ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 193, 20 July 1925, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY. TWO DRAMAS AGAIN. James Oliver Curwood. who Hob written most, of the hip; outdoor stories presented on the silver sheet, provides an intensely human drama of the Hudson Bay country in “Jim of the Big Snows,” which is one of tho attractions at the Kosy Theatre this week. For his story Mr Cur wood chose the Hudson Bay country as tho locale because of its virile characters and the spirit, adventure, romance and thrills that are evident in that, isolated land. The story is replete with stirring situations and adventures, illustrating the successful manner in which seventeen trappers, the entire population of an isolated trading post, force an insolvent fur agent to observe their “honour of the big snows” with Nancy Cummings, the. only woman living at tne post, and the beautiful bride of a fellow trapper. “The Scarlet Honeymoon” is a good picture all the'way through. From the opening scenes in the Argentine, through several delightful sequences in New York, back lo the Argentine again, if has been handled without, a. single false touch. The scenes dealing with the ordinary daily life of an average American family are particularly well done. A comedy and three one-reel subjects complete a Si-hour programme. PALACE VAUDEVILLE ■ AND PICTURES. A picture of exceptionally wide interest (o picturegoers, “Behold This Woman,” a Master picture, will be shown at the Palace Theatre to-night. A glimpse of life in Hollywood among the actors and players of screen fame is shown in this dramatic story, which deals with the love of a youngcattleman for a popular motion picture star. The piturc is an adaptation of E. Phillips Oppenheini's novel, and is produced by J. Stuart Blackton for Vitagfaph. The story contrasts life in the open on a great ranch and the smart set of those, who bask in the reflected glory of public favourites. John S( rangeway, who has lived a primitive life, meets Louise Maurel, a motion picture star. His brother Stephen, with whom lie lives, is a bitter woman-hater, and frowns on the friendship of his younger brother and Louise. Fascinated by tho actress, John goes to Hollywood, makes his way into the studio, and bluntly informs Louise that, he has come to marry her. He takes up the life at Hollywood and meets Eugene do Seyre, a wealthy idler and an admirer of Louise. De Seyre plots with Calavera to bring about the downfall of Strangeway. He eludes the artful dancer’s fascination, but Stephen is suspicious of the relations between de Seyre and Louise. Pressed by his brother, John -demands an explanation from Louise, and de Seyre implies the worst. John thrashes the idler and Louise, piqued by John’s suspicions, promises to marry do Sevro. At the last moment she floes from the wedding ceremony and takes refuge on the ranch und in tile arms of the young cattleman. A comedy and News, with the popular vaudeville duo, Moran and Wiser, will complete the bill. This is to be the last appearance in New Zealand of Moran and Wiser. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. “THE WHITE SHADOW.”

Often one is struck by the remarkable difference in the natures, habits and trend of thought of two members of the ono family. At times is encountered a daughter whoso one ambition seems to be study and sensible thought, with moderation in the matter of diversion, a quiet, refined soul, clinging tenaciously to the tics of home and exercising euro and discretion in the selection of her companions, with a maidenly demure hearing.' In direct contradistinction is another girl of the same family with similar rearing and care, and the same paternal lovo and devotion, but possessing a nature as wild as the other is quiet. All her desire is for gaiety and mischievous pranks, a tearaway hoyden, unmindful of father • or mother, seeking only perpetual enjoyment. Such a parallel is encountered in the Selznick special at- i traction, “The White Shadow,” which comes to the Paramount Theatre to-night and in which Betty Coinpson portrays with her charming versatility the dual role of twin sisters of tho above types. How the one girl with her beautiful nature sacrifices herself in the interest of her sister is depicted in a dramatic and powerful story. In the film Miss Compson is ably supported by Clive Brook, who appeared so successfully with her in the recent success, “Woman to Woman.” An excellent supporting feature is also on the bill, while a delightful musical programme wiil bo rendered by the Paramount, select orchestra under tho direction of Mrs Law. The box plans , are at Swallow’s. “NORTH OF 36.” How do you stampede four thousand cattle ? That was one of tho many questions faced by producer Irvin Willat during the filming of Paramount’s “North of 36,” which is due next Thursday at the Paramount Theatre. Despite the fact that an advisory board of ten expert cattlemen was engaged, none of them could evolve a satisfactory solution of the problem. Featured players in this picture— Jack Holt. Ernest Torrence and Noah Beery included —suggested that they ride in among the herd shooting revolvers with blank cartridges. This plan was also rejected by Mr Willat because of the risk to the men. It remained for an aviator, of Houston, Texas, to come to tho rescue. Upon instructions from Mr Willat, the air pilot swooped his ’plane over the herd of four thousand long-horns twenty feet above their heads and a genuine stampede i resulted. There are any number of simi- ( lar thrills awaiting fans in “North of 36.” ( NOTED ACTOR COMING. | MOSCOVITCH’S VISIT. I “Dramatic art at its highest elevation is the only description that can be given

