STAGE AND SCREEN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 March 1928, Page 18

STAGE AND SCREEN

PICTURES, PLA YS AND PEOPLE (

OPERA HOUSE. GRAND THEATRE. To-night— - To-night—- “ The Gay Retreat’’ (Ted McNamara “The Rod Mill’ (Marion Davis), and Sammy Cohen). j Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer. April 2-3 ~ . ' , -d . April 4m—“The Count ot Ton- (Charles R-a\ ( < < Service for Ladies” (Adolphe Men - —Lniversnl .Film). joti), Paramount Films. April 4-5-6 — -o.ril 7 “The 7th Heaven” (Fox super . • u “The Gay Deceiver’- (Lew Cody), . ( ,jl ‘ ' Metro-Go 1 <iwvn-Maycr. Also final “East Side, West- Side” (George episode “The Return of the RidO’Brien;, Fox Films. lße P^der.”

ATTRACTIONS BOOKED FOR HAWERA. A nr il April U3-.17-18 — * P : “Tlmt-’s My- Daddy” (Reginald “The 7Hi Heaven.” I Denny), Universal Films. ..,..,0.., I May 2-3-4 — : April - i- 1 - 1 • i Moils’ ’ (British production). ‘‘The Flag Lieutenant.” (British pro- I Coininem-iny May 7 daction). Hur -

The mirth provoking marines or “What Price Glory,” Sammy Cohen and Ted McNamara, have been teamed again, this time in the featured roles of “The Gay retreat,” Fox Films war comedy, which will be finally screened at the Opera House to-night. This is a hilarious story of war days and Paris nights and is said to set- a new standard in feature length war comedies. The storv deals with a sleep-walking doughboy and the two pals to keep him from walking into No Mon’s Land m his sleep

Winter sports in the Swiss Alps, eluding a sen tional race doth e fastest tola gan slide in t world, and a sp< tacular ice ci nival, are some t h o features Adolphe Men jot latest, Param ou picture, “ Scrv:' for Ladies ’ ’ wbi comes to Gra Theatre on W nesday next. Sm. scenes of ex-cep- _ tional beauty are Adolphe Menjou said to characterise this phase of what Menjou declares to be the best picture he has ever made. In a brilliant ice carnival, staged on the smooth ice of the lake, Menjou appears in the colourful garb of a hetman of Cossacks. Supporting the star in this glamorous tale of back stage life and alpine sports is a strong cast, headed by Kathryn Carver.

Their Majesties the Kin" ami Queen of .England were spectators at a special performance of Paramount’s British produced picture, “The Flag LieuMarble Arch Pavilion, London. Thousands crowded the neighbourhood to witness the l arrival of the' Royal Party, the police cordon being" twice broken through, and’several injured in the tremendous crush. Henry Edwards in the name part, and Do.rtliy Seacombe, an Australian, are the two stars heading a formidable list of supporting players, when this picture is screened at the Opera House, commencing April 11.

‘ 'A iiuagniiicent picture,’ ’ -said H.it.li. the Prince of Wales, -after “Ben Ilur” had been shown in London to the Royal Family. And this praise, that came so graciously from the lips of the most popular individual in the world to-day, is in effect what the world thinks of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer \s mighty screen triumph. King and commoner, noble and nonentity alike have 'been overwhelmed by “Ben Hur.” It is ageless and creedless, and bv the very measure of its universality, 'breaks down all barriers of race and religious belief. It is a message for the multitude, and by the multitude has been raised to a pinnacle of unprecedented popularity. “Ben Hur” is a masterpiece of surpassing beauty and magnitude, and in screen form dwarfs utterly the stage play that itself created a world-wide furore, “Ben Hur” will now commence its Hawera season on Monday, May 7. Violet La Plante, a sister of Laura La Plante, is just beginning a movie career that may possibly make her famous. She is Bob Curwood \s leading woman, in his next picture.

