ENTERTAINMENTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 December 1924, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND THEATRE, TO r NIGHT. 1 TOM MIX IN HIS FIFTIETH PICTURE. “THE HEART BUSTER.’’ Tbp programme at the Grand tor-night will feature populajr Tom Mix, who celebrates bis golden anniversary in pictures in “The Heart Buster,” which introduces his wonder horse Tony. There is, a thrill in every foot of the entire film. The . story concerns a rich young rancher who is faced by the difficulty of saving the girl lie loves from a scheming ‘ scoundrel who has won her heart.. The methods employed by the rancher to accomplish his end are original and entertaining. Mix gives the picture , lots of action with the assistance of lorn Wilson, who provides lots of humour. Tony, Tom’s wonder horse, as usual, lias a very important part, and the “happy ending” would have been a very dismal one for Tom only for Tony’s timely aid. The supports include the twenty-first round of the “Leather Pushers,” featuriug Billy Sullivan, a Sunshine comedy, “Sad but True,’’ and the latest Fox News.

TO-MORROW AND THURSDAY.

“OHU CHIN CHOW.”

The British producers send out ' another challenge to Hollywood with the t wonderful British Master Picture, “Chu Chin Chow,” produced from the famous Oscar Asche play by Herbert Wilcox for Graham Wilcox productions. “Chu Chin Chow” is now a household word. .That engaging robber is almost better known than Rlobin Hood or Dick Turpin. The stage play ran for five years in London and three years in New York, and all over the world was a phenomenal success. Unfortunately, Hawera missed the play, and it-has been left to the screen to present this spectacular production to Hawera to-night and to-morrow (Thursday). The star is Betty Blythe, who is best known by her performance in “Queen of Sheba” in a big Fox picture. She plays Lily Brayton’s part, Zahrat. Her-, bert Langley, the Beecham Opera baritone, who has taken to films and has leapt into the ranks of stardom right away, is Chu Chin Chow; and other® in the cast are Eva Moore, Handle Ayrton (the Shakespearean actor), Jameson Thomas, Judd Green, and Dacia, the dancer. Over four thousand people acted in “Chu Chin Chow” • and a whole shipload of dromedaries was brought from Persia for the desert scenes, not to speak of Arab horses, elephants, lions, yaks, water buffaloes, and other curious beasts The settings are very ambitious. Ten or twelve acres of old Bagdad were constructed for some of the scenes, and one building alone, the Great South Gate f was as large as St. Paul’s Cathedral, without the dome. Apart from the artists, “Chu Chin Chow” kept several thous- / and workmen busy for four months, ton’s beautiful music are inseparable, and the genius of the producer has linked the score with the movements on the screen in such a manner that the music and the action synchronise, and the spirit of the music, • which is; the very essence of the mysterious and romantic East of Haroun-al-R(asohid’s day, pervades the whole production and maintains perfect atmosphere. A specially prepared score by Mr. G. J. Raffills will be used for the occasion. Patrons are advised to book their seats to avoid being disappointed.

EMPRESS PICTURES, NORMANBY, TO-NIGHT. THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR, There is a prison scene in the William Fox special, “The Face on the Barroom Floor,” which opens to-night, at the Empress Pictures, Normanby. that makes the blood race at the vivia picturisation of what desperate men will do in the mad struggle for freedom. Closely following this comes the terrific storm scenes and the floundering ship at eea narrowly missing the treacherous rocks. In the nick of time, the light in the lighthouse shows the captain the way, and the ship is saved. Henry B. Walthall plays the dramatic role of Robert Stevens, the artist, in this production. He gives a vivid performance of the man who takes to drinking when his sweetheart attributes a monstrous crime to him, and the exciting events that follow as a result make of “The Face on the Barroom Floor” one of the most powerful pictures that have come from the William Fox studios. On the same programme Hurricane Hutch episode 14 and a splendid comedy will be shown. Prices remain as usual.