davies. Sho plays the role of Patricia, the snub-nosed “ Patsy ” of the Harrington family, which is typical of the great American middle-class, who has ah the Cinderella jobs thrust on her, while her sister Grace, the pretty vamp, gets all tho favours. Her father is dominated _ by his pomoous wife, and finds consolation in Pat’s genuine qualities. Pat pursues a hopeless passion for Tony, who courts Grace. At a dinner parly and dance ho is cut out by Billy Caldwell, of the Oil Caldwells, whose wealth and social standing excuse his foolish prbnks. But Pat determines to make herself so fascinating that she will nob be overlooked, and thereupon hangs tho tale. Included in the cast of fimmakers in ‘ The Patsy ’ are Mane Dressier, Jane Whiten, Orville Caldwell, Del Henderson, and Lawrence Gray. A full supporting programme is also shown, including the enjoyable comedy entitled ‘ From Soup to Nuts.’ Monsieur De Rose’s Octagon Orchestra demonstrates its artistry in the interpretation of the musical side of the programme An excellent varied selection of music has been chosen to accompany 1 Tho Patsy.’ BEGEM! By embarking on its novel policy of combining stage and sci’ccn entertainment the Regent management has made a welcome addition to Dunedin s amusement calendar. Moreover, the high standard established at the outset has been efficiently maintained, if not improved. This week the chief attraction is undoubtedly tho stage baud presentation, which embodies music, dancing, singing, and colourful scones. Last evening tho Regent Corps do Ballet of seven set the bull rolling in a rag doll dance, in which precision was a feature of the perlormers’ dancing, in ‘Ramona,’ featured with the band and the ballet in a tango dance, a saxoI lit.no solo gnvc u true siiid spirited rendering. Alter opening with a yiKiil offering of ‘Hello, Cubic,' Mildied Nicol was seen to advantage in some rtevor and graceful dancing. feido by Side’ introduced Zetta and the ballet in one of tho most satisfying turns of the bill. Sam Porter and Lucille Carno met with an outstanding success m a skilfully executed dance to the tune of ‘Crazy Words, Crazy Time,’ while ‘Down Kentucky Way’ introduced aerobatic dances which brought the act to a brilliant finale. The plot of ‘ Tell It To Sweeney, _ the chief screen attraction, turns on a bitter enmity that has 1 sprung up between the driver of an express engine (played by George Bancroft) and his half-witted old fireman (played by Chester Conklin). It is difficult to decide which of these two figures is the more unsympathetic—tho driver brutal and uncouth in every way, or the fireman, whoso brain seems to have a native incapacity for absorbing - even tho simplest idea. For long they merely annoy each other, and then, having fallen together from the moving engine, they have to cooperate in stoking up another engine, the locomotion of which is doubtful, and pursuing tho express which tiiey are supposed to be driving. There is no need to forecast tho climax of this pursuit, for it naturally finishes with everyone happy. ‘ The Magnificent Flirt,’ starring the fascinating Florence Vidor, is also being shown. STRAND ‘ Ramona ’ is still proving a popular “ draw ” at the Strand Theatre, where another largo audience attended last evening. Brilliant, glamorous, sciutillaut with romantic charm, vibrant with dramatic tensity, poignant in its bitter tragedy—-that is the description of ‘ Ramona,’ Dolores Del Rio’s great screen triumph. This classic love story by Helen Hunt Jackson has been mas- ; terly directed by Edwin Carewe, who has caught the romantic spirit of early California in the days of the Spanish dons, and he has faithfully brought to life on tho screeeu the beloved characters of the book. There is such wonderful acting, sympathetic and understanding direction, such a wealth of natural beauty, and such a tender, ironic passionate theme that tho film .comes as near to real perfection as any human art can accomplish. The orchestra under Mr L. D. Austin, renders a delightful programme of music. EVERYBODY'S AND KING EDWARD Clean fun, which all the family enjoys, is the underlying motif of ‘ Don’t Marry,’ the new Fox release showing at Everybody’s and tho King Edward Theatres. The play concerns the love adventures of Priscilla Bowen, a young maiden of puritanical upbringing bin, ilappcrish tendencies, played with great succcssby Lois Moran. In the course of the play, to interest her lover, she has to play both parts. Neil Hamilton plays opposite to Miss Moran, Scenes in prison, in- the tenements, tho courts, and the homes of the poor of a great city provide locale for ‘ Brass Knuckles,’ which occupies second place on the bill. The story is that of a tenement lad who is wrongfully imprisoned, and while in gaol incurs the hatred of a fellow inmate, who hounds his after-life, trying to separate him from the motherless waif for whom lie is caring. GRAND AND PLAZA A groat story of the frozen North, ‘The Grip of the Yukon,’ is the feature at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. The story tells of Farrell O’Neil, mystery man of the Y’ukon wastes, who pays for his wood and liquor with sacks of gold nuggets. He seems possessed of something which tears at his very soul, and when he sends money to his

daughter in the States so that she might come to Alaska in the spring people talk of him in undertones. Neil Hamilton and Fi ■ancis X. Bushman are the stars. First-class supporting subjects are included in the programme.