PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20055, 21 December 1928, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Pantomime and pictures of unusual merit will constitute tho programme at the Regent Theatre to-night. Tho outstanding pictorial attraction will bo ‘The Big Killing,’ starring Paramount’s bright comedians, Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton. It is a story of a mountain family feud, and the life and customs of the backwoods mountaineers are faithfully portrayed. ,The Beagle family consists of six sons and one daughter, and the father. The latter part is played by Anders Randolf, who has done excellent work in many recent productions. Mary Brian is the daughter of the family who causes all the trouble by falling in love with the son of her father.’s hereditary enemy. These young men were the wildest looking specimens Hollywood had seen in some time during the filming of ‘ The Big Killing.’ For several weeks before actual work on the picture began, they had to forgo shaving in order to achieve a growth of beard in keeping with their backwoods parts. The cast was carefully chosen to portray the story in which Beery and Hatton exercise their laugh-making powers. The story is considered to be well developed, and tho humorous situations are the result of clever, subtle satire, rather than any distortion of the logical sequences. Supporting’ items include a funny screen _ comedy, ‘ Sea Food,’ with the comedian Billy Dooley, an interesting scenic depicting ‘ Peach Growing in Australia,’ and an interesting budget of world nows. ... The presentation of the pantomime, ' Dick Whittington.’ will prove delightful entertainment. Four scenes have been specially built, and a strong musical score has been arranged by Mr Neville Ravel. A strong cast of principals, specially imported from Sydney ,is headed by Walter and Connie Harris, Freddy Hodge and Ivy Lowe, Gene Dart, Jack Gerard, Frank Little, and Kitty Eckhoff, whilst the Sydney Regent Ballet has been augmented by over twenty performers fro mthe Otago School of Dancing. Freddy Hodge and Ivy Lowe, and the ladies of the ballet will also bo seen in a dance presentation, ‘ Round the World,’ being representations of dancers in different parts of the world, including Spain, Russia, Palestine (a very funny Jewish Charleston), Scotland, etc. EMPIRE The Christmas season will be fittingly celebrated at the Empire Theatre, where a programe of special interest will be screened for the next week. The premier attraction to-night will be Johnnie Hines in ‘ Chinatown Charlie,’ which is considered to be the comedian’s most entertaining production to ■ date. In this new picture Johnnie Mines is a guide on a sightseeing bus conducting a tour of New York’s Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and the Bowery, stopping at tho Old Bowery Mission, the famous wax works, and other places of interest during the sequences which are said to be filled with fast and hilarious action. A splendid cast supports the star in this film, which is an adaption from the famous melo-comic extravaganza by Owen Davis. A story of the Canadian North-west, with that popular, hard riding western star, Ken Maynard, in the role of a North-west Mounted Policeman, is the second picture on the programme. ‘ Code of the Scarlet ’ is the title of this new picture of Ken’s, and it is the best be has made to date. Ken’s pictures seem to get bettor as they go along, if such a thing is possible. It seems impossible that he can top some of the dare-devil stunts lie has performed in previous films, but in ‘ Code of tho Scarlet ’ ho has done so. The story is an original one by Forest Sheldon, and tells of the efforts of tho Royal North-west Mounted Police to establish law and order in some of the lawless regions of the far north. Tho policeman has perhaps been the most written, filmed, and talked of character in existence, and Ken Maynard is offering his version to the constellation of stars who have played similar parts. Patrons of the Empire Theatre will be exceedingly pleased to learn that tho management has been able to secure Manuel Hyman for a further week. This delightful violinist will appear in conjunction with the strong picture programme, and will include in his act such popular hits as ‘ I Love the Moon,’ ‘ Jeannie,’ ‘ Bue Room,’ ‘Just Another Day Wasted Away,’ ‘ Just Like a Melody Out of the Sky,’ and ‘ Deep in my Heart,’ A special treat is assured the children at the matinees, when Charlie Chaplin will appear in ‘ The Rink.’ OCTAGON In his latest starring attraction, ‘The Big City,’ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s sensational romance of New York’s underworld, coming as a special Christmas feature to the Octagon Theatre tonight, Lon Chaney has tho part of a

hardened detective. And no character could demand more of an actor’s histrionic talents. He has to be the very embodiment of his law—and still be as human as anyone else. No less than a Lon Chancy could play this complex role, and of it Chaney has made a veritable masterpiece of motion picture .acting, ‘The Big City’ is a delicate j romance told in a setting of night clubs and bright lights, hold-nps and police | and gangster battles, woven into an j amazing blend of thrills, surprises, and | romance. Marceline Day, in the role j of a little shop girl, innocently caught in the underworld, is appealingly sweet, I while Janies Murray, as the young gangster, who attains regeneration through the infhence of her love, and the detective, plays a difficult role with a well-balanced sense of artistry. Betty Compson as the hard-boiled girl of the