PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 21523, 22 September 1933, Page 13

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND Those who seek a succession of thrills, packed into, an ultra-speedy story, should make a point of seeing the vivid drama of war in the Orient, ‘ The Roar of the Dragon,’ which car"! to the Grand Theatre to-day. Oriental intrigue, Tartar ferocity, the splutter of machine gun fife and' its consequences, delightful humour, and the necessary logvenjng of romance gre all contained in this production. ‘Roar of the Dragon'■ introduces, to the screen an exotic new foreign actress in Gwili Andre, a beautiful Danish blonde, who has the leading feihihiiie role opposite Richard Dix. Manchuria, the home of Chinese bandits, is ' tlie scene of the action in ' The Roar of |he Dragon.’ For those who like action tips film is commended, for it is a drama of siege, a stpall party of Europeans being trapped in a hotel by the raiding forces of Voronsky, the Russian leader of a Manchurian horde. The travellers have been making their way down a river by paddle boat, and beat off an attack by Voronsky’s forces, but the paddles are smashed, and after the boat drifts down "to the small town of Yoo Lu it is Iqid up fpr Repairs. Ilpforo these are finished the bandits reappear and seek to capture the white tratmlerg and hold them fqr rqnsoin. The film relates tlie story of the siege of the hotel in which the liMe lnind s)iuts itself. Tbpre is an odd assortment 6f humanity', a broken-down engineer, a stranded show girl, a mysterious Russian woman believed to be a spy, a timorous woman tourist, a German doctor, the blustering owner of the paddle boat and of other shipping services, and a Jewish storekeeper. These, with the crew, keep the bandits at bay, for the raiders had not reckoned on the presence of a machine gun on the boat. Richard Dix, the hard-drinking, flippant boat’s captain, is the natural leader of these people, and the many incidents of the struggle are welded into a tense storyThe plight of Russia’s aristocratic women who were flung alone and unprotected to all corners of the world following the Red revolution is spectacularly portrayed by Gwili Andre, who is seen as a hapless emigre, faced with a choice between death ot life as an Oriental bandit chief’s prize.' Zasu Pitts is cast as a “ gabby tourist,” and Justifies the description. She has any amount to talk about. Edward Everett Hortop is excellent as the hotel clerk. Arline Judge is true to type as a travelling entertainer, and C. Henry Gordon sketches tt desperately villainous bandit chief. In addition there will also be screened ‘ The Engineer’s Daughter, a comedy featuring May Robson, Montague‘Love, Clyde Cook, Mack Swam, Earle Foxe, and many others. It is reported to be a very laughable imitation of an old-time melodrama. EMPIRE Two comedians, one who cannot laugh, and one who cannot cry—that is the contrast offered by Raster Keaton and Jimmy (“ Schnozzle ”) Durante, who combine their comedy talents on the screen again in ‘ What! No Beer?’ which began at the Empire today. Alternating between tense drama and hilarious comedy, the picture centres around the tunning of a brewery. Buster is a taxidermist, and Durante is the town barber, but by accident they become involved in the operation of a wholesale brewery. And, as if being caught in the toils of ignorance of beer making were not enough, they are also caught between the fire of two beer-running gangs who seek to control the output of their brewery. From this point the film alternates between hilarious comedy and excitement until the conclusion, when one of the partners adopts an entirely novel method of removing all incriminating evidence when a police raid is threatened. Important roles are played by Rosco Ates, brew master of the Keaton-Durante brewery; John Miljan and Edward Brophy, rival beer racketeers; Henry Armetta, Charles Dunbar, and Charles Giblyn. ‘What! No Beer?’ was directed by. Edward Sedgwick, who directed Keaton and Durante in * Speak Easily.’ STRAND An outstanding drama, ‘Silver Dollar,’ starring Edward G. Robinson and Bebe Daniels, opened its season at the Strand Theatre to-day. Some of the most romantic characters lu the history of the gold rush days of the early West are portrayed in ‘ Silver Dollar.’ The picture is based on the novel by David Karsner, which delves into the life stories of the pioneers and adventurers who swarmed the mining camps of Colorado during the richest silver strike in the history of the world. The central figure is Yates Martin, who struggled through days of starvation as a prospector to rise to fame as the richest of tho millionaires after he struck “ pay dirt.” Edward G. Robinson plays the part ot this Silver King, who slapped a “ dry ” President on the back and asked him to have a drink! Bebe Daniels has the leading feminine role opposite Robinson, that of the second wife of tho Silver King, while Aline MacMahon plays the part of the first wife whom de deserted for the younger and more beautiful woman. The supporting programme includes topical shorts and an Hilarious comedy. ST. JAMES Because of the long list of outstanding attractions to be screened at the St. James Theatre before Christmas tho management is compelled to show two features on one programme in many instances, and the third of these is now being screened, the brilliant sparkling comedy, ‘ Up for the Cup,’ being shown in conjunction with the mystery comedy, ‘ The Chinese Puzzle.’ Sydney Howard is undoubtedly one of the greatest comedians the talking picture screen possesses to-day, and for > sheer cleverness ho ranks with Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn, although his medium of expression is drollery rather than sophisticated comedy. His subtle brand of wit, Ins rare little shafts of humour all go towards making Howard tho screen success ho certainly is. Wearing always a “ frozen ” expression on his face, which is rarely over displaced by a smile, the very appearance of Howard is enough to ensure laughs enough to bring the house down, Remember him in ‘ Splinters,’ ‘ Tilly of Bloomsbury,’ and ‘ Almost a Divorce,’ ‘ Mayor’s Nest, and ‘ It’s a King ’ P Howard was funny in these productions, but he gives his best characterisation to da‘o in ‘ Up for the Cup.’ Like all tr* l6 Yorkshiremen John Willjo Enthwistle (Howard) decides to take his lady lovo to London to witness the celebrated Cup final. The adventures that beset him wnen he arrives in London are ludicrous. Austin Trevor,, who, it will bo recalled* so successfully portrayed detective joles in many earlier British talkies, is again cast as a sleuth, and has his feminine interest supplied by two of th® most beautiful specimens of English girlhood in * The Chinese Puzzle.’ Elizabeth Allen shares dual honours with Jano Welsh in this direction. What is without doubt one of the most remarkable characterisations ever seen on the screen is supplied by actor Leon M. Lion, who is called upon to portray a Chinese character. It is really amazing how he has obtained such a lifelike