Bose, when you belieVed that ]» was a simple. taixiier, X believe you loved me: ' “Madly, passionately!’.’' “But when 1 became a bad baronet you very properly loved Richard instead? ’ “Passionately, madly!” “But if I should turn out not to be a bad baronet alter all, how would you love me then;”’ “Madly, passionately 1”. “As before?” “Why,of course !” All this is to be expected foom the not so simple village maiden of “R uddigore,” who carries out with Gilbertiau logic the principles of a book of etiquette—a hallowed volume compiled, if she may believe its title-page, “by no less an authority than tiie wife of a Lord Mayor” (says the “Australasian” which also expresses wonder that this delightful comic opera, which has been already seen in liawera, was not produced out here years ago). Riose Maybud arrived in Melbourne for the first time at His Majesty’s Theatre on February 10, accompanied by.the other quaint characters of the comic opera. Strangely enough. “R uddigore” was not staged professionally in any Australian city till about a year ago, though its first London performance was in 1887. In England it began fairly well with a run of 288 performances, coining between the (192 of “The Mikado” and the 423 of “The Yeomen of the Guard”; then it was laid aside for a good many years. After being revived without astonishing results, it was put into storage again; but then, with a return of enthusiasm for Savoy opera, it was suddenly found to be firmly established as one of the favourites of the Rupert d'Oyly Carte repertoire. Many have known the win and the music without knowing the full stage effect of the piece, and for them it has been pleasant to see and hear “R.uddigore” with all the charm added bv the work of able lyric plavers and of the orchestra., and bv the pictures made up of the colourful costumes and scenery. Few of the first nights of recent years have been so enjoyable and so enjoyed. A notable cast is featured in “Paid to Love.” a comedy-drama based on unusual situations. George O’Brien is cast as the young prince who takes no interest in women, until Gaby, a lovely Anache girl, is brought to the kingdom to awaken him. The dancer is admirably played by Virginia Valli.

Although the Savoy opeurs liave been given frequently in the United'States in recent years, the manner of their production did not meet with the approval, of Mi.ss Stella Wilson, the young Australian singer, appearing in Australia in “R.uddigore” (says an exchange). She saw “The Gondoliers” staged in America, and, like any true lover of Gilbert and Sullivan, was shocked by the liberties which the actors took with Gilbert’s lines. She mentions that the kings 'Struggled all over the stage for the crown, anti eventually one of them cried, “Now we both have half a crown!” One of the American critics remarked that tlijs was the. funniest lino in the piece! One cannot help adoring, however, that In recent Australian productions the same tendency towards “gagging” has been noticed. Even Mr. Charles Walenn has erred in this direction Mr. Walenn, by the way, mentions that the most amusing incident in his experience occurred while lia Was appearing in “The Pirates of. Penzance’’. ] on tour, in which lie played the part of Major-General Stanley. After his fi*-stj song the audience began to laugh. P's 1 was .inwardly congratulating hp.mself when he discovered that the cause of the laughter was an elderly charwoman, who had wandered on the stagy. Mailway across she discovered that she was in full view of the audience, and was so frightened that she was unable to i move. The laughter of the audiencei reached its culmination when the sergeant of police strode solemnly across the stage' and conducted the old woman to the 'safety of the “wings.”

“And for those who will climb it, there is a ladder leading .from the depths to the heights from the sewer to the stars, the ladder of courage, which leads upwards, aye, never upwards into the quickshot gold of the open sky, into the 7th Heaven of Happiness.” And Chico, a very remarkable fellow, who worked in tile sewer, but lived near j the stars, achieved his earthly heaven, mm | his Diane. The production upon the A speaking stage was necessarily limited V to the lour walls of a theatre, but on the screen the full sweep of its dra- H ’ rnatie narrative is unfolded before you. S i it is one of the most elaborate produej tions in the history of motion pictures. ! Paris, during the hysterical hours fol- | lowing the declaration of war, is vividly I shown. The call to arms, the mobilisaI tion. the patriotism, the emotional | tear, and the stalwart defence are de- ! pit ted before vour eyes. Then comes I the triumphant Armistice Day. All of | these spiritual awakening dominates the dramatic story. - “Diane," ’■ the sincere I and wistful little French girl, is played I by Janet Gaynor, and the beloved and I strong-minded “Chico” is portrayed by Charles Farrell. “The 7th Heaven” commences its season at the. Opera Jy-‘ House, Wednesday next, April 4. The memorable days of August and September, 1914. will live gloriously in the history' of England, but if, with passage of time, the vivid and human side of the story of the Old Contemptibles has dimmed a little, “Mons,”- the .all-British production which Metro-Goklwyn-Mayer is distributing in Ausfcralia and New Zealand and which comes to the Opera House shortly, brings back as no other medium could, the memory of those fateful days. picture should be seen by every woman and child in the Empire, nJH only for its patriotic appeal; brA MB cause it warms the heart A.wtl every emotion into aetioti. Billie Burke, a fascinating musical comedy actress in London many years ago, and later a popular film star, has B returned to the New York stage, after ■ a long absence, in a play entitled | “The Marquise.” In private life Billie Burke is the wife of Flo Ziefeld, tire- millionaire- producer of the once celebrated Ziegfeld Follies, a Broadway show that has given many a beauty in Hollywood