ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 149, 24 May 1928, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. BUCK JONES IN MYSTERY DRAMA. “Black Jack,” Fox Films latest Western feature, with Buck Jones in the stellar role, had its local premiere at the Rosy Theatre yesterday. This is a splendid melodrama abounding in mystery, thrills and suspense. And as usual with Fox Westerns, the backgrounds arc of great beauty, picturing as they do tho mountains and plains of California. Tho story deals with tho key to a gold mine which three prospectors scratched on a silver dollar while being besieged by a gang of _ outlaws. Realising that they cannot survive the battle tho prospectors break the coin in three parts and wrapping each piece in _ a note send them out with a dog that brings them to a man who distributes tho notes and parts of the coins to tho three heirs of tho ptospectors. Years later these heirs meet, lhey arc two men and a girl and each is looking for tho others to make possible the solution of tho key to the lost mine, which can bo dono only when the three pieces of the coin arc assembled together. Buck Jones plays tho hero. Barbara Bennett, a beautiful "girl and ono who gained fame a=' a dancer before she joined the Jones troupe of players, gives a fine performance as the heroine. Tho second attraction is “More Pay, Less Work,” an uproarious comedy taken from tho story by Peter B. Kyne. Attractive short subjects are a decided asset to this entertaining programme. THEATRE DE LUXE. “MOTHER MACHREE,” A STRIKING DRAMA. Tho song “Mother Machrco” has been a, favourite with audiences of all Englishspeaking countries for nearly two decades. So it is not to be wondered at that, a picture based on tho theme of tho song should provo to be an attraction. It was shown at tho Theatre Do Luxe for the first time yesterday and proved to bo a film of a standard well abovo the average. One of the first elements for the success of an Irish picture is that it shall uphold tho national reputation for wit, while another is that the tenderness of heart of tho average Irish man or woman shall bo exploited. “Mother Maclirce” contains these tw'O elements and many others. The story is a novel one. It does not follow' the hackneyed lines of most Irish-American stories, but strikes out on a fresh course. The early scenes are laid in Ireland, where Ellen McHugh loses her husband in a storm. With her infant son, she decides to go to America where she hopes to be able to educate the boy. On the way to Dublin to embark, she falls in with a band of entertainers, who include tho Giant of Kilkenny. In tho city she loses her travelling companions, but on tho wharf tho Giant again appears, and tells her that he and his partner, the Harpist of Wexford, a very unusual person, aro also going to the United States. Poverty marks tho life of Ellen and her son just after they arrivo, for she lias. refused an offer of marriage from the giant, taking it as an offer prompted by charity. The years go on and tho boy has grown to manhood. The war comes and ho becomes engaged to a daughter of ono of the society leaders. It so happens that tho mother W'ho, throughout the years, has struggled to educate and equip her son for li.fc, is working at the girl’s homo, and suddenly all three are brought face to face. The solution is stirring and satisfying. A matinco will bo held at 2 p.m. tomorrow. AT THE PALACE. THE APPEAL OF “THE LOVELORN.” Tho peculiar appeal of “The Lovelorn,” the new MetroG.oldwyn-Mayer picture, •which screens to-night at the Palace Theatre, is that it is so true to life that every girl or man can live his own story—so romantic that, it recalls ho every woman her first love affair—so thrilling that it. will grip the imagination of all who sec it. .It is crammed with humour and packed with heart throbs. Sally O’Neil and her sister in real life, Molly O’Day, play the leading roles, and the supporting cast is an exceptionally talented .one including such favourites as Larry Kent, James Murray, Charles Delaney, Dorothy Gumming, tho Australian actress," George Cooper and Allan Forrest.