PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20033, 26 November 1928, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON, GRAND. AND PLAZA A double feature programme is tho attraction at the Octagon, Grand, and Plaza Theatres this week. The chief feature is ‘ Under the Black Eagle,’ in which the chief roles are sustained by Marceline Hay and Ralph Forbes, while a third iniprotaut part is that assigned t “ Flash,” the dog, whoso intelligence has placed him on a level with many human actors. In this film romance and wai are the elements of the theme, and the story gives a wonderful insight into tho modes of life in Continental Europe. Briefly, tho pictur- tells ol a young artist who answers the call to arms and goes to serve his country, leaving the girl of his choice. With him goes his dog, which is instrumental in saving his life. There is plenty of high adventure in * Unacr the Black Eagle,’ and there is plenty of love; indeed, there is an appeal for everyone, lor the picture is one of the most unusual that has been screened here in some years. The settings are on a very lavish scale, and tho war scenes arc very realistic, while the whole atmosphere. it is said, is true to fact. Marceline Day has found a large following ol admirers since her debut, in’ motion pictures a short time ago, and, seeing her acting in this picture, that is not to bo wondered at. Forbes, too. is a popular player, and his work in 1 Under the Black Eagle ’ is certain to advance him in the opinion of theatre-goers. As an artist ho gives a line rendering of a not-too-oasy part, and, again, as a soldier, he is seen at his best. Arthur Lake and Barbara Kent are seen together in the farcical comedy ‘Stop that Alan.’ This is a story of youth’s desire to grow up in order to accomplish something in the world. The spirit of youth pervades the picture. Nat Ross, tho famous director of ‘The Collegians,' was responsible^for this production, and no one questions his ability to put liveliness, sparkle, and humour into every situation, ‘Stop That Man’ is a comedy of a younger brother who wants to get on the police force. Instead of becoming an officer of the law he almost becomes a crook. At the Octagon Theatre the orchestra, under tho direction ot M. Dc Rose, is heard in a most delightful musical grogramme.

REGENT This week the Regent Theatre offers something out of the ordinary. Besides two strong pictorial attractions there is a vaudeville presentation of exceptional merit. On Saturday evening Mardo and Wynne, the brilliant American artists, received loud applause for their smart and clever act. For twenty minutes they kept the audience m shrieks of laughter with their clever wit and “ funniosities,” ably supported by Teddy, an almost human bulldog, whoso quaint expression ami remarkable intelligence simply brought the house down in laughter. Mardo, a droll comedian, ami his good-looking lady partner, beautifully dressed, is the finest act yet seen at the Regent. Tliis week’s production liy Lester Sinclair, of tho Regent Stage Band presentation, is tho best so far. The outstandiim number ‘ Laugb, Clown, Laugh,’" described on the programme as “A Jazz Opera,” after Pagliacei, was tbo dramatic bit. The splendid work- of the clown and the dancing of the ballet received vociferous applause, boih the band and the ballet in their other numbers —‘Dainty Miss,’ a pretty and effective lingerie badet, the original ‘ Black Bottom,’ a real jazz number; and the whirlwind finale, ‘l’m In Love Again’—constituting a magnificent entertainment. A story that moves from tbo gilded bathrooms of tbo wealthy to the niLrbming setting of a deserted island, entitled ‘Half a Bride,’ heads tho him attractions. Tho beautiful acticss Esther Balston has tho loading role, 1-hat of Patience Winslow, a scnsalionseekor, who hears a radio lecture on marriage, and is inspired to a tiial marriage with a paio-.soulod youth. After a traffic accident they spend a night in gaol, and in the morning Patience's father, when lie hears of the escapade, decides to stop it. Mr W inslow lias his daughter kidnapped by Captain Edmunds, captain of his yacht, for whom Patience has a violent dislike. With Patience and her lather aboard tho vaclit starts for Alaska, but seven days out Paticnco fries to escape in a launch. Edmunds sees the boat and jumps overboard. A storm breaks, tho launch is _ wrecked, and Paticnco finds herself _ alone with Edmunds on a deserted island oil the Canadian coast. Gary Cooper is seen in tho role of Captain Edmunds. Always popular, always an attraction, Adolphe Mcnjou has never hod .such a strongly dramatic story to give lull advantagoto his masterly histrionic powers as in 1 A Gentleman of Paris,’ tho other picture. Besides a good programme, of supports tho orchestra, tinder Mr Neville Ravel, is heard at its best in a fine selection of music.

