PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20129, 20 March 1929, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON The feature at the Octagon Theatre this week is the screen version of the immortal story of the 4 Battles of Coronet and Falkland Islands ’ 4 Ypres’ and 4 The Big Parade ’ were both stories of the Great War in France, showing the British Army, in action on the various fronts, but this is- the first real authentic story of a great sea battle that has yet been screened. It will be remembered the fearful slaughter that took place at these two battles, which undoubtedly saved New Zealand and Australia from the ravages of the Huns. All remember Corouel, whore the Germans, outnumbering the British, had an. overwhelming victory, and then came their “Trafalgar,” the Battle of the Falkland Islands, when Admiral Sturde© and his fleet completely wiped out the German fleet, with the exception of the Emdeu. Tims was the Pacific cleared of the piratical Hum , A further attraction is 4 Homes of Our King,’ showing the Royal homes and castles of His Majesty the King. The Octagon Orchestra is heard at its best. EMPIRE ‘ The Man Who Laughs,’ which is being screened at the Empire Theatre, is founded on the immortal classic of the same name by the great French writer, Victor Hugo. The scene of the story is England in the days of James H. and Queen Anne. The central figures arc Gwymplaine, who has been made hideous by mutilation; Dea, the blind girl; and Ursus, the cynical hut kindly philosopher, who raised Gwynplaino and Dea with love and care. The acting is excellent. Chief praise must go to Conrad Veidt. who gives a wonderful interpretation of the character of Gwynplain©, flic man who laughs even when his heart is breaking? The picture is magnificently proc’utccd, and with an attention to detail that is surprising. The England ol Anne is depicted on the screen, and this alone makes Hie picture fascinating. Other attractions are included on this programme. REGENT 1 Rose Marie.’ featuring Joan Crawford, has the chief place on the present Regent Theatre programme. ‘ Rose Mario ’ was a successful play, and patrons of the Regent will he thrilled again by the lilting melodies that made the play famous, while the romantic story sweeps along with its stirring action from the trading post where Rose Marie meets her man to the trapper’s lint where Jim Kenyon and the outlaw leader settle their feud once and for all. The production of this Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture is most elaborate and enchanting, and the big supporting cast includes James Murray, Creighton Hale, House Peters, Lionel Bel more, and Polly Moran. Gautier’s Dogs, who have appeared in Dunedin before, 'are seen in this week’s stage act in the clever 4 Bricklayers ’ turn, the twelve canine comedians making it a performance worth while seeing. FRIDAY’S ATTRACTIONS. 4 The Enemy,’ a war story, with Lillian Gish; ‘The Main Event,’ a dramatic sporting story, with Vera Reynolds; and a vocal programme by Alec Regan will form the programme for Friday. STRAND Louise Fazenda, Clyde Cook, Myrna Loy, and William Demaros are featured in ‘Pay As You Enter,’ a riotous comedy now at the Strand Theatre. Demarcst gives up fighting to work on the car of which Clyde Cook js motuniiau, and the pair wage a wicked war to win Miss Fazenda, who runs a lunch counter near the car burns. The love bout is further complicated by the presence in the cast of Myrna Loy. as a vamp. ‘Plastered in Paris,’ also showing, revolves around the journey of two delegates to the American Legion Paris convention, during which they arc mistaken for French Foreign Legion “ rookies,” and are inducted into the service and a subsequent campaign against Riff brigands. The French general’s daughter and her little soubretto friend arc captured by the Riffs, and the comics craftily ease their way into the desert chieftain’s stronghold and not only rescue their fair friends but liberate the sheik’s entire harem. EVERYBODY'S This week two excellent pictures arc being screened at Everybody’s Theatre, ‘ California or Bust ’ and ‘ The Last F.dition.’ The former is an interesting motor story, introducing a well-known comedian, George O’Hara, who keeps his audience well supplied with thrills. Helen Foster takes the leading feminine role, and there is a splendid supporting cast. The title of the second picture suggests a newspaper story, in which Ralph Lewis plays the leading part. Lia Leslie plays opposite him, and many leading artists give their support. GRAND AND PLAZA ‘ Mockery ’ is a Lon Chaney starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, in which “ the man of a thousand faces ” is seen as a slow-witted peasant who is induced by a beautiful White Russian girl to join her cause. Barbara Bedford is the girl. Included in the cast are Ricardo Cortez, Emily Fitzroy, Mack Swain, and _ diaries Puffy. ‘ Mockery ’ is now being shown at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. ‘Three Faces East.’ a dramatic love story, with Olive Brook and Jett a Gould in the leading role, is also showing. KING EDWARD ‘Two Arabian Knights’ is the chief attraction at the King Edward Theatre. William Boyd and Louis Wolheim, two actors of note, play the leading parts. The other picture, 4 The Hawk's Nest,’ is a drama introducing Milton Sills and Doris Kenyon in an excellent fdm of the underworld.