PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

STRAND A novel story, clover treatment. aml fine acting by a strong cast make ' I ho Three Passions.’ the United. Artist/ picture, which heads the programme presented for- the first time at the Strand Theatre to-day, one of the n)ost acceptable films of the season. Adapted from tho successful new novel by Cosmo Hamilton, the film was directed by Hex Ingram, whoso efforts were largely responsible tor the success of a number of enjoyable productions. In decided contrast to his previous successes, ‘ The Three Passions ’ is a story of modern life, and depicts tho greed for gold which is equally prevalent in all grades of society. The leading roles are played by Alice Terry, Ivan Petrovitch, Shaylo Gardner, and Claire Eames, who appear in a dramatic story of tho three supremo passions—God,; love, and money. Tho story concerns Lord Bellamont, a shipping magnate, whose one obsession is tho making of money. His greed is not for himself, but for his son, a young Oxford undergraduate. Philip, tho son, soon tires of the shallow life ho is living, and is disgusted with the empty careers of his mother, a typical member of the new-rich class, and his fiancee, Lady Burlington, a thoughtless hut rather pleasant young society girl. While Philip is visiting the dockyards in company with Lady Burlington, a man is accidentally killed, and the boy is so astonished at his father s callous reception of the news that he decides to enter the priesthood. Then begins tho conflict of the three passions, and the climax shows love triumphant. A full supporting programme of talkie short subjects is also shown. EMPIRE Iliehard Barthelmess, star of twoscore silent features, has_ cutcred_ the talkies, and his initial First Rational Vitaphone attraction, entitled ‘ Weary River,’ heads the Empire Theatre’s now programme. In this film Barthelmess not only talks, but plays the piano in a delightful manner. A Vitaphone test proved his voice ct excellent quality for talking pictures, and advance notices predict unprecedented success for the initial Barthelincss talkie. ‘ Weary River’ is from tho short story of Courtney Ryley Cooper, adapted to the screen by Bradley King and directed by Frank Lloyd. It relates the story of a convict who sings over the radio, wins a parole, becomes famous, and gains the love of a girl. It is a wide departure from anything Barthelmcss has done heretofore, and offers him a new kind of characterisation. The cast supporting Barthelmess is headed by Betty Compson, who recently played the feminine leads in Barthlnmess’s ‘ Scarlet Seas.’ ‘ Dunedin from the Air,’ produced by Jack Welsh, tho Empire Theatre local news cameraman, is among tho most important supporting pictures The scenes taken from Captain Bolt’s aeroplane while soaring over the city should prove of unusual interest. A Fox Movietone news showing the English Derby of 1929 won by Trigo occupies a prominent place on the bill, while the other short subjects are an overture, ‘ Phcdre.’ played by the Vitaphone Symphony Orchestra of sixty soloists, and a singing picture of Rosa Raisa, a celebrated soprano. REGENT Hero is one splendid example of tho superiority of tho talking picture over both tho silent screen and tho stage. ‘ The Idle Rich,’ as a new 100 per cent, talkie from Metro-Goldwyn-Maj-er, brings to Dunediu a picturisatiou of the famous play, ‘ White Collars,’ a story of an American family that is delightfully intimate and very real in dialogue, action, and atmosphere. In directing this novel domestic comedy William Do Mille takes ono into the bosom of the Thayer family, and makes one laugh and cry with them rather than at them. The cast chosen for the picture, which commenced screening at the Regent Theatre this afternoon, is obviously a hand-picked one. Conrad Nagel, Bessie Love, and Leila Hyams share stellar honours, and those lovable old troupers, Edythe Chapman and James Neill, run close seconds as the mother and father. Robert Ober and Paul Kruger are great as Cousin Harry and Tom Gibnoy, and they rightfully should he. for they played the same parts on the stage for four years. In filming this cross section of the American middle classes Do Mille has shown his mastery of stage direction and dialogue spacing. His atmospheric sound effects, the clatter and bang of flat-dwelling life, is fittingly raucous as a background. There is"no attempt whatever at ostentation, and tho sheer simplicity and crowdedness of the settings is in keeping with