underworld, has one of the best acting roles in which she has appeared. In a way, it suggests her role in 4 The Miracle Man,’ in which she and Chaney won fame together some years ago. A speciaT supportin g programme will also be featured. The Octagon Orchestra, under the baton of M. de Rose, will reader a specially-selected number, a Christmas episode (Kahn), 4 Tpyland Fantasia,’ while a special stage offering will be Ted Andrews and his xylophone An appropriate musical programme has also been arranged, and will no doubt be enjoyed by patrons equally as much as previous ones. STRAND With a five-and-ten cent store as the highly modern background on which the star paints a glowing comedyromance. Mary Piokford’s latest production, 4 My Best Girl,’ opened at the Strand Theatre this afternoon The picture is a delight. The theme is a pleasing variation of the ever-popular 44 Cinderella ” type, with Miss Pickfond in the role of a stock girl in the basement of the great “ five and dime ” establishment, and the leading man, Charles _ Rogers, as the son of the millionaire owner. A light-hearted humour that never reaches tho slapstick variety, yot which pervades the entire film, serves to oirry tho audience along irresistibly, and Kathleen Norris; the noted novelist, has introduced an unusual degree of heart interest and appeal into the story. Who ever it was that designed the “sets” used in the production deserves credit, Tho realism of the mammoth five-and-ten cent store and of the hngestreet scenes is no small factor in maintaining the atmospheric quality of the picture. Sam Taylor, whose work with Harold Lloyd has made him one of the most noted directors in the comedy field, is probably responsible for_ many of the humorous situations in the production. Nothing Miss Pickford has ever made has been half so funny as ‘My Best Girl,’ and on that score alone the film is noteworthyßut it is also the best-balanced picture of her career, with the vital quality of human interest, the effective and lifelike characterisations, and the story values all kept up to the high level of the comedy. Such a four-fold achievement is a raritv in film history, and to the star herself must be given the lions share of, the credit. As usual good supports are screened, and, under the direction of Mr L. D, Austin, the Strand Symphony Orchestra renders delightful musical selections. EVERYBODY'S AND KING EDWARD Magnificent settings, excellent direction, fine photography, and splendid acting contribute to make Hangman s House,’ Fox Films’ production, an intensely interesting photoplay. This story, written by Bonn Byrne, has been scenarised by Marion Orth from an adaptation by Philip Klein. It is Irish from beginning to end, and boasts a fine cast. June Collyer, who distinguished herself in ‘ Four Sons,’ has the leading feminine role opposite Larry Kent while Victor M*Laglen has the featured role of Citizen Hogan. Earle Foxe and Hobart Bosworth also have prominent parts. Ford has an uncanny aptitude for revealing character in celluloid, has given the screen a finer version of ‘ Hangman’s House ’ than the author himself could have hoped to giro. His actors live, move, and have their being in tho weird old .house known as the home of “ Jimmy the Hangman.” Ford does not tell us of this house and its occupants and visitors. He takes us to Ireland and shows us the method of working. Wo do not get the impression of puppets moving across the sots. Ours is a first-hand version of the real occupants doing real tilings in dramatic surroundings. This picture commenced at Everybody’s and the King Edward Theatres this afternoon. , __ Dolores Costello, star of ‘ Heart of Maryland,’ which is also showing, has never been so appealingly beautiful as in the role of Maryland Calvert—the girl who, while passionately loving the South, found her heart divided against itself in love for a soldier of the North. This exciting and glamorous story of Civil War days has had numerous revivals, since it won fame for Mrs Leslie Carter thirty years ago, acd always successful ones. t It is suffused with a passionate intensity which makes it perennially interesting. Warner Bros, have given it marvellous settings and a cast which includes many of the most celebrated names of the day. Among the great characterisations are Mr and Mrs Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and General Grant. PLAZA AND GRAND There are westerns and westerns, hut a Fred Thomson western is something else again. This remark from a spectator at the first showing of Thomson’s latest release, * Lone Hand Saunders,’ at the Grand and Plaza Theatres to-day, is a comment on the picture. Like nearly all this star’s productions, the film has unusual entertainment qualities. The story itself is orgiinal and full of interest; the acting, particularly of Fred, Bess Flowers, the leading lady, little Billy Butts, and Frank Hagney, is superb; the locations are authentic, and beautifully photographed, and tho direction by Reaves Eason is fipely handled, and results in a well-knit drama. Silver King, Thomson’s horse, comes in for his share of tho honours, and tho supporting cast, including Wiliam Courtright, Albert Priscoe, and Bill Dyer, does excellent work. Plenty of thrilling situations, including a spectacular rescue from a blazing orphanage, and the hero performing a delicate and vital operation on the little crippled , oby while the sherrif’s posse with drawn guns stand ready to_ hang him for murder when the operation is completed, feature tho picture. Comedy relieves the tenser moments. ‘More Pay, Less Work,’ with Gappy Rick sin tho leading role, is tho other picture.