STAGE AND SCREEN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 June 1928, Page 18

STAGE AND SCREEN

PICTURES, PLAYS AND PEOPLE* 1

OPERA HOUSE. To-night—■ “Slide Kelly, Slide”, and “Black Jack,” William Haenes and Buck Jkpies. June 18— “The Rawhide Kid,” (Hoot Gibson) Universal Film. June *2O, 21, 22 — “Mother Mcdhree,” Fox Special. June 23 — “Spiders of the West” a.nd “The Wizard.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS. V ‘ | June 20/2fi — j “A Hero for a Night,” Glen Tvron | (Universal Jewel). An unequalled treat is in store for the patrons of the Opera House shortly, when “The Rawhide Kid,” a Universal production, starts its featured run. This iis a story of the great West and was adapted from Peter B. Kyne’s popular novel “The Lion and tue Lamb.” Its men and women Jive as lived the real men ami women of that wonderful country. Director Del Andrews has given us no “stagey” group of humans bnt “regular folks,” the kind we all know. The famous Hoot ; Gibson,?; Pace” of Western share*, is the likeable' Dennis * O’Hara) ’ As a hardriding, hard fighting bubkaroo, lie makes a great hero and in his self-ap-pointed masquerade he uncovers a hitherto unsuspected line of comedy that will plant him solidly in the affections of every fan in the country. The supporting cast includes such prominent players as Georgia Haile, Frank Hagney, William H. Strauss, Tom Bingham and Harry Todd.

Glenn Tryon, wiho with Patsy Ruth Miller is starred in tihe Universal production, “A Hero for a Night,” is fast becoming known as one of the screen’s greatest comedians. He was first in musical comedy and then in one-reel comedies before ha was signed by Universal for feature iproductioriis. His first big success with Universal was in “Painting the Town.”

Every theatre-goer who loves an absorbing mystery should see “The Wizard,” a Fox Minus production featuring Edmund Lowe and Leila Hyams, coming to \ the Opera House shortly. Tills is the screen version of Gaston Leroux’s smashing play which won the hearts of theatre patrons in Europe. * •» * * *

“Mother McOhree” is the title of a picture which will be shown at the Opera Hlonse next week. Inspired by the song of that name, it is said to be equally as beautiful, as full of life and sparkling with Irish wit. Belle Bennett as “Mother MeChree” is said to give the finest characterisation of her career. This part should certainly be well suited to her on account of her dramatic training and her Irish descent. The story is of .a dinar ming young mother who loses a husband she adores. It tells of her appealing helplessness when she takes Tier little son from the calm of an Irish village to the rush of New York, and of the loss of lxer son. The character demands unfailing noibilitv in the expression of mother love, for which ..Miss Bennett should be-wdl suited. Every emotion should be registered as the story carries Ellen McHugh (Mother MeChree) from the quiet meadow lands* of County Coi’k to the bustle of New York. Included in the cast are Victor McLaglen, Blanche Mehaft'ev. Neil. Hamilton, Constance Howard, Pliiflippe de Lacey (uid Ted McNamara. * -X- w * “

All too commonly the outdoor dramas of the (screen are merely a .sequence of hair-raising stunts without, solid plot of sl genuine sens© of romanoe. Thirs is doulblly unfortunate an view of the fact that history abounds with colorful incidents on which stirring pictures can tie based. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s latest bisto.rica.lly based attraction for Tim MoGoy is “Spoilers of the West,” to be shown at the Opera House and Grand Theatre on .Saturday next. And the story recreates the famous adventures of one of General Sherman’s officers with a dauntless girl. who. led a settlement revolt against ejection from Indian Sands. The picture is packed with the romance of pioneer history, danger, drama, and love. # * * *

