PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20052, 18 December 1928, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

BEGEM! ‘Hot News,’ a story of how modern movie gazettes are. made, is the cmcl attraction at the Regent 'iicatre this week. Echo Daniels and Noil Hamilton in tho leading roles are camciamen chasing up all the exciting happenings in tho country. Echo Daniels is Patricia Clancy, who helps her lather’s agency when they lose their star camera man to a rival, tho JMerunry News reel soon obtains tho choice titbits of tho news, and ‘Tho bun finds itself losing clients. Pat s heroic efforts to take pictures are loft to the imagination—in vain sho begs lor inoio thrilling assignments than tho pJiotographing of baby shows, and is ictusod each time. On the way to another tea meeting a car passes her at a terrific pace. It is Scoop Morgan oft to one ' of his famous stunt and thrilling scones. As son as sho finds this out sho takes him and leaves his assistant, who, seeing tho name of tho ‘ feun News on the back of tho car, calls in vam to Morgan, speeding away in Jus rivals ear. 0 Bv a ruso sho throws out Jus film, and then gets rid of him after hading out where ho is going, ile, too, sees tho name of tho rival on tn© back of the car, and finally manages to get to tho scene of a wreck. Not another cameraman is in sight, ana then ho finds that his film is gone. However, there is enough in me camera to get this man ashore. Keenly ho works, only to find that it is 1 who is coining ashore, and that ho Jias wasted his film. Thereafter Pat‘ gets all the difficult jobs, and boats Scoop time after time. Tho oilfields of Mexico term the background of tho drama, ‘ Tho Slum - ■ down,’ tho minor., attraction. George Bancroft plays tho leading role, that of Cardan, an oil prospector. Then ■ a young Now York eouplo come out to seek oil. Cardan loves her himself, loves her beyond, his own life, bub ho keept within himself until tho girl, at tho end of her rope, begs him to take her, protect her, love her; his is the only strength. Ho is fighting himself when tho husband returns. Then because ho loves her Cardan decides to make a great sacrifice for her. He forces her husband to cut cards to sec who leaves the camp. Cardan deliberately cheats to lose. Tho Regent Hovels, a remarkably clever act of dancing, singing, and comedy, is the special vaudeville presentation. It is a complete entertainment in itself. Mr Neville Ravel and the Regent Operatic Orchestra, render delightful music throughout the screening of the pictures. EMPIRE Mysterious murders, circus life, and a beautiful animal trainer aro tho ingredients of the fine drama, / The Leopard Lady,’ starring Jacqueline Logan, now at tho Empire Theatre. Tho locale is Austria. Tho circus is in town. In tho kitchen of Frau Holweg two maids are washing chinaware. One of them is disgruntled because her, mistress has refused to let them attend tho circus. Tho other, however, is content, for she is aware of a curse which has followed the circus wherever it has gone, and which always has left a mysterious murder in its wake. She tells the maid of this curse, and of the littlo old woman who always has been connected with tho murders. Sho is interrupted by a scream, and Frau Holweg falls face forward into tho kitchen, murdered. Through the window tho maids glimpse a littlo old lady hobbling away. Paula, tho beautiful leopard lady, is with a vaudeville troupe in Vienna. Herman Berlitz, captain of detectives, wants her to join tho circus and try to solve tho mysterious murders. She finally consents upon tho promise of 21),000 kronin if sho is successful in finding the murderer. Chris, Paula’s sweetheart, is badly in need of money, and, thinking sho can help him, she accepts tho dangerous mission. The other picture is a fine comedy, entitled ‘Man Crazy,’ featuring Dorothy Mackaill and Jack MulhalJ. A number of. the latest musical hits are played on the violin by Manuel Hyman, who has just returned from Australia, where he conducted one of the most popular "‘jazz” orchestras. Incidental music is played, by the Empire Symphonic Orchestra, under the direction of Mr Charles Aves. GC7AGON The Octagon Thesteo U> being well patronised this week, and the large audiences aro being given «, fine pictorial programme, headed fe the great human drama ‘ Heart of a Nation.’ It is an unusual picture in many ways. In the first place, it brings George Sidney in a dramatic role. Sidney is too great an actor to stay always, in the comedies which have brought him so much fame. He portrays his role hi ‘ Heart of a* Nation ’ with rare discrimination ; he never over-acts, and proves himself capable of rare emotional depth, including honest tears. But a little, about the story: Three families emigrate to New York, from Russia, Germany, and Italy. The parents retain all they loved qf the old country, making no effort to become Americanised, while tho children grow up to be typical young Americans, incapable of understanding their parents, who, in turn, are incapable of understanding their children. But the war comes along for a brief moment and their -children enlist. To go further would spoil your enjoyment of tins mas- : terpiccc, but ■ you can seo the possibilities. The ending is of rare beauty and happiness, raising the picture to tho heights of art. Especial credit goes

to Sidney, Beryl Mercer, Eddie Phillips. Albert Gran, and Daisy Belmore. The Octagon Orchestra, under the baton of M. Do Rose, supplies appropriate music. EVERYBODY’S AND KING EDWARD Scones for Lou Tel logon’s production for Fox Films, ‘No Other Woman,’ are laid in and around Biarritz, and every effort was made to present an exact replica of tho well-known seaside resort bordering on ‘ Biscay Sleeping Waters.’ Dolores Del Rio, tho lovely Mexican actress, gives tho finest performances of her cinema career in this powerful drama, which is now being screened at Everybody’s and King Edward Theatres. She appears in the role of a South American heiress enjoying herself in the younger circle of tho fashionable set summering at Biarritz Later her wistful appeal and her suggestion of hidden tragedy again prove her amazing versatility. The strong supporting cast includes Ben Bard, Don Alvarado, Paulctto Duval, and Rosita Marstini. _ Breezy humour dominates * If I Were Single,’ a matrimonial farce, which provides tho second attraction on the programme. May M’Avoy, Conrad Nagel, Myrna Loy, and Andre Beranger are the featured players. GRAND AND PLAZA Tho latest Christie comedy, ‘ Tho Nervous Wreck,’ is one of the brightest farces shown at tho Grand and Plaza Theatres for a long time. Harrison Ford, Phyllis Haver, Chester Conklin, Hobart Bosworth, and Mack Swain are tho featured players. The second attraction is ‘ Eiders of tho Dark,’ which is considered to bo the best outdoor romance that Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr have yet presented with Tim M‘Coy. An unusually attractive programme will be screened on Friday next. 'The outstanding feature will bo ‘ More Pay, Less Work,’ a rollicking Gappy Ricks story of Peter B. Kyne. Fred. Thomson, tho popular Western star, will also bo seen in ‘ Lone Hand Saunders.’ STRAND ‘ Sadie Thompson,’ Gloria Swanson’s second independent picture for United Artists, is drawing crowded houses to the Strand Theatre. The film is based on one of tho most widely discussed stories of recent years, ‘ Rain,’ by W. Somerset Maugham. _ It is tho story of a tremendous emotional conflict between an outcast of the underworld of San Francisco and a fanatical reformer. The picture was directed by Raoul Walsh, who also plays tho role of Sergeant O’Hara. Lionel Barrymore gives a powerful characterisation as reformer, and . other members of tho cast are Blanche Fridcrici, Charles Lane, Florence Midglcy, James Marcus, and Will Stanton.