PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20062, 31 December 1928, Page 8

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Variety is the keynote of the attractive programme now being presented at the Regent Theatre. The outstanding pictorial feature is ‘The Sawdust Paradise,’ in which Esther Ralston essays a new type of role. A charming blend of romance, drama, 'and comedy go to make up the picture, which shows Miss Ralston as Glory, a, “capper’’ for a sideshow belonging to a. lair. A romance has sprung up between her and the showman, but the proprietor of the fair attempts to come between them, 'with the inevitable result that a, fend between him and his two employees conies into being. In the meantime circumstances bring her under the control of the Rev. Isaiah Morgan, an itinerant evangelist, the fair being ordered out of town. She realises that the evangelist is doing his best for her, and in return she sets out to help him, adapting her carnival tactics to bring people to his tent. In this she is successful beyond expectations, and moves I rum lime to time with her now-found friend. At length they arrived in a country town, where her sweetheart, who has bought a. show for himself, sets up on the opposite side of tho road. Then ho sees Glory, and lurIhcr .unexpected developments load to a happy ending. The elaborate production of the pantomime ‘Dick Whittington,’ has delighted Regent patrons, who have expressed their appreciation of the management’s enterprise in this respect in no uncertain manner. This breezy little production has attained well-deserved popularity, and there is no doubt that the succeeding presentation, ‘ Sin bad the Sailor,’ which commences on Friday next, will also be warmly received. OCTAGON Bearded Scots in tartans and shields, with claymores and other weapons of the romantic Highlands, march a thousand strong in impressive ceremonies, to the martial tunes ot the bagpipes, and battle in the nigged Highlands in tremendous conflicts in the most spectacular historical drama of years, ‘Annie Laurie,’ now playing at the Octagon Theatre. The new spectacle is Lillian Gish’s latest and most'sensational starring vehicle. The picture, based on Scottish history, is laid about the massacre of Glencoe. A small army of huge Scots is seen in reviews, in baronial halls, in the huge gathering of tho clans at Maxwelton Castle, and other vivid and picturesque details in the mighty drama. Miss Gislt plays tho daughter of Sir Robert Laurie, the woman who in history was .the Joan of Arc of her land. Her love for an enemy clansman turned the lido of a huge battle, and changed the history of Scotland. Hugo replicas of the great old castles of Scotland, including the majestic Maxwclton Castle, were constructed for the mighty drama. An entire woollen mill was leased to weave the special plaids necessary to dress the warriors, representing the lighting forces of twenty-six different Scottish tribes. The picture was staged on a scale that taxed the entire resources of tho great Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, whence came ‘ Ben-Hur ’ and many other notable spectacles. Norman Kerry plays tho leading male role as fan, ot the clan of MacDonald, and Hobart Bosworth enacts the historic ‘ Wolf of Glencoe.’ Others in the cast include David Torrence and Creighton Hale. Mr Arthur Lungley created a very favourable impression on Saturday evening in singing the celebrated ballad from the stage. In addition a special musical score by the Octagon Orchestra adds materially to the enjoyment of the screen presentation. EMPIRE One of the best pictures of the year is now being screened at the Empire Theatre, namely, ‘The Foreign Legion,’ which is spectacular and gripping. The novel of the Foreign Legion was popular, but the picture excells the book in the colourful presentation of the lives and adventures, the passions, and the impulses of these iron soldiers. Norman .Kerry and Lewis Stone are

