PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20317, 28 October 1929, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT Take an American family, an average ruinny in an average American city liome, a Hat, say, and inject a love affair between a pretty stenographer daughter and her millionaire employer, and you have the ingredients tor a great play success. All you need is a great cast and a director like William Do Mills to complete the formula. Striking proof of this may be had at the Regent Theatre, where ‘ The Idle Rich,’ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s filmisation of the noted stage success, ‘ Wliitc Collars,’ is the attraction. Directed by De Mille, the story, a vivid cross section of American family life in a big city, is literally crammed with laughs, romance, and heart interest. Conrad Nagel, of the famous speaking voice, plays the young millionaire. with Leila Hyams, who played with William Haines in 1 Alias Jimmy Valentine,’ again in a talking role. She is very beautiful and a clever little actress ns well. Bessie Love, of ‘ Broadway Melody ’ fame, as the flapperish little sister, is one of the brightest spots of a very clever show, and character honours go to that splendid pair of, stage and screen artists, James Neill and Edythe Chapman, who play the father and mother. Robert Ober as the radical cousin. Paul Kruger, and other clever players are adequately cast. „.. ~ „ Pathe has entered the field of talking picture entertainment in most auspicious fashion, and the latest offering by Pathe Pirns is ‘ The Shady Lady,’ an exciting melodramatic picture of gun-running in Cuba. Ihrills and laughs galore are obtained in tins picture, which is the story- of a New York girl unjustly under suspicion for a serious crime. She endeavours to hide her identity in Havana, but in the leader ot a gun-running gang, she meets a spectre from the past, and is forced to agree to his plan to endeavour to get one of his dangerous rivals out of the way. The girl, however, falls in love with the handsome young American, and reveals the plan of the rascally gun-runner. Prom that point onwards, the stage is set for a dramatic climax, the picture being full of the most thrilling situations.

EMPIRE Richard Bartucimess has at last made ms demur m taking pictures —anu wlmt a demit! Tne ravounte mouon picture star lias entered into this newest phase of the cinema with an eclat which augurs lor him a career oi sue cess that will dwarl his already brilliant one. Barthelmcss appears—-and is heard —• in his newest hirst National starring vehicle, Weary River,’ at the Empire Theatre. Silent 01 otherwise, ’ Weary River ’ would have been adjudged a great picture. It is one of those rare Uarthelmess cliaractcnastions, which is rightfully expected from him and which _ho has delivered in 1 Tol’ablc David,’ ‘ The Patent Leather Kid,’ and more recently in ‘ The Noose ’ and 4 The Wheel of Chance.’ Uut in addition to Barthelmcss’s usual splendid screen presence, his unmatched pantomimic talents are abetted to an amazing degree by the use of his voice. Audiences will be surprised to bear the highly pleasing quality of his voice in 4 Weary River.’ He plays the song, 4 Weary River’ on the piano with excellent feeling and respect lor its sentimentality. Tho cast is a notable one, especially in regard to Betty Compson, who was seen before opposite Barthelmcss in 4 Scarlet Sons.’ Miss Compson also speaks, as docs William Holden as the warden, and both register exceedingly well. The story concerns a singing convict, whose musical inclinations are brought out in prison, from where he broadcasts over the radio, thus winning fame, liberty, and a girl.

