STAGE AND SCREEN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 January 1929, Page 16

STAGE AND SCREEN

PICTURE THEATRES OPERA HOUSE. To-night—- “ Chicken a La King” (Pox Films). Jan. 7 and 8 — “•Clearing The Trail,” Hoot Gibson (Universal Films). \ Jan. 9 “The Vanishing Pioneer,” Jack Holt (Paramount). Jan. 10 and 11—“Pedrini’s Baboons.” Jan. 12— “Telling the World,” William Haines (iMetro-Goldwyn). GRAND THEATRE. To-night—- ‘ ‘ The Patsy, ’ ’ Alarion Davies (Metro(Goldwyn); also “The Haunted Island. ’ ’ Jan. 12— “News Parade,” also “The Haunted Island.” COMING ATTRACTIONS. Jan. 10 and 11 — Pedrini’s Baboons. Jan. 10, 17 and IS—“The Last Command,” Einil Tannings (Paramount). Jan. 22 and 24 “Rough House Rosie,” Clara Bow r (Paramount). , • Jan. 30 and 3d — “Battle of Coronel and Falkland Islands” (British Production). Feb. 6 and 7 “Ten Modern Commandments,” Esther Ralston (Paramount).

To-night “Chicken a La King,” a splendid comedy romance, .will he screened at the Opera House. Riotous laughter, suspense, thrills and romance feature this latest Fox Films release, Nancy Carroll, George Meeker, Frances Leo, Ford Sterling and Arthur Stone are some of the principal screen favourites wTio help make “'Chicken a La King,” an outstanding hit. Emil Jannings’ latest picture, “The Last Command, ’ 5 comes to the Opera House on January 6, with the great European aetor surrounded by the most imposing supporting, cast assembled for any of this season’s pictures. Evelyn Brent, the heroine of “Underworld,” Paramount melo-drama sensation, .is cast as Jannings’ leading woman, while William Powell, area-villain of the screen is seen as a scheming and sinister revolutionist in a role, that gives him unusual scope for his admitted ability. The picture is said to be distinguished by not only the remarkable performance of Jannings, as a Russian general who is caught in the vortex of revolution and swept to oblivion, hut bv the outstanding story and directional treatment of Josef von Sternberg, the young director wliose dramatic touches and eamera effects in “Underworld” established him as one of the screen’s elect. Playing, the role of Jannings’ adjutant is Nicholas Soussanin, the Russian actor, who leaped into frontrank popularity by his performance as “the waiter who wept,” in the Adolphe jMenjou picture “Service i.'for Ladies.” The east also includes Michael Visaroff, another ex-actor of the imperial theatres of Russia, who plays Jannings, valet, and Fritz . Feld, one time director for Marx Reinhardt in Berlin, who came to America in the cast of “The Miracle.”

“How to Attract Men,” in eight reels might be the title of Marion Davies ’ new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture “The Patsy,” now; being screened at the Grand Theatre. Miss Davies plays the role of a bashful flapper who tries desperately to attract more attention from the man she loves —but who does not know exists. How she studies “personality” courses to enhance her chances of waning admiration, how she struggles to achieve “poise and polish ’ ’ are the cause of gales of laughter in this new and romantic comedy. Opposite Alarion Davies, Orville Caldwell gives a splendid performance, and Atarie Dres'slcr, Lawrence Gray, Del Henderson and Jane Wintou each do excellent work. King A’idor, maker of several screen epics, directed this wonderful picture. William Haines’ next starring picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Alayer, ‘ ‘Telling the World,” is a romance 'of the great Press Agencies of the world, and 1 will be screened at the Opera House on Saturday next. Ju this picture Haines essays the role of a newspaper reporter. As the story moves round to a Chinese revolution, "with a girl’s life at stake, many unusual thrills are added to comedy, and action piles on action, sensation on sensation right to the final fade-out. Anita Page makes her debut to the screen opposite Haines, while Polly Aloran and Bert Roach are other favourites who appear in the cast. In all probability Allan Wilkie and his Shakesperjan Company will open a New Zealand tour next month. Besides “Rio Rita” and “Good News,” the musical comedies at present playing so successfully in Australia, Air John Fuller, the noted theatrical entrepreneur, during his tour abroad acquired for his firm four other stage hits, comprising “Alary Alalone,” a musical comedy; two plays “Whispering Friends” and “Baby Cyclone,” all George Al. Cohen productions, and a humorous piece called “Funny Face.” A new company will be organised to play “Whispering. Friends” and ‘Baby! Cyclone ’ ’ in Australia. On top of these, Jim Gerald announced on his return from America, that- he had bought for the Fullers “Rosalie,” “Sunny Days,” “Lucky Girl,” “Present Arms,” “A Night in Spain,” and “Show Boat.” George Gee, who provided comedy in T.iC.W. musical comedies, will shortly be seen in Australia again, for his carplike grin has been j commissioned to provide the humour in I a British screening of Eden Phillpott’s! “Widdicombe Fair.” i

A splendid and impressive reconstruction of naval warfare, c ‘The Battles of Coroncl and Falkland Islands” which has been hooked for local screening is something quite unique in motion pictures. It is no mere adventure story but an epic of the days when Britain fought to retain the mastery of the seas. To obtain accuracy, an Admiralty Advisory Committee supervised all the sets in conjunction with the German naval experts, who were chosen for their technical knowledge and acquaintance with German naval etiquette. The story is a thrilling, one. The Battle of Coronel, resulting in the total loss of the Good Hope and Monmouth, was fought off the Chilian coast on the eve of Sunday, November 1, 1914. Trustworthy information of the disaster did not reach the British Admiralty until November 5. The Invincible and Inflexible were immediately detached from the Grand Fleet, hurriedly refitted at Devonport, and under Vice-Admiral Sturdee sailed for the Falkland Islands on November 11. Other ships were picked up off the Brazilian coast and the squadron reached the Falklands on December 7, a few hours in advance of Von Spec. Before nightfall on Decern- 1 her S the whole German squadron (ex-1 eept the Dresden) was at the bottom of the sea. ‘