PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20318, 29 October 1929, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Another Barthelmess triumph is the ■vray ‘ Weary River ’ is being hailed by motion picture patrons who attend the First National star’s newest effort at the Empire Theatre this week. ‘ Weary River ’ is the thirty-second feature in which this popular star has appeared in his brilliant career, which began upon his termination of his sophomore year at Trinity College, Hartford, twelve years ago. Barthelmess is best remembered foi his classic interpretations in ‘ Broken Blossoms,’ ‘ Tol’able David,’ ‘ ’Way Down East,’ and many others. His most recent successes have been ‘The Patent Leather Kid,’ ‘ The Noose,’ ‘ Wheel ol Chance.' He was recently seen in a story of the high seas entitled ‘Scarlet Seas.’ ‘ Weary River ’ gives Barthelmess his initial opportunity in Vitaphone synchronisation. For the first time this star’s voice will be heard in conversation. He also plays the piano. The story is one especially suited to his dramatic talents, and is teeming with action and heart interest. Frank Lloyd directed it with a superlative cast headed by Betty Compson, and including William Holden, Raymond Turner, George Stone, Louis Natheaux, De Sacia Mooers, Robert O’Connor, Gladdens James. The principal item of interest among the supports is a film entitled _ ‘ Dunedin From the Air.’ Many vivid pictures are depicted in this production, which is the work of Mr Jack Welsh, of the Empire Theatre. OCTAGON Emil Jannings, supported by two of Hollywood’s most popular featured players, Esther Ralston and Gary Cooper, has produced the sixth of his grippingly powerful human dramas for Paramount. The picture is ‘ Betrayal,’ the current attraction at the Octagon Theatre. Jannings's characters have always been taken directly from life, and in this story of the Swiss Alps he has a role which does justice to his wonderful talent for interpretation. As the selfsatisfied, self-centred, good-natured Swiss burgher Jannings gives a performance unsurpassed on the screen, one worthy of comparison rvith his immortal picturisation of the womanruined business man in ‘The Way of All Flesh.’ . The supporting cast was carefully selected from Hollywood’s best dramatic talent. The beauty of the characterisation of the story is considerably enhanced by a wonderful synchronisation that has been made for this picture. The careful thought given to the musical accompaniment and the excellence ol the orchestration will appeal to all patrons. An all-talkie comedy, a synchronised film of a cup tennis tournament, and the ‘ Octagon Storyteller ’ form the supporting programme. REGENT ‘The Idle Rich,’ taken from a famous sta<m play of American family life, ‘ Wliite Collars,' is another instance of the great improvements being brought to drama through the comhig of the talking picture. For William Do Mille’s filmisation of the stage hit, as a 100 per cent, talking play, goes far heyond what audiences were enabled to see when they witnessed it as a legitimate stage play back of the footlights. This new Metro-Goklwyn-Maycr production, now playing at the Regent Theatre, is a romance crowded with comedy, heart interest, and here and there tears. Lavishly cast, with outstanding artists of screen and stage, it is a veritable cross section of life as lived by the average American family. All its characters, moreover, are intensely interesting. Conrad Nagel, whose splendid voice has scored him many recent talking film successes, plays the young multimillionaire who marries his pretty stenographer. He gives a perfect performance, as usual. Leila Hyams not only qualifies for the bride’s role by being beautiful, but proves a very talented little actress, especially in the emotional moments, and Bessie Love, late hit of ‘The Broadway Melody,’ is perfect as the “ flappery ’’ little sister. ‘The Shady Lady,’ a thrilling partdialogue melodrama, is showing on the same bill, which provides an excellent evening’s enjoyment. STRAND From a novel by Cosmo Hamilton, ■whose works have been the basis of many successful films. ‘ The Three Passions,’ now at the Strand Theatre, is the first feature of St. George’s Productions, Ltd., a new British company which caused quite a stir when u signed Rex Ingram and his wife, Alice Terry, for this picture of English life. Ivan Petrovitch ami Shaylo Gardner have important roles. Thus it covers in the diverse aspects it wears in London “ society,” iu the slums of the British capital, at Balliol College, Oxford University, and in a huge shipbuilding yard. The famous Armstrong works at Newcastle-on-Tyno were used for the latter scenes. Real undergraduates cooperated in the university scenes. Ambitious sets for many other scenes were erected at the Ingram studios at Nice, and a restaurant setting is said to foreshadow the craze of the day after to-morrow in its furnishing and decoration A full programme of short talkie subjects is also presented. GRAND AND PLAZA This is the age of motorists, and it is most fitting that at a time when the British motor industry is achieving success in a hard fight for world supremacy, a British motion picture company should produce the first British motor racing _ epic, ‘ Smashing Through,’ which is now the principal attraction at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. In this remarkable and entertaining film, one is taken through the gigantic factories, where Britain’s finest cars are manufactured. In fact, that company gave every assistance to W. P. Kellino, the producer, and placed their works at his disposal for filming backgrounds. The company also lent a number of cars to be actually raced in the picture. The many thrilling road races in the film, and a delightful love theme provided by John Stuart and Evo Gray, lend added interest

Night club life that is “different is depicted in ‘ Come Across,’ the story of a society girl in criminal haunts, which is also showing. Many of thscenes are laid in the notorious Sphinx night club, a rendezvous of the underworld. In the cast are Lina Uasquette, Reed Howes, Flora Finch, Craufunl Kent, Gustave Von Seyffertitz, and 'Clarissa Selwynne.

’ ‘ Widecombe Fair ’ is a comedy drama acted amidst glorious Devon settings “ with, all the , fun of the fair.’ This is. the main attraction billed at Everybody’s Theatre this week. It is adapted' from Eden Philpott’s worldknown novel of the same name, which has fascinated millions of readers, and, furthermore, additional interest is aroused by the famous' old folk song, ‘ Widecombe Fair,’ that is known and sung the world over. Piquant Marguerite Allan, in the role of the squire’s daughter, is a charming British actress, who will enchant movie patrons and handsome William Freshman, as the boyish lover, will cause many feminine hearts to flutter. ‘The Far Call,’ a story of seal fur poachers, is the additional attraction. Charles Morton and Leila Hyams are featured. KING EDWARD ‘ Cheyenne ’ (Ken Maynard’s feature heading the programme at the King Edward Theatre), as the title implies, is a story dealing with the famous roundup and rodeo held in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The story tells of a rider whose greatest ambition is to win at Cheyenne. He has participated in other events, but the prizes and reputation of a Cheyenne winner will stamp him witu greater prestige than any other competition. There is, of course, the girl who plays an important part in deciding just how he is to ride. He cannot, ride her string of horses, and yet ho does not want to win from her.