propensity to Eastern figure. Together with his faultless make-up he has a stock of quaint Oriental sayings that carry a deal of Eastern philosophy that will be doubly interesting and amusing to the St. James Theatre patrons. REGENT Irene Dunne, the accomplished actress of ‘Back Street’ and ‘Cimarron,’ gives the best performance of her career in * The Secret of Madame Blanche,’ the latest Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, which was screened for the first time at the Regent Theatre to-day. It should enjoy a successful season, for it is a film with a universal appeal. Irene Dunne is cast as an American chorus girl playing in ‘ The Belle of New York,’ at a London theatre. She falls in love with a young aristocrat, Leonard St. John, and, against his father’s wishes, the pair marry. When the embittered father disowns his son, the couple go to the Continent, but the son is forced to return to beg from his father. However, the older man is adamant, and the boy commits suicide. The young wife, Sally, obtains work in cheap music halls to support herself and her baby sou, and a note of drama is struck when her, father-in-law gains the custody of the child with a court order. Twenty years pass. The mother, now the manager of a cafe in France, riieets her son in dramatic circumstances, and from this point the drama sweeps on to an impressive climax. The players in ‘ The Secret of Madame Blanche ’ do full justice to the production. Phillips Holmes, who appeared with Nancy Carroll in ‘ The Man I Killed,’ gives a splendid performance as Leonard St. John. His is a dramatic rolej and ho acts with fine restraint. Lionel Atwill is appropriately severe as the embittered father. Una Merkel is another member of the cast. OCTAGON Specially written to suit the talents and personality of the star, Percy Marmont, ‘ The Blind Spot.’ which began at the Octagon Theatre to-day, deals with the machinations of a gentleman thief who operates on an international scale. Although this thief’s activities are well known to the police they have never been able definitely to connect him with any particular jewel robbery. Devoid of morals, he, nevertheless, is unswerving in his love for his only daughter; and this loyalty to the one thing in life ho holds sacred eventually proves his undoing. The background of ‘ The Blind Spot ’ changes rapidly, and the pace of the story maintains an even tempo throughout. The scenes shift from a jeweller’s shop in Amsterdam to a cabin on a passenger plane; thence by way of Croydon airdrome, Lincoln’s Inn, • the Inner Temple, to the vaults of a bank, as well as many domestic interiors. These are, of course, only a few of the many scenic backgrounds of the picture, which has also many thrilling sequences, such as a bank hold-up and robbery and a motor smash. ‘ The Blind Spot ’ is a British picture with a cast of well-known British players, and has definite entertainment value. * His Lordship,’ a musical extravaganza, starring Jerry Verne, gives excellent support to the main picture.

KING EDWARD ‘Sunshine Susie,’ which proved such a popular attraction when first shown in Dunedin, is now enjoying a successful repeat season at. the King Edward Theatre. The brilliant young star Reflate Muller is seen in the title role, and as the little typist, who falls in love with her employer and eventually marries him, she is responsible for a character sketch that stamps her as an actress of more than ordinary nierit. Owen Nares has the principal male part and Jack Hulbert shoulders the bulk of the'comedy work in his own inimitable fashion. Abounding in bright dialogue and catchy melodies, * Sunshine Susie ’ provides delightful entertainment, and not the least attractive of its features is the manner in which the producers have carried out the staging. An interesting supporting programme is screened.