PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20375, 6 January 1930, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE Only one section of'the'public needs a word of advice as to ‘ Welcome Danger,’ the tremendous attraction at the Empire Theatre. The chronically lugubrious should not risk injuring their long-dormant risible senses by daring to visit the Empire Theatre this week, when Harold Llovd’s first talkie is being screened. Happy mankind will see Harold as a detective, and laugh as heartily as they laughed at Jus cavoctings, in ,tjie shorter silents many months ago, and the blues will be ; completely dispersed, for the despondent. The eccentric fellow with the goggles he made world-famous is • funnier than ever—and that is saying a mouthful. > : j ' . Cumulative, . continual comedy \a ‘Welcome Danger.’ Many funny incidents, ample format least two highclassi, full-length comedies, are : packed into the picture. The incidents do not 'cause a mere 1 titter .of' laughter. They 'immediately' and spontaneously call forth' an outburst of laughter, swelling s in each scene to less than a .roar. Following the surfeit ol mystery and sensational talkies, ‘ Welcome Danger ’ brings a welcome freshening' touch to the screen entertainment in Dunedin. Throughout, the comedy is, particularly brilliant, consistently so,, and; it .is clean, wholesome comedy.. The boy and girl ol five and the. staid folk of sixty-five will alike gain from the picture an overlapping measure' of unalloyed pleasure and: amusement. Lloyd has- long been one,of the foremost comedians of the American filin comedies. The talkies will nOt'play a swan song for him, as his genius at laugh provoking has been given a pronounced wider , range of expression- Lloyd, has an aptitude for getting into tight corners, : and in the days of the silents ■ audiences the world over shrieked with, him in his predicaments. , ■ ' ; The supporting features are in keeping with the excellence of the main picture. ■ ; REGENT , Again bn Saturday evening the large audience at tbe,Jßegent Theatre enjoyed Mary Pickford’s first talkie. ‘ Coquette. Touches of quaint and iwhimsical comedy in ‘ Coquette ’ are niany. Director -Sam Taylor, a graduate of the Harold* Lloyd school of comedy, has lightened the drama of|Miss P.ickford’s story of‘the little' Southern coquette with effective bits of gaiety and youthfulness. The opening scenes, in wlnou the heroine attempts to dispose of her faithful lover, Stanley, in favour of her newest conquest, reflect the humo'ur, of ’everyday realism. The efforts of fhe younger brother, Jimmy, to achieve manhood in the smoking of his after-dinner cigarettes and in Jiis disgust at the coquetries ot his sister and her friends will bring an understanding smile. to all, men who were once boys. The pathetic comedv of the scene in which Norma tries to follow the intricate dance steps demonstrated to her by her young friends, while her heart is torn by mental anxiety, could have been produced omy by a master'hand. ; . ‘Noisy Neighbours’ is, a second attraction at this theatre. ' This film is a Pathe part-talking production full of comedy , and drama. OCTAGON When a young man is in-love he will dp, ..anything dor the girl he loves —even fo : rbbbiiig his own hpme. At least that is what the-hero of ‘Masquerade,’ the latest all-talking Fox Movietone drama (based on Louis Joseph Vance’s novel, ‘The Brass Bowl ’), does in the picture now at the Octagon Theatre. Dan Maitland, wealthy young New York bachelor, intrigued by a beautiful girl whom he believes to be a lady burglar,” discovers her ransacking his country home. He gallantly introduces himself as a notorious society bandit, and insists on opening the safe for her. The girl is not a burglar, as readers of the book will remember, but has good reasons for her peculiar conduct. When the real bandit whom Maitland is impersonating steps from behind a por tier© with a revolver in his hand there occurs one of the most intriguing situations in the story. Alan Birmingham, young Broadway stage star, and i\ Leila Hyams, wellknbwn screen beauty, have the leaning roles, with Clyde Cook and Farrell MacDonald in two less important but nevertheless interesting roles. ,

The enjoyable supporting programme includes the latest edition of the Fox Movietone News, an. all-talking comedy by Clark anti M'Culloch entitled 1 Waltzing Around,’ a ‘Krazy Kat ’ cartoon, and scenic and educational .films.' > strand , 1 ‘ Bulldog Drummondis a book that few people fond of-a good “ thriller ” -have not read, aiid this famous ■ “ Sapper novel has given splendid material for Ronald Column's _first talkie, which heads the current bill at the Strand Theatre. In the title role Colraan is heard and seen to every advantage, in the stirring tale of a demobilised army officer. Ho is ably supported by a cast which includes such well-known players as Lilyan Tashman. Montague Love, Joan Bennett, and Claude Allister. Tbe last named takes tbe part of Algy, a foppish, sentimental, typical dude, ito .perfection. ' Hoi provides the',comedy, which is necessary for the success of a good picture. Excellent featurettes are presented on the Supporting programme. ’ KING EDWARD . ; Movie-goers who enjoy good Western pictures have been well catered for at the King Edward Theatre this week, where not only two fine 'Western films are being presented, but two cowboy favourites are seen in the leading roles in the respective product ions. Rex Bell appears in ‘ Taking a Chance,’ the chiei attraction, and in ‘The Sunset Legion, the other picture, Fred. Thomson has a suitable hero part to play.