the theme. Nagel, of course, is cast ns the multimillionaire who marries his middle-class stenographer, Leila Hyams, in the picture. Miss Love, who scored such a triumph in ‘ Broadway Melody,’ is the tiappery little sister who is content with her truck-driver sweetie and perky eight dollar dresses. The second Patho special sound pic- ' ture is the additional feature of this programme. * The Shady Lady ’ is the title, and Phyllis Haver and Louis Wolheim are starred. It is an intense and stirring part-dialogue drama. OCTAGON Laid iu a village in the Swiss Alps, Emil Jaunings’s picture, ‘ Betrayal,’ which opened at the Octagon Theatre to-day, was filmed in the deep snows of the high Sierra Mountains at Lake Tahoe. Many of the most thrilling scenes, including a toboggan slide accident, were taken there. Very important to tho picture are two small boys who have roles as Jannings’s sons. Every father and mother will love them. In the sequences with tho children is found much of the rich human humour for which Jannings is famous. Minor part players were selected with care. Bodil Rosing, Clara Bow’s mother in ‘The Fleet’s In!’ is cast as Gary Cooper’s mother. Bit players Include Alice Brody; Michael V isarotf, the chef of ‘ Marquis Preferred ’; and Alla Moskova, a Persian beauty. Big, interesting sets and scenes in which hundreds of extras take part, give tho picture great value. The wedding procession outside the village church and the night carnival in the snow are outstanding. In addition there is a programme of talking and sound subjects. EVERYBODY'S Lovers of adventure and excitement should make it a point to see ‘ The Far Call,’ Allan Dwan’s stirring production for Fox Films, now at Everybody’s Theatre. The great seal herds of tho North Pacific and the poachers who covet the valuable skins form the background of this film, and the action is swift and continuous. A realistic rough-and-tumble brawl in a Shanghai saloon starts the picture off with a bang, and frffto then on things get more and more interesting. A rollicking soldier of fortune decides to make a swift _ raid on the. Goyeignnent station at St,. Paul

Island, in tho Pribilof Group, put tho wireless out of commission, and swoop down on tho unguarded seals. The plans appear to b© working without a hitch when a girl comes on the scene. As is usual in such circumstances, the girl has _ a disturbing effect on both the soldier of fortune and tho plan, and tho ensuing complications afford ample entertainment. Tho cast includes a number of screen favourites. A second attraction is provided in ’ Widecombo Fair.’ a British comedydrama acted amidst glorious Devon settings, “with all the fun of the fair." Marguerite Allan and William Freshman are starred. • GRAND AND PLAZA Mr Kaye Don. the world-famous racing motorist, who won the big Ulster road raco la.st_.voar, was invited to pass an expert opinion on the British dominions film ‘ Smashing Through, ’ which was commenced at the Grand and Plaza Theatres to-day. After having had a private view of the film, Air Don said that tho racing scenes Were exceptionally well done. He thought that the crashing of a racing car in avoiding a child was exceedingly cleverly done, and was a “high spot” on the film. _ He also. said that ho thoroughly enjoyed the humours of the two mechanics, played by Alf. Goddard and Mike Johnson, and that John Stuart made a very dashing and romantic racing motorist. The film was directed by W. P. Kellino, who made ‘The Further Adventures of the Flag Lieutenant,’ and the stars include the beautiful Australian, Eve Gray, and Julio Suedo. Also on the .programme is ‘ Como Across,’ featuring Lina Basquelto and Reed Howes. KING EDWARD An attractive double-feature programme will bo presented at the King ltd-ward Theatre this evening, when the principal picture will be ‘ Tho Far Call,’ an unusual type of production from tho Fox Films studios. Tho film is interpreted by a cast of leading players, with Charles Morton and Leila Hyams in the chief roles, and the story has to do with tho exploits of a band of fur poachers and their attempt no raid the great seal rookeries. An appealing romance is woven into the main plot, which abounds in thrills and adventure. Adolphe Menjou and Evelyn Brent are featured in ‘ A Night of Mystery," which will have second place on the bill. Menjou is presented as the handsome and dashing captain of the FrenchAiri can Chausseurs, who becomes involved‘in the killing as a result of «a love tryst with a married woman.