“The Way of Alt! Flesh,” that Paramount Picture, which presents the world-famous Emil .Tannings in the greatest role of his- career, was directed by Victor Fleming. Tills well-known director has proved with this picture that he is to be (ranked with such wellknown names as Ernst Imbiteeh and D. W. Griffith. “The Way of All Flesh” will be seen -at the Opera House shortly. * 4;. * * * * Miilton Sills will have one of the greatest characterisations of his career i m »• i ii ii mu •••• •••••••••••••••■• •*®*** l **® ********* ******************* latiiiitumiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii*******************'*********************

GRAND THEATRE. To-night— T „ “Bllack Jack”. (Buck Jones), Fox Films. June 19 — “TV.e Rawhide Kid” (Hoot Gibson),) Universal Films. June 20, 21 — ~ “One Woman to Another (Florence Vidor), Paramount Films. June 22, 23 , “Spoilers of the West. “The Rough Riders” and “The Collegians.” July 9/10/11 “On Your Toes,” Reg. Denny (Universal Jewel). in “The Hawk’s Nest” which Benjamin Christianson will direct for First National Pictures. * “The Screen Mother”, or, otherwise, Belle Bennett, has been signed to star in four mother stories by Tiffany-Stahl. The first will be called “America’s feweet'lieart.' ’ * * * * * “Tire King of Kings,” which has created such a furore throughout New Zealand, has truly been described as a magnificent /photoplay, I)» MB!© ottering it to the wofind as ii great dramatic entertainment as well as keeping steadily in view the fact that the story ox tine life and passion has enlisted the ehoits of dramaturgy, and evoked the sympathy and love of tfie spectators rrom the era. of early medieval passion plays down to the present. Magnificent sets, remarkable characterisations, reproductions of historical scenes that dory description from the point of view of sheer magnitude and beauty and an expenditure of over, two and a quarter million dollars places “The King of Kings” among the front rank of the greater achievements of the screen. The filming of the production has been De Malle’s lifelong ambition, and for years he Lias studied art and literature with this end in view. That he has approached the subject in the right spirit is indisputable, and bits care in verifying all technical data as far as possible must have been a stupendous task. Regarded merely as a spectacular series of amazing scenes “The King of Kings ’ stands supreme. * #

Lon Chaney has just had his banking account swelled noticeably—not by playing in half a dozen pictures at once but because it has been a record season for apple growers. Lon is an apple orchandist in a big way. * * * * * *

Universal has selected Barbara Kent and Reginald Denny to play the leads in Eldna Feffber’s “Show Boat.” This will disappoint some of the fans, as Mary Philbin had been promised the part.

William Haines’ new starring vehicle for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, tentatively titled “He Learned About Women,” has been fiinaily titled “Tellin’ the World.” Ann Page, al7 year old “discovery,” plays tihe leading feminine role, and Bert Roach, William V. Along and Clarence Lyle are included in the cast. Sam Wood, of “Rookies” fame, is directing. A bu rglar man sacked the home of Alls Lee Duncan, mistress of Rin-Tin-Tin. Riinty remained asleep.

* if * # # “Second to None” is a British naval film just released by Paramount, and the .special appeal of this .picture lies in the .patriotic sentiment that the story contains, while, in addition to tin’s, it. is a rousing melodrama. Based on a theme of the lliigh sense of duty in .alt .ranks of the Senior Service, the film was produced with the co-opera-tion of the Admiralty and was in fact, the first film to secure, this facility. Some of its scenes were the first to be “shot” on H.M.S. Tiger and other War. ships, and an unique feature of the production is that every .scene which purports to take place on board a warship, including interior scenes in the officers’ quarters and in the 'lower deck mess, was actually taken on a warship and not reconstructed in the studio. The film therefore achieves a record in naval .realism, since such a thing has never been done before. One scene was actually taken in the boiler room of one of the ships, into which the producer, players, camera men and electricians .had to flower themselves down through double manholes.

The Hon. Elsie Maekay, missing in an attempt to cross the Atlantic by air, was once a potential: film star in England. She was featured in “The Son of David” in 1919, with Ronald Golman in a minor -part, and later in “A- Dead Certainty.” Later, still under the .screen name of Poppy Windham, stage actor, she played m “The Tidal Wave.”