ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 138, 15 May 1925, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY.

“THE FAST WORKER.” In the latest Universal Jewel vehicle, “The Fast Worker,” playing at the'Kosy Theatre, Reginald Denny co-stars with Laura La Plante. The story, adapted from George Barr McCutcheon’s “The Husbands of Edith,” is a speedy aornedythriller with half a dozen hairbreadth escapes alternated with as many screamingly funny complications. Denny agrees to impersonate a friend —then, to his dismay, finds that the impersonation includes that of a husband and father—for his friend has a wife and child he know nothing of when he made his rash bargain. And in addition there is a sister-in-law, but he falls in love with her. This is the first picture since “Sporting Youth,” in which Denny and Laura La Plante have appeared together. Ethel Grey Terry plays the wife and Muriel Frances Dana the, child, while Laura is tho blonde, charming and frolicsome sister-in-law. “Speed Boys,” a very good kid comedy, and “Tailor-Made Chauffeur,” another comedy, with a news make up the supports. PALACE. “THE SILENT WATCHER.” The First National picture showing at the Palace just now is a surprise to the management. It came with no blare of trumpets—no big posters to herald its arrival but when seen “Tho Silent Watcher” was at once conceded to be a masterpiece—it’s a film special. Only a writer like Mary Roberts Rinehart could have given such a human story and only a director like Frank Lloyd who gave to the screen “The Sea Hawk” and “Black Oxen” could picture it so realistically. The story tells of a young man raised from office boy to private secretary by a political bos3 and the great sacrifice the young man makes for his benefactor. Glenn Hunter, Bessie Love, and Hobart Bosworth in a gentlemanly role have the big parts and excel themselves in the portrayal of the characterisations assigned to them; Bessie Love gives everyone a surprise by her splendid acting of a difficult part. “The Silent Watcher” is ono of the best human dramas seen for many a long day and with good supports and a fine musical programme should be well patronised.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

GLORIA SWANSON PICTURE TO-NIGHT. “Manhandled,” Gloria Swanson’s new Paramount picture, showing at the Paramount Theatre, was produced by Allan Dwan from Frank Tuttle’s adaption 1 of a serial story in an American journal. Miss Swanson has the role of a shop girl in a departmental store, whoso desire for beautiful clothes and a so-called good time leads her into free and,' easy contact with so many men that her reputation is tarnished. She learns that the love of a good man is more precious than expensive jewellery and gorgeous furs. In preparation for the part Gloria spent several strenuous days of close-up study of how shop girls in New York live. She worked for a day in one of New York’s largest departmental stores, rode in the subway, ate her meals in a boardinghouse and went through the general routine the average girl follows during the day. A superb cast surrounds Gorgeous Gloria. Tom Moore gives an excellent Sortrayal of the poor mechanic, for whom rloria renounoes all worldly pleasures.

TWO NOTABLE COMEDIES. “SO THIS IS LONDON” AND "THE BROKEN WING.” Tho famous international star comedian, Mr Thurston Hall, who will bo mailing his first appearance in Palmerston North at the Opera Houso next Tuesday night in tho rollicking three-act farcical comedy, “So This Is London,” is an Amerioon who has acted leading parts under tho British flag since. 1922. Born in Boston (Mass.), after studying for Yale, he drifted on to the New York stage by way of “Mr's Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.” “I played the part of a reporter, and dressed so well that the critics declared I must have owned the paper!” remarked the noted artist in Wellington recently. Madgo Carr Cooke, who later appeared in Australia, was tho inimitable “Mrs Wiggs.” I gained my early experience with stock companies, the best school to learn, in, and for some years I sang in such comio opera pieces as “Erminie,” “El Capitan,” “Wang,” "and “The Wizard of the Nile.” My chief success was in tho baritone role of “Kim” in “The Only Girl,” by Victor Herbert, a charming ana vivacious piece which I hope to produce in New Zealand. For two years (1916-9), I was in pictures I first vent to London to play lead with Dorothy Dix in “The Broken Wing,” at tho Duke of York’s Theatre (1922), and stayed on for “Civilian Clothes” at the same house, and “Tlho Last Warning” at the Comedy Theatre before sailing for tho Cape. My farewell in New York was in “The French Doll” (from tho French by Dadd Belasco at the Lyceum), in which I starred with Irene Borgoni. The second' piece to bo staged by Thurston Hall and his splendid company on Monday, May 25tli, will bo “The Broken Wing,” which ran for 15 months in New York, and 14 months in London, with Thurston Hall and _ Mis 9 Gladys Webster in tho leading ro’ce. The box plans for both plays are now open at Oates’ music shop.