of the memorable, and epic performance of Maurice Moscovitch, tho great character actor, who took tho largo audience by storm last night in his characterisation of Anton Ragatzy, the quack doctor, in Dorothy Brandon’s drama, ‘The Outsider . This is how the critic of tho New Zealand Times began his notice of “The Outsider,” the phenomenally successful play to be staged at the Opera House, Palmerston North, on Friday evening next. The same critic goes on to say, “A remarkablo and tensely dramatic play, based on a bold and novel plot, ‘The Outsider’ calls for remarkable gifts of characterisation from the central figure of Ragatzy, but the role fils like a glove the genius who interprets it. Nothing more brilliant than Moscovitch’s acting in this tense drama of emotions has been seen in Wellington. He was superb from the moment of his appearance to the dramatic and intensely moving climax in the last act, in which ho rovealed himself a master of his craft. In brief, the plot deals with the wonderful cures effected by a quack doctor, who appear, before the honorary surgical staff of a London hospital. One of the surgoons, Jasper Sturdee, refuses to see the quack, whose kind ho roundly condemns, telling his colleagues about- his own daughter a cripple, who was maimed as a child by tho treatment of a quack. Ragatzy determines to cure the surgeon s daughter, and induces her to place herself in his hands for a year. She does so, and she has fo lie on the rack, Ragatzy’s patent appliance, for the whole period. There is a moving sceno in tho last act when tho crippled girl, cured, discovers her lover' false, and incidently finds the man of her dreams in the person of the quack himself.” Moscovitch, through a scries of dramatic triumphs in the first and second acts, is said to surpass himself in tho closing scene. Miss Jean Robertson as the crippled girl, Lalage Sturdee, is stated to givo a delightful portrayal of tile sensitive, artistic, and heart-hungry girl, longing for a healthy body. This production will be staged for this night only. On the following night (Saturday), “The Merchant of Vcnico” will be presented, when playgoers will see Moscovitch’s marvellous impersonation of ShyJock, said to be the finest the world has ever seen. This fine artist will be supported by what is stated to be ono of J. G. Williamson’s strongest companies. Tho box plans for tho two productions will open at Oates’ music shop, next Wednesday morning. MOTHER MACHREE. A delightful, simple comedy-drama wus presented to a fair number of patrons at the Opera House on. Saturday night. Oldfashioned in plot, “Mother Mnchree” is a play that cannot fail to appeal to all classes of the community, the theme revolving round Irish home life in the early eighteenth century on a farm in County Clare. Tho story is enacted by an admirable cast, with Miss Helen Fergus in the title role. Her acting was very natural; slie was just the average mother performing her daily household duties, wrapped up in her family. Her’s was essentially a lovable character. Mr Denis Ktdioe, as the widow’s eldest sonf Dan, was eminently suited to the part, and during the evening sang very pleasingly a number of Irish folk songs, some of which ho accompanied with his harp, on which he showed himself an accomplished artist. Miss Frances Kayher was perfectly natural as Rose O’Dare, while much of the success of the play was due to the very fine work of Mr Ronald Riley, who, as Harold O’Dare, an English aristocrat afflicted with a stammer, was irresistibly funuy. There was much talent in the remainder of the cost. ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY’S CONCERT’ The box plan for the Palmerston North Orchestral Society's concert opens- to-mor-row morning at 8.30 to honorary members, at Mr G. C. Swallow’s. , Tho very large honorary members’ list ensures a large hooking, and tile privilege of one day's prior booking is availed of to tho full. The plan will be open to the general public on Wednesday morning at 8.30. The concert will be considered by many possibly more attractivo than the last, because tho items will bo in lighter vein, and the orchestra, having been augmented in some parts of its ranks, can be counted on to uphold its already high reputation. Mrs Errol Reid, nee Miss Nellie Davies, of Blenheim, will do the vocalist, and she is known to many in this town as the possessor of a beautiful voice and charming personality.