OCTAGON Emil Janning.s, who is undoubtedly the liuest character actor that has .you appeared on the screen, gives another wonderful performance in ‘ Betrayal at the Octagon Theatre, ft is a synchronised lihn of outstanding merit, with an unusual theme treated in entrancing style by Tannings. Andre Frey, handsome, young, romantic Viennese artist, comes_ to the little Alpine village, where Vroni, a beautiful Swiss peasant girl, lives with her parents, and, when the pring comes, he has won her heart. They are deeply in love, and Andre, forced to return to Vienna, vows that ho will return to make her his wife. Until that time, they promise to keep their love a secret. When Andre doc; .eturn to the village he finds V’rom has been married to Poldi Moser, the mayor of dm village, a well-to-do, good-natured man in middle life. Vroni explains to Andie that her father insisted that she marry Poldi, and that she could not put him off. She introduces Andre to Poldi as an old friend who has just lost his sweetheart. Poldi is most sympathetic, and welcomes Andre to his home. The Octagon is also showing a number of bright talking and silent supports. STRAND Alice Terry and Ivan Petrovitch i lays the leading' roles in ‘The Three Passions,’ the Rex Ingram film version of Cosmo Hamilton’s new novel, which is being presented at the Strand Theatre. In keeping with the modern spirit of the picture, Mss 'Terry appears a new type of role. Hitherto seen as an exemplary character in the greater number of her films, she appears in ‘The Three Passions’ as a rather frivolous English society girl, with a taste for cigarettes, cocktails, and late hours Shayle Gardner, a_ former Aucklander, heads the supporting cast, which includes Claire Eames, Leslie Faber, Gerald Fielding, and Andrews Engleman. The story, which., tells in a graphic manner the conflict of the three passions, love, gold, and religion, abounds in dramatic situations, and a powerful plot is ably interpreted by the talented cast. Viscount Bellamont, a self-made man of great wealth makes money his one god, and shows a cynical attitude to his son’s religious teniencies, which serve to strengthen ,-oilrig Philip’s decision to enter the church. His fiancee, Lady Burlington, uses her influence on the boy to prevent him taking holy orders, a step which would necessitate the breaking .if their engagement, and a dramatic climax is reached when she is finally atecessful. EVERYBODY'S “Yo-ho-he, and a bottle of turn! r.iie old buccai’ ers’ refrain whip somewhat modifi-'l in f, -ese days of strain and wireless, still is heard in the far off places of the sev’n seas and the race of freebooters is by no means extinct. Modern piracy is the motif of Allan Dwan’s latest screen effort for Fox Films, ‘The Far Call.’ In this cxcit ing picture, now at Everybody’s

Theatre, is a vivid portrayal of an out taw gang and its raid on the valuable mr-seal rookeries of the Prib’lol islands n Pahrin Sea. The film r mtains enough riot and to satisfy the most blood- . hirstv fan In addition, there is an engaging lomane?, an unusual psychological crisis, and an abunclam comedy, making the production oxcep tional in its entertainment qualities. Charles Morton, Leila .Hyams, Ulrich Haupt, and Stanley J. Saudiford have the chief roles. ‘Widccombe Fair’ is also showing. GRAND AND PLAZA The highly-successfnl British Dominions film, ‘ Smashing Through ’ is now being shown at the Grand and Plana Theatres. It is stated to bo the first great British motor racing film, and has been highly praised by Kaye Don, the famous racing motorist The road racing scenes arc excellently done, and are very thrilling, and the humours of Alf. Goddard and Mike Johnson as mechanics are most diverting right through. The leading parts are played by John Stuart, the young owner ot a British motor company lighting to wrest the lead from a foreign rival; Eve Gray, the bountiful young Australian who won fame on tl '- Australian stage, is the girl with whom ha is in love; Julie Snedo as a temptress; Alf. Goddard and Mike Johnson as the humorous mechanics, and a regular galaxy of British stars Another exciting story is unfolded in ‘Como Across,’ the other attraction. KING EDWARD As a rule, screen directors keep their fight scenes until the end of the picture. When Alan Dwan began work on ‘The Far Call,’ now playing at the King Edward Theatre, lie found he had an abundance of fighting sequences at his disposal. As a result the picture starts off with an exciting two < man knock-down-and-drag-out affair in a Shanghai saloon that develops into a. riot. Thu scene is exhilarating enough for most directors to have employed as a cl : max, bu< oven this is eclipsed by tlx; whirlwimi finis’i of th- film. Adolphe • v >jou and Evelvn Brent are the stars in ‘A Night of Mystery,’ second attraction. ‘ A Midnight Adventure ’ is scheduled for showing at the Roslyn Theatre, tonight Thi-'teen guests at dinner. Am ill-omen. By midnight one of them was lying dead! And suspicion cast on several of the others for very good reason.