ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 109, 8 April 1926, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

PALACE TO-NIGHT

“THE SPOILERS.”

“Tho prime requisite of any great motion picture is a great setting. Great books, great paintings, great songs, are inspired by great events," declared Jesse D. Hampton, motion picture producer, in explaining why ho choso as a photoplay theme Rex Beach’s novel, “The Spoilers,” which comes to the Palaco Theatre to-night. “The Klondyke Gold Rush,” Mr Hampton went on, “was one of the greatest events in American history. It develpped a section of tho United States hithorto almost forgotten. It developed powerful figuros and produced untold fortunes. Thus, it is logical that tho event should bring forth one of the - most powerful stories in literature, ‘The Spoilers.’ Rex Beach’s novel is one of tho best written in recent years. It is based on an historical incident, and it portrays, as does no other work, the great Alasknn gold rush. Furthermore, it did more than any other thing to stop tho political ‘spoilers’ from wresting the rich gold mines from their rightful owners.” KOSY. “THE HOME MAKER” AND “FINE CLOTHES.” “Tho Home Maker,” Dorothy Canfield’s wonderfully human story, is now being screened at tho Kosy Theatre under the same title. In this gripping UniversalJewel King Baggot production Universal is featuring Alico Joyce and Clive Brook. In addition to these two excellent players tho others are Georgo Fawcett, Frank Newberg, Margaret Campbell, Martha Mattox, Billy Schaeffer, Maurice Murphy, Jacqueline Wells, Alfred Fisher, Lloyd Whitlock, Alico Flowers, Virginia Boardman, Elaine Ellis and Mary Gordon. King Baggot supervised the making of tho picture. Fine clothes mean luxury, happiness, worry, beauty; heartbreak, frivolity, sorrow —all, or any of those things. Women crave fine clothes. They influence even tho strongest minded. People who wear them are given a certain poise that only the confidence of being well dressed could give them. People arc subconsciously well pleased when they talk with someone finely garbed. John M. Stahl’s latest production, “Fine Clothes,” tells an intricate and engaging story surrounded by an atmosphere of bustling London. Alma Rubens, Lewis S. Stone and Percy Marmont head the cast, with Eileen Percy, Otis Harlan, William V. Mong and Raymond Griffith all playing important supporting roles.

OPERA HOUSE. “LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY.” Another crowded house greeted Mary Pickford at tho Opera House last night. Mary Pickford won her title, “The World’s Sweetheart” through her wonderful personality, her superb artistry and her lovable character. As a screen artist she is at her best in “Little Annie Rooney.” Playing Little Annie, a child of the New York slums, she' runs the gamut of the emotions in her portrayal of the rollicking, mischievous tomboy, who is suddenly plunged into the midst of a tragedy. It is only a matter of seconds between laughter and tears as Miss Pickford plays the role. The music as played by the fine orchestra fits tho picture to perfection and adds not a little to the pleasant two hours spent in seeing this United Artists’ film. GRAND FASHION PARADE. Miss Mona Clive, who achieved fame in Australia as a physical beauty contest winner against all-comers, and more especially as a classical and Oriental dancer, lias been engaged to appear at tho Opera Houso next week to present, in conjunction with Messrs Qollinson and Cunninghumc, a grand fashion parade of tho latest in ladies’ wearing apparel. The parade is being personally arranged and directed by Miss Clive and her eight specially trained mannequins. Miss Clive has only recently arrived from Australia where she successfully directed other parades including those of tho wellknown firm of Buckley and Nunn, of Melbourne. The fact that she is an excellent photographic subject has been responsible for hor being able to product) hundreds of art pictures that have been shown in numerous publications and artistio trade displays. The pictures to be shown in conjunction with the parade havo been carefully selected by Mr Bennett as being appropriate to the occasion and will bo headed by “Daughters of To-day,” a society drama starring Patsy Ruth Miller and Ralph Graves in which aio depicted tho evils of the cocktail drinking age. With the excellent pictures shown recently at tho Opera Houso and a “parade” for three nights next week, to be followed by another society drama and a special dance interlude by Miss Clive, in which she will present a series of Oriental character dances, tho Opera Houso is being kept prominently before the public with good programmes.

PARAMOUNT. ADOLPHE MENJOU IN “LOST— A WIFE.” Tho new William do Mille-Paramount production, “Lost —A Wife,” which comes tp tho Paramount Theatre for a run of three days to-night, is said to contain more appeal and genuine comddy than any two of that director’s previous pictures combined. Adolphe Mcnjou, Greta Nisscn, Paramount’s new Norwegian beauty and Robert Agncw are featured in tho picture —a marriage-comedy that offers audiences something a little different along this lino of screen entertainment. The story is one of a young American travelling in Franco. His one great weakness is gambling. The picture starts right off with a laugh when Mcnjou, seeing Miss Nisscn’s nanio on tho local register, bets a thousand that her face is awful, without ever seeing her. And then when ho meets tho girl—l And this is one picture where the man rushing to stop a wedding ceremony arrives too late. Mcnjou goes all tho way from New York to a church in France to prevent his divorced wifo (Miss Nissen) from marrying a “fop” count, but the bridal party has left. Mcnjou sets out in hot pursuit, wrecks his machine on tho count’s estate, and, feigning a broken ankle, is invited to stay for tho night. The count doesn’t know who ho is, of course, but when tho wifo learns that her ex-husband is in tho house there’s a real war —a battlo of wits, we should say, at tho end of which tho young girl makes tho polished American look silly.