ENTERTAINMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 December 1928, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

GRAND THEATRE,

“THE 1 FOREIGN LEGION.”

A large audience’ saw the screening of “The Foreign Legion, shown at the Grand Theatre last evening. The picture, starring Norman Kerry and Lewis Stone, supported by two popular women stars, Alary Nolan and Jane Marlowe, was one of intense emotions of romance of love and intrigue at an outpost in the vast shimmering deserts of Algeria. The story was of the Foreign Legion and opened by showing Co tonal Destinn at the head of a column of men marching in the desert. The march was a test one, and owing to the strain, a man dropped of exhaustion, and though Private Smith's interference prevented him from being illtreatecl, he was placed under arrest and in this manner marched into the city. Private Smith was really Richard Farquliav, an ex-British officer and sou of the colonel, but by the iaot that a space of 2b years had elapsed since the fathei' had left his home, neither father nor sen recognised each other. Captain Markoff of the legion was given command of a company of men to quell a rising in the north, and after news came through that he was cut off from the main section qf the expedition. The colonel summoned the rest of the garrison to go to Iris assistance, but whilst on the way, a sand storm arose and wiped out all but a small section of the troops. Richard had saved the leader’s life, but revolt was in the minds of those left and they decided to tie the colonel up and make for the border. They were prevented, however, by Captain Markoff and. his men who appeared at the critical moment. Private Smith was arrested as being the leader of the rioters and courtmartiailed. In a sequence of dramatic scenes he is condemned to death and the colonel learns that the doomed man is his own son. He tokl his fellow officers that they had sentenced his son to he shot and asked them to give their votes again, when again the same verdict was returned. Whilst the filing party was being lined up the colonel came out and admitted he had been the means of lifting the prisoner escape. At the same time the son was reading a letter from his father who had told him to “carry on.” Supported by a “News” and two comedies. lhe Foreign Legion” will be shown again this evening.

OPteRA HOUSE. TO-MORROW. “BEAU SABREUR.” One of the strongest casts ever assembled is to be found in Paramount’s picturisaation of P. C. Wren’s story “Beau Sabreur,” scheduled for local showing at the Opera House tomorrow. Gary Cboper tops the list of favourites playing the title role in this production, which was directed by John Waters and supervised by Milton E. Hoffman. Cooper has the role of Major Henri de Beaujolais, dashing young French officer, who becomes embroiled in a series of thrilling adventures with a beautiful American girl. He becomes infatuated with her, despite his sacred vow that he would give everything for France, and never again look at another woman. Evelyn Brent, for many years a star in her own name, plays the girl, Alary Vanbrugh. The role of the treacherous Becque. master mind of the Sahara desert tribes, is iri the capable hands of William Powell, whose characterisation of Boldini in “Beau Geste” won him fame. AUtchell Lewis is his chief cohort, Suleiman the Strong, a renegade of the desert, and Arnold Kent plays Raoul de Redon, a friend of Henri. - There are three outstanding comedy parts, and they are essayed by Noah Beery, as the genial bluffer, the sheikh El Hamel, much-feared tribe 1 leader; Roscoe Karas as Buddy, his grand vizier, and Joan Standing as the maid, Alaudie. “Beau Sabreur” is a story of the desert, a mingling of romance, adventure, thrills and cheeriness. It brings to the screen not an ! ordinary stoy, but one filled to the 1 brim with punch. The box plan is now open at Aliss Blake’s.