PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20376, 7 January 1930, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

REGENT ‘ Coquette,’ the talking screen production of the successful American drama of tho same name, is being shown daily to large audience at the Regent Theatre. The popular actress, Mary Pickford, lias her first talking role m this film, and_ is successful in her now sphere of acting. ' The action of the story takes place in the Southern States of America, where Miss Pickford, as Norma Besaut, is seen as the most attractive girl in the village, her coquetry and gaiety winning her a largo circle of admirers. The happy nature of the story is changed to gloom when Norma’s father shoots her lover. Her fatner realises his nnstaKo, and as a Southern gentleman maices supremo atonement. The leading male role is played by John Mack Brown, while other prominent artists are Matt Moore, John Sainpolis, and ’William Janney. . . ‘ Noisy Neighbours ’ is the title or the chief supporting film. It is a powerful Pathe part-talking production starring Eddie Quillau and Theodore Roberts. The picture tells of two families living next to each other who make friends, only to • discover later that ther had always existed a deadly ieud between tlieir ancestors. The splendid supporting programme of talking 1. 1 ms adds considerably to the merit of the entertainment. EMPIRE Harold Lloyd had a great following in the pantomimic humours of the silent screen, in which he was so brilliant, but his advent in the talkies with uolcorae Danger’ (the feature of the progiamme at the Empire Theatre) will, by the clever performance ho gives, greatly enhance his reputation. The sound film gives Harold Lloyd wider scope for exercise of Ins pccuiiarly-at-tractive ability than the silent screen ever did. In many ways his performance is more pleasing and more real. Quite apart from the question of players, however, ‘ Welcome Danger is a film worth seeing and hearing, it is uproarious comedy enacted effectively, good, genuine entertainment which ;ias already found ready acceptance among all classes of picture-goers in this city. Plot, action, and sound have been woven into the production, which might be said to mark yet another definite step towards that perfection in sound production which now seems not so lar distant. ; The story around which the film has been made is comedy at its best. The comedian has the part of a seriousminded Boston botanist, whose principal interest in liic appears to he a monumental work on floriculture, upon the compilation of which all his energies are spent. But ho is forced W change his plans, and forsakes tl]o caun serenity of botany lor the eventful sphere of crime. Friends of his deceased father, who was at one time a celebrated leader of tho police in ban Francisco, decide that the young no tan ist is just the man to undertake the task of cleaning oat the criminals and gangsters and ’long men from the Chinatown quarter of a flourishing provincial centre. Harold makes good, ot course. > . Selected supporting films are screened, and Mr Leslie V. Harvey pierides at the Christie organ. OCTAGON Romance and adventure seldom achieve so pleasing a mixture in talking pictures as they do in ‘Masquerade; the all-dialogue Fox Movietone picture now at the Octagon Theatre. Adapted with surptisiug fidelity from Louis J, A 7 ance’s best-seller, ‘The Brass Bowl,’ this entertaining screen play explains why the hook is still in demand. Mr Vance’s mastery of story-telling maintains its interest whether in printer as a picture play. The dehghUm mix up between a milionairo bachelor and a notorious crook who might be ms twin brother and the complications injected by a clianning girl all afford unusual pleasure to tho audience. One wonders at tho adroitness o Alan Birmingham in Ins difficult dual role of tho millionaire and the burglar. The actor’s ability to maintain' the iesemblance but to change entirely ins voice and mannerisms to suit tne diverin impersonations is technically one of the most interesting spectacles seen in Dunedin in a long time, and - t gives tho fatisfactory answer to whether a talkie can compete with a stage production in tins phase ct histrionic art. Leila Hyams is quite as delightiui as she is convincing in the role of the girl who endeavours to save her father from imprisonment Glyde Gook, Farm* Macdonald, and Arnold Lucy enact important supporting roles with excellent results. An enjoyable supporting programme is glso presented. STRAND “ If you really want adventure 1 will expect you at tho Green Bay Jnn, icir miles from Godaiming, at midnigne Rooms-will be reserved in the name of John Smith. If you are a gent,email you will not fail mo, because 1 am in hideous danger ” 11 you were bored with life and wanted excitement what would you do on receiving the above note? Ronald Column gats it in answer to a “ want ad.” in ‘ Bulldog Drummond,’ which is now being screened at tiie Strand. Needless to say it leads him oft on a mad chase of adventure and romance with tew parallels in cinema history. Incidentally the picture takes a humorous slap at every screen melodrama which has ever been conceived in Hollywood. Samuel Gbidwyn, its producer, describes it as “ satirical melodrama, and it is said to be the last word iu laughter, thrills, and excitement. Ronald Column appears in Bulldog Drummond ’ in an entirely new type of lole for the famous so eon lover. He is virtually chuckling throughout every scene a decided change from the sombre hero of his: earlier screen vehicles. Joan Bennett, youngest daughter ol the famous Broadway actor, Richard Bennett, makes her screen bow as the writer of the above note and heroine of the picture, while Lilyau Tnshman, Montague Love, and Lawrence Grant furnish a trio of thorough-going villains. KING EDWARD Douglas Fairbanks, m ‘ The Iron Mask,’ provides the chief attraction at the King Edward Theatre to-mgnt. This is a stirring tale which should appeal to all classes of theatregoers. | Knight of Nights,’ starring La Jana is tho second picture on tho bill.