PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20193, 5 June 1929, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE A modern picture that has lovo, appeal, youth, glamour, and tho lively background of the college campus is ‘Red Lips,’ which is now heading the programme at the Empire Theatre. _lt has swift action and the animation and charm of Marian Nixon, offset by the boyish appeal of Charles Rogers, Audiences will remember his work in ‘My Best Girl ’ and ‘ Wings.’ _ The University of Southern California was used in tho picture, and many of the star athletes. of the college appear in the film. Hugh Farrell came to college from a small town, full of ambition as both a student and an athlete. Then he'met Cynthia Grey, and found her as irresistible as many a man had before him. He became disillusioned, and started to outdo the speed of her set. Cynthia, repenting of her effect on Hugh, goes through some pangs of readjustment, the sincerity of which Hugh fails to believe. How she finally makes him see the light and its surprising result for the college form the climax of-this realistic college story. ‘ Man Bait,’ the second feature, stars Mario Prevost, and it is a delightful comedy romance. Mr Leslie Harvey offers something special on the Christie unit organ this week, his solos being Rachmaninoff’s famous ‘ Prelude in C Sharp Minor and tho equally well-known ‘Humoresque’ (Dvorak). . M. De Rose and the Empire Orchestra render a good musical programme, the overture being ‘ Zampa ’ (Heiold), in which they are accompanied by the organ.

OCTAGON ‘ The Hit of the Show ’ is the title of the main “ talkie ” on the current Octagon Theatre programme. Joe E. Brown, a popular American comedian, famous on the music hall stage, has the leading role, and opposite him .is the winsome artist, Gertrude Olmstead. The story concerns a woukl-bo Broadway star, who helps a friendless girl at his own personal risk and expense, and enables her to be the “hit of the show ” at a big Broadway theatre. For doing so, though the audience and management is unaware of it, he shares the honour. The girl is billed to do an Apache dance with the leading man, and “Twisty,” the hero, hears him plotting to give another girl her place. He knocks the “ load ” out, dons his costume, and plays the part himself. The whole effort is wonderfully success: ful, but “Twisty’s” heart refuses to stand ud to the strain. It is a picture of gripping interest, 'with a very fine climax. The supporting programme includes a news reel and several specialty films. REGENT Small time vaudeville leading to big time-love and drama! That in a sentence is ‘Excess Baggage/ one of the pictures on the current bill at the Regent Theatre. The plot is based on a small-time vaudeville troupe, where William Haines, as Eddie Kane, marries Josephine Dunn (a real actress, by the way). The wife finds herself to bo merely'" Excess Baggage ” in her husband’s act, and. when she is given an opportunity for screen success takes advantage of it. •'Without her Kane finds that lie can no longer do his dangerous act which' was just about ■to. earn- him fame arid fortune on the big time, and he, in his turn, becomes “ Excess Baggage.” A year later both parties meet •'in New York City and work out their problem in an exciting and novel manner. Authentic characters, peculiarly native to the West Side section of New York City, are presented in the screen version of ‘ Tenth Avenue,’ featuring Phyllis Haver, Victor Varconi, and Joseph Schildkrant. A card sharper, a gangster, and an unscrupulous bootlegger, a down-at-the-heel tramp, a blase detective, an ambitionless dissipated mother, a faithful girl—these are distinct types finely developed in the picture. In this maze of unusual personalities is a girl, who shows those who surround hei how to live better fives. The Regent Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Maurice Guttridge, presents an excellent musical programme. STRAND ‘The Spy/ one of the mightiest mystery dramas ever shown in Dunedin, is "still holding the interest of audiences at the Strand Theatre. From the time the picture opens there is an eerie sense of mystery about the story. The intenseness of it all increases as the picture proceeds, and in a thrilling climax, which takes many unexpected turns, the audience is held breathless. One hoars nothing but praise for this production, which- is German in every detail The acting is brilliant, the many foreign personalities doing full justice to their appealing roles. The photography aho impresses, while the directioi is superb. The supporting films on the bill complete a splendid night’s entertainment. GRAND AND PLAZA A British picture that sets a high standard in Homo production is ‘The Constant Nymph/ which is now being presented at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. Ivor Novello, a great screen favourite, plays the part of Lewis Dodd, giving by' far the best characterisation of his career. Mabel Boulton, a young actress, as Tessa, takes a front-rank place among the international stars. It is an amazingly lifelike production of an engrossing story by Margaret Kennedy The theme of 1 The Better Man,’ Richard Talmadge’s latest film, which is also showing, deals with the plan of a titled Englishman to see more of his American sweetheart by becoming valet to her uncle, a get- ■ rich-quick financier who is trying to defraud the hero himself of valuableCalifornian properties. Talmadge’s adventures in his assumed role lead to a series of riotous complications and a thrilling climax. EVERYBODY'S The new screen comedy team, Cohen and Beebe, appears in ‘ Homesick/ which is now being shown at Everybody’s Theatre. It is an hilarious ccim’edy-draraa with a transcontinental bicycle race from New York to Los Angeles furnishing dozens of logical, mirth-provoking situations, as Sammy Cohen speeds, across the country for a big prize and p bride in California. Carl Brisson and Lillian Hall-Davis are starred in ‘The Ring/ a British sporting drama, which has second place on this programme. KING EDWARD For a good comedy programme it would be hard to find one better than that which is now showing at the King Edward Theatre. The chief picture is entitled ‘ Heart to Heart/ and it is

ono of the best comedies shown in Dunedin fox a long time past. -Mary Astor, Louise Fazenda, and' Lucien -Littlefield have the featured roles. Then comes another long laugh with _ Homesick, Saturn v Cohen and Marjorie Beebe s latest picture. A full supporting programme is shovn.