ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1926, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

PALACE THEATRE . “Abraham Lincoln,” tlio picture which hos been tho sensation of the rnovio world, is announced this week as a First National picture, to be shown at the Paiaco Theatre to-night. “Abraham Lincoln” was more than two "years in the making, and at times as many as 2500 people appear in tho cast. It deals with the life of Lincoln from his birth, through his boyhood, the presidency and the strife of the Civil War; depicts the surrender of Lee and shows life in Washington after the war and finally his assassination. The production has been hailed a 3 an artistic arid dramatic sensation. George Billings, considered to be a perfect likeness to the famous American, plays tho titlo role, and Ruth Clifford is seen as Anne Rutledge.

KOSY. ‘-‘RAFFLES” AND “THE TILGRIM.” House. Peters plays the title role of Raffles, the famous amateur cracksman in tho Universal-Jewel feature, “Raffles,” now being shown at tho Kosy Theatre. Adapted from the stories made famous many years ago by Ernest William Hornung and the stage play by Eugene W. Prcsbroy, “Raffles” is, perhaps, the most outstanding figure in the whole realm of detective fiction. He stole for charity and amazed tho'shrewdest sleutli3 of Scotland Yard with his daring and skill. But when the police net is finally drawn about tho victim it is discovered that the elusive crook has “flown tho coop,” with the police officials vainly grappling, with a shadow. Not until the lust episode of the film is tho identity of the Cracksman revealed and even then it is a case of selfconfession when confession will no longer place him in the hands of those who sought him. Tho second featuro is “The Pilgrim,” starring Charles Chaplin, which is considered to be Chaplin’s funniest comedy. Ho is assisted by Syd. Chaplin and Jackie Coogan’s only rival, Dinky Dean. PARAMOUNT. “SCARAMOUCHES Who is Scaramouche ? Apart fnom this being the name of one of tho greatest plays that tho screen has seen, it is tho name given to one of tho characters in the old plays of France and Italy. lie was a kind of clown noted for a swift smile and a sharp tongue and the ability to make trouble yet get out of it successfully himself. Tho hero of the picture takes tho part of one <*t>f these clowns to bide his real identity and soon becomes known as Scaramouche. Ramon Novarro plays the part in this great production of Rex Ingram, “Scaramouche,” adopted from Sabatini’s novel. v OPERA HOUSE. ALMA RUBENS AND EDMUND LOWE IN A. E. W. MASON’S NOVEL. “All rising to groat place is by a winding stair.” On that quotation “The Winding Stair,” tho John Griffith Wray pro. duction, is based. This William Fox picture, adapted from the famous A. E. W. Mason novol of tho same name, which opens to-night at tho Opera House, deals with a most powerful and human theme — that of a man torn between his love for a . woman and his honourable placo among his followmcn. It is indeed a “winding stair’’ that tho hero of tho story lias to ascond beforo ho emerges triumphant over his earlier weakness ,his fall before tho temptation that led him from tho paths of duty and honour. At last ho reaches the heights, master of his destiny, rostored to namo and family—and, greatest of all, with the girl, for whom he had risked everything, awaiting him with open arms. Edmund Lowe and Alma. Rubens head the stellar cast which Mr Wray selected for this intensely dra- | matic story. Mr Lowo is cast as a young officer of tho French Foreign Legion in Morocco, while Miss Rubons is a dancer from America, strandod in the Moorish coast city of Casablanca and forced to earn a, living by dancing nightly in a Bohemian cafo. No moro colourful or dramatic story has been filmod in many years than this Mason novel. An 0. Henry comedy, “Transients in Arcadia,” a variety film and a news will also bo screened, while the orchestra will play appropriate musio. There will bo a special orchestral matinee th-morrow at 2 o’clock.

“THE GREEN GODDESS." Tho Guy Bates Post Company which created such a favourablo impression horo on Saturday returned to Palmerston North last evening when it staged “Tho Green Goddess” at the Opera House, before'a largo audience. The story concerns tho forced descent in tho mountains of a party of threo in an aeroplane—l)r Basil Trehorno. Major Antony Crespin and tho latter's wife, Lucilla. Tho Kajah of ltukh, within whoso dominions they have fallen bows to tho will of his fanatical subjects and has tho party held. a 3 hostages in his casllo until ho learns of tho execution for murder of throo of his subjects by tho Indian Government. Then it is resolved to executo tho threo strangers within tho palace gates. Tho woman is offered her life at tho cost of giving to the Itajah her society—a bargain which she repudiates. The prisoners contrive to operato tho palaco wirolcss sot but are discovered in tho act, tho major being killed. Nevertheless, the message is hard by tho nearest British post and help comes just as tho execution of the man and woman is about to take place.

Mr Guy Bates Post ae the Itajah, was powerfully convincing. Tho lines in which, as tho Easterner with a veneer of Western civilisation, ho effectively brought into relief our “cultured barbarism,” were superbly rendered. Again in tho passionate sccnos, whero ho alternately tortured and seductively tried to poreuado Lucilla to remain at tho palaco as queen of his State, ho was tho master actor —a stago personality not to be forgotten. As Lucilla Miss Eillecn Sparks achieved a wonderful success, and her work in the final act whero she wa3 torn between love of her children and tho duty to live for them at any cost was a masterpiece. Mr Erio Maxon as Dr Basil Trchorno ably sustained' a role essentially complementary to this well balanced production, whilo Mr Winnington Barnes as tho major made tho utmost of his part. A strong supporting cast left not a weak link in “Tho Green Goddess.”

Tho staging was a feature in itself, tho interior and exterior scenes about tho palaco of tho green goddess being most realistic.

At tho conclusion of tho performance Mr Post thanked tho audienco for its appreciation and said that the company would be happy to roturn to prosent “Tho Bad Man.”