EMPIRE A gorgeous love story in a sotting of battles and the wild life of tho Cossack peoples is ‘The Cossacks.’ now showing at the Empire Theatre. John Gilbert ami Pence Adoreo give line portrayals in the starring roles. ‘ Thu Cossacks’ is stark drama, it is flic story of a young Russian lad horn with a poetic soul and ears attuned to music, forced by the social customs of his race tn the iifo of endless warfare against the Turk. Still, through it runs the sweetest love story in tho world—tho romance of a boy and a girl tossed hither and thither by tho resistless lido of affairs. Gilbert as tho swashbuckling Cossack soldier on the Russian steppes is dramatic, dashing, and appealing. Miss Adoreo is chaining as a peasant girl. Ernest Torrence as tho stern old Cossack chieftain is a figure of compelling power, and Alary Aldcu as the hero’s mother, Dale Fuller, Josephine Borio, Neil Neely, Yorko Sherwood, Joseph Mari, and Paul Hurst make up a truly notable cast. In order to add to tho_ picture’s un r doubted beauty and quality, it is preceded by a most and colourful Russian prologue. Amid attractive settings, a Russian ballet, attired in most appropriate costume, dances its way through some Russian folk dances, which are novel in the extreme, and add materially to tho atmosphere surrounding tho production. The films on the supporting ■ programme are _of equal quality and entertaining to a high degree. This week the orchestra, under tho direction of Mr Chas. Avcs, has selected a special musical score for 1 The Cossacks,’ and many Russian compositions of tho lesser-known kind are played in delightful fashion.

EVERYBODY'S AHD KING EDWARD A story alive with interest, colourful backgrounds that include the famous ports of the seven seas from Amsterdam to Panama, and a cast of screen lights with Victor M'Laglen in the stellar role, all help to make ‘ A Girl in Every Port ’ a cinema triumph. Tills feature, which is screening at Everybody’s and King Edward Theatres, is probably one of the best photo dramas of the season seen in this city. M'Laglen will bo remembered as having achieved an almost over-night fame with his performance in the role of Captain Flagg in ‘What Price Glory?’ The star role of Spike Madden, which is his in the present picture, is his reward for his work iir the war epic. Tho story deals with a man-driver on a merchant ship, who, as the title tells, has a girl in every port. Louise Brooks, Maria Casajuana, Natalia Joyce, Grctcl Yoltz, Leila Hyams, and Elena Jurado are some of • the well-known beauties

who play tho parts of tJio hero's sweethearts in tho various ports, ‘ Good Time, Charley,’ tho other attraction, is a brilliant comedy-drama of life behind tho footlights—and especially of a sec-ond-rate song and dance man, his pal and ins baby daughter. Featured in tho piece aro Heleno Costello, Warner Gland, and Clyde Cook. Julanne Johnston, Montagu Love, and Hugh Allan are prominently cast. Charley’s fortunes changed with the death of his young wife, and he is past youth and an inmate of an Actors’ Home, when his pal, in a moment of weakness, tells him tho name of the man who is accountable for tho tragedy. Warner Gland, character actor, gives the supremo characterisation of his career in tho title role. Clyde Cook, as tho comically pathetic pal, is magnificent, and Holeno Costello is given a chance to dance as well as to act, and does both with consummate art. ‘A DAUGHTER OF DUNEDIN.’

With Dale Austen as tho lead, and a supporting cast of local amateurs, ‘ A Daughter of Dunedin,’ another of Hiulall Hayward’s productions, will commence .screening at Everybody’s Theatre next Friday. It is a story that should raise many laughs, while tho crowd scenes taken in the city, and the scones of the fire station and the Dunedin Hunt Club meeting should Do of great interest to most people. STRAND 'The outbreak of tho Russian revolution a decade ago recently was _ reenacted so realistically at the United Artists studio in Hollywood that residents thought tho film city was being bombarded. All afternoon and far into the night ridp and machine gun fire, shouts of thousands of people, and tho clatter of Cossacks as they rode through the streets of the motion picture Petrograd could bo hoard over an area of several blocks. At night the huge searchlights and Hares used in tho scene provided a pyroteehnical display that was visible for miles, Hundreds of people, including some former members of tho Russian cavalry who had fought in the late Tsar’s armies in the days before the revolution, were recruited for the spectacular action, part of John Barrymore’s latest motion picture, ‘ Tempest,’ now at the Strand Theatre. Directed by Sam Taylor and photographed by Charles Roshcr and a largo staff of assistants, Barrymore’s new picture numbers among its supporting players Louis Wolheim, Camilla Horn, George Fawcett, Ullrich Haupt, Boris do Fas, Lena Malcna, and Albert Conti.

Jn ‘Tempest’ John Barrymore has tho role of a devil-may-care subaltern whoso affairs of the heart and sword lead him into some of the strangest adventures of tho revolution which swojit out tsarism, made fugitives out of grand dukes, and rulers out of peasants. Tho early part of ‘ Tempest ’ depicts all the pomp and luxury of tho empire; with the revolution enrnos the most gripping pictnrisation yet made of that national cataclysm.

A full programme of supports is also presented, and the musical side of the entertainment is capably rendered by. Mr L. ]). Ansi in and his Strand Symphonic Orchestra.