co-starred in tlie picture. _ Both ;ire favourite;!, and have exceptional roles in this picture. Opposite them are two popular women, Mary Nolan and June Marlowe, one the exotic heartbreaker. the other the adorable sweetheart type. . Tho story concerns a. British society man and army officer, who becomes infatuated with an unscrupulous woman, a blonde of indescribable beauty. Her kisses spell disaster. His fate is to bo cashiered from Ihc army and to drop out ol sight. He turns up in (he French Foreign Legion as a private under the command ol his own father, who had similarly dropped out of sight before him. The dangerous blonde turns up in Algiers; with her is the hero’s real sweetheart, her sister. How father and son, their identities unknown to one. another, lock horns over the adventuress, the usual military results that ensue, and fie final working out of the romance makes one of the most gripping life dramas ever screened. Stone plays the father, Kerry the son, Mary Nolan is the adventuress, and Miss Marlowe the younger girl. Crauhml Lent is also seen to advantage in a principal role. Edward Sloman directed the picture. STRAND The season of the fascinating film ‘My Best Girl’ is quickly drawing to a close, and only four nights remain for patrons to witness the delightful Mary Bickford in one of her best roles to date. That I ho magic name of Mary, “the world’s sweetheart,” lias still the power to attract many thousands ol picturc-goers, lias been eloquently shown glaring i’c past week, for there have been record audiences at every screening of the photo pinv. In ‘My Best Girl’ Mary plays the part of a little siiop girl working in the basement of one- of those huge American department stores. The son of the owner wants to learn the business from the bottom up, and starts as a humble assistant to Alary, but under an assumed name. Mary and lie fall badly in love, _ but when Mary discovers his real identity she is humiliated. However, the way is paved for these two young lovers in an enjoyable iashion. N&XT WEEK'S KILL. ‘Two Lovers,’ with Vilma Banky and Ronald Column us its leading players, will be presented at this popular picture house commencing next , Friday. ‘ Leatherfaee,’ by Baroness Orezy, one of the most popular novels of this generation, furnished tho story. It is that of the triumph of two lovers over adversity, but startling twists of circumstances give the story a new and brighter Hash of the tender poignant beauty that has characterised all Vilma Banky-Konald Column pictures. ‘Two Lovers’ tells the story of Mark Van R.yckc, son of tho patrician burgomaster of Ghent, and of his secret adventures as “Leatherfaee,” mysterious and faithful aide to William, Prince of Orange, who seeks to load the enslavened country of Flanders to freedom from tho oppressing hands of the Spaniards. EVERYBODY'S Tom Mix gives a clever portrayal in ‘ Hello Cheyenne I’ his latest production for Fox Films, now showing at Everybody’s Theatre. Pursued by a hero-hunting damsel, Mix blunders through some hilariously funny situations, and is finally cornered by the girl. His latest production differs somewhat from the usual run of Westerns. It is not purely a Western and yet is Western enough to satisfy the most sophisticated audience. As a telephone lineman, Mix is the centre of a mad scramble of two telephone companies, each trying to bo the first to lay a line between Cheyenne and Rawhide. Mix meets Diana Cody, daughter of opo of the contestants, and he naturally swings his aid in Cody’s favour From that moment on tho action becomes more and more intense, finally ending in a brilliant dis-.

play of iistic fireworks. Caryl Lincoln, Jack Bastou, A 1 St. John, Joseph, Girard, .Martin Faust, and William Caress complete the cast. ‘ Lady If a (ties,’ the second attraction, furnishes Estelle Taylor with one of llie host roles of her career. 'lbis picture is a clever drama of society life. In support of Hie star are such prominent players as Roland Drew, Lilyan Taslmian, Ernest Hilliard, Winifred Landis, and Stanton Leek. GRAND AND PLAZA There is something alluring about ‘The Big Show,’ the spectacular production which is now being screened nt the Grand and Plaza Theatres. A circus picture has a fascination for young and old, and (his film is considered to lie one of the finest of its kind screened here for a considerable time. It is a real circus story nith the “big top” as its sotting, and clowns, Indians, eon boys, and ad the other picturesque characters of a ‘‘big show ” as its actors. ‘Finnegan’s Ball ’ is the title of tho second feature picture. Tho story concerns the Finnegan family, who live in Ireland, hoping that their friends tho Fhmnignns will advance them passage money fo America. The senior Hannifin gives tho money to Lis agent, bub Hie latter is a crook. Ihe Huuogaiis arc ejected from their cottage, ami after hilarious adventures the Flannigans finally meet them. A merry [edit results. Finnegan suddenly becomes heir to a great estate, and later snubs the I‘Tanmgans at a ball. The Finnegans prove to he tho wrong heirs, but Fiannigaii forgives them and (be families become partners in business. Well-known screen players hll the loading roles. KING EDWARD ‘Casey at tho Bat,’ a screamingly funny comedy sot on the baseball lyeld, is the premier attraction at the King Edward Theatre. Wallace Beery ar,d Ford Sterling are the featured placers. I ncluded m the piogiammc is ‘Confetti,’ in which Jack Buchanan, fbo celebrated English actor, lias the loading part.