ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 July 1928, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT

‘THE PATENT LEATHER KID.” EINAL SCREENING.

In ‘‘The Patent Leather Kid,” which opened to a large audience at the Opera House last evening, Richard Barthelraess is the star, and his role is the best that he has had in several years. No less striking, though, is Molly O’Day, whose personality in this, her first big part, will kindle the warmest enthusiasm. This little girl seems to have a rare intuition for emotion and pathos. The tank warfare gives the production a sweep of .bigness which would otherwise be lacking, but it is not raised to such prominence as to overshadow the human interest side oi the story. “The Patent Leather Kid” is a story of a slacker. The central male figure is a prize-fighter, insolent, selfish, and overbearing to a degree, who, prior to the war, holds a boxing championship, along with the reputation or never having had his sleeky hair mussed when appearing in the ring. The girl is a cabaret dancer, attracted to him partly because of liis bravado and duaatsimess. There is very good comedy as well as sentiment in the earlier part of the picture. Mathew Betz, as the manager who rrames every fight before it is fought, does a characterisation notable for humour, while Artuur Stone achieves a seriousness that is quite a departure for him, as well as a vein of comedy. The real punch of the picture is the change which the war brings about in the characters of the Kid (the central male character) and the girl. The hero’s regeneration is not achieved until his pal lies on the battleiield, and he overcomes a chronic fear of warfare. It is this which leads up to the climax of a Hand grenade attack by him on the enemy in the church steeple, at the culmination of which, the youth is almost crushed in the falling ruins. The hospital scene immediately follows. There is a touching pathos subsequently in the boy’s recognition of the meaning of patriotism. Tliis fine special will be screened for the last time this evening.

GRAND THEATRE, TO-NIGHT. “QUALITY STREET.” Marion Davies, celebrated Metro-G'oldwyn-Mayer star, enthralled thousands ox picture-lovers the world over in “Beverley of Graustark,” “The Red Mill,” and “Tillie the Toiler,” and now her devotion to the fine tilings of the screen has resulted in a masterpiece that will live long in film annals — “Quality Street,” the favourite stage play of* Sir James M. Barrie, which opens a two-niglit season at the Grand Theatre to-nigjit. Against a background of old rural England, Marion Davies brings to life again the “Phoebe Tlirossel” that millions love. Her young womanhood, the loss of her lover, her ten years teaching school to the village youngsters, with its pity, scandal and unconscious humour, and the return of her lover when Phoebe battles with her aging appearance and manners—all are told with great artistry, engrossing interest, and Marion Davies' delicate personal charm. As Doctor Valentine Brown, Phoebe’s lover, Conrad Nage] gives an inspired performance. It is" undoubtedly liis greatest contribution to the screen. Other members of a strong cast of well-known players are Helen Jerome Eddy, Flora Finch, Margaret Seddon, Marcell Corday, Kate Price, and Lionel Belmore. The supporting programme will include M.G.M. News, comedy, and serial “The trail of the Tiger.”

OPERA HOUSE. TUESDAY* NEXT. “SORRELL AND SON.” ‘ “Sorrell and Son” lias been acclaimed everywhere it lias been shown as one oi the iinest, ii not the very finest, pictures produced during the past five years. Don’t miss “Sorrell and Son.” The long-awaited screen version of that novel or fatlier-and-son devotion, which has been read by hundreds of thousands of readers throughout the world, will commence a limited season at the Opera House on Tuesday next. It is easily ranked among the year’s five best pictures. In many ways it is the most absorbing achievement in cinema realism ever made. Brilliant direction, acting so real that the eminent players seem to be living their roles, fine settings—including historic spots in England, where much of the story was filmed—and flawless photography combine to create what is nearly the rdtimate in entertainment. H. ii. Warner, playing his first part since “The King of Kings,” Anna Q. Nilsson, Alice Joyce, Nils Asther, Carmel Myers, Mary Nolan, Norman Trevor, Betsy Ann Hisle are some of the artists who share honours in the picturisation of W arwick Deeping’s novel. “Sorrell and Son’ ’ is a story of father love and son ! devotion, a story of England during the post-war period, when heroes came home, only to find their peacetime jobs appropriated by stay-at-homes, and facing the necessity of working at the most menial tasks to support themselves and their families. “Captain Stephen Sorrell” was one of these heroes; not only was his job gone when he returned to London after the Armistice, but his wife was faithless. Left with a young son as his wife deserts him for’a wealthy profiteer, “Sorrell” works as a hotel porter in order to educate the lad and give him a chance in life. The box plan opens to-morrow (Saturday) at 9 a.m.