PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20150, 15 April 1929, Page 4

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE ‘The Michigan Kid,’ the feature of the current bill at the Empire Theatre, is a well balanced and thoroughly entertaining . photoplay. It has story, setting, and oast, all combined by the director’s deft flair for colourful romance. Rex Beach’s novel of the same name furnished the storv, which has been adhered to closely. It deals with the adventures of a straight gambler in Alaska during the gold rush of 1898, and is generally considered Beach’s most vigorous work. None of that vigour has been lost in the transfer of the thrilling story to the screen. Conrad Nagel appears as the gambler, a man who despite his calling is honest and lovable. .Renee Adores is the girl who finds him gentle, while Lloyd Whitlock discovers him to be a husky antagonist. One of the best scenes in the fljifi is the escape of this trio down a river flowing through a blazing forest. The whims of fate, as exemplified by the roulette wheel, provide tire theme of ‘The Wheel of Chance,’ Richard Barthehness’s new starring vehicle ior First National Pictures, widely is showing at the Empire Theatre. The effect of circumstances and environment upon the twin brothers, separated in childhood by relentless fate, was the idea behind the original story, ‘Roulette, by Fannie Hurst. It is followed faithfully in the picture version, which brings Barthelmess to the screen at his best, in a powerful, dramatic vehicle with suspense and “punch” throughout- Barthelmess plays the dual role, portraying both twins. One is redheaded and one black. One is denied the guidance of his parents, the other is more fortunate. With great realism and understanding, the star enacts the two characters, giving to each the qualities as developed by their individual upbringing. In the climax of the story, staged in a courtroom where one brother prosecutes the other for murder without being aware of the relationship. Barthelmess rises to dramatic heights seldom witnessed on the screen. It is an unforgettable scene, and one that will go down in screen history as a masterpiece of dual acting. The orchestra supplies appropriate music, and plays as the overture ‘Pique Dame’ (Suppe). REGENT Seldom have picture showmen had opportunity to display a hotter pictine to their patrons than William Boyd's latest He Alike star vehicle, ‘ The Cop, in which production that popular young star is seen as a policeman in the underworld of New York. It is screening at the Regent Theatre. A Donald Crisp production of the finest type, it features in Mr Boyd’s support . such sterling screen players as Jacqueline Logan, Alan Hale, and Robert Armstrong. The story, by Elliott Clawson, tells of the sinister operations of a band o! crook's, culminating in murder, and of ‘ The Cop’s ’ untiring efforts to run the marauding robbers to earth. Thrills abound in the action, which is dramatic, swift-moving, and tensely interesting. As the phantom lover in ‘ Beyond the Sierras,’ Tim M‘Goy brings to the screen a romantic characterisation that places him in a new niche in the hearts of lovers of cinema drama thrillers. ‘ Beyond the Sierras ’ is also showing at this theatre. The story lias to do with a group of land plunderers, headed by Owens, who plot to rob the estate of Carlos del Valle, a wealthy Spanish Don. Al‘Coy, a secret service officer, overhears the plot, pretends to be a “ bad man,” and joins the bandit gang. In so doing, however, lie incurs the hatred of Rosa, the aristocratic Don’s sister. He, therefore, appears at a basked ball at her hacienda masked and in the costume of a Spanish toreador. As the dance is in progress Owens and his men raid the hacienda, slay Carlos and attempt to loot the property. Aiasked and unrecognised, ADCoy whips out his sword and engages the marauders in a duel. George Storey and Dulcie Milner appear on the stage in a novel comedy vaudeville act. STRAND Syd Chaplin is now starring at the Strand Theatre in ‘The Fortune Hunter.’ Chaplin has reached the “i'unnybonian heights” in a series of character parts which show his versatility as well as his pantomimic and comic genius. ‘The Fortune Hunter’ is a young go-getter who storms a Vermont village with the avowed intention of winning the fairest of the village maids, and making a getaway with her money. Ho acts the part of a model young man, being courted by the femininity of the town, from banker’s daughter to fat waitress. Complications galore result. Rin-Tin-Tin is seen in his fifteenth setting in the picture ‘ Unity ol the Desert.,’ which has second place on this programme. The cast includes Audrey Ferris. Carrol Nye. Paul Panzer, and Otto Hoffman. Boss Lederman, who directed ‘ A Dog of the Regiment ’ and ‘ A Race for Life ’ so ably, directed this latest picture, which is the story of n desert dog who goes out in .search oi new friends, finds them, and then is falsely accused of attacking his master. Sentenced to be shut, tiic ting makes a fight for bis life. GRAND AND PLAZA Afucli rain has fallen on ‘The Somme ’ since the tanks first ploughed their way through mud and slush in the big attack, but vividly these incidents are recalled in the film version of the “big push” at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. Wonderful photography is an outstanding feature of the production, which took many months to complete. and which for the first time gives the public an opporunity of seeing what real war is like. The scones are reproduced with such fidelity that one can for the first time realise just what “ zero ” meant to the unseasoned troops who waited for the fateful second before going “ over the top.” Brilliant deeds of bravery, humour that is typical of the Tommy, impressive spectacle-—ail have their place in ‘ The Somme,’ a film to be seen and remembered by everyone. ‘ The Somme ’ was produced by the New Era Company, who, it will be remembered, also distributed ‘ Ypres,’ ‘ Alons,’ and ‘ Zecbrugge.’ The other attraction is entitled ‘ The Alonkey Talks,’ a splendid mystery story. EVERYBODY’S 'die story of a gay old “ blade ” who goes to Paris, lives the life of a boulevardier for eight years, and comes to that epoch known as the afternoon of life—life’s tea time—only to discover that, instead of tea lie has a shameless craving for the wine of youth, is the story of ‘Dry Alartini,’ a Fox film directed by Harry D’Arrast with Albert Gran, brilliant character actor, in tho role of the gay philanderer, and Alary Aster in the part of hip daughter, who pays an unexpected visit to him from America. The picture is based on the noveKot John Thomas, and is screening at Everybody’s Theatre. ‘ The Traffic Cop.’ on the same programme, is a good comedy telling of a policeman who enters society.

RING EDWARD 'Thomas Meighan in ‘lho Abating Call ’ and the latest picture starring Rin-Tin-Tin, entitled ‘Rinty of the Desert.’ are the chief pictures included in the King Edward Theatre programme.