ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1764, 16 March 1921, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

PALACE. “BLIND HUSBANDS.' An unusual story on a daring theme amid awe-inspiring scenery arc the outstanding characteristics of “Blind Husbands,” the Universal film story of the Tyrolean Alps, 'Which is now showing at the Palace Theatre. The story carries the ‘spectator to a fashionable hotel in the Alps, where an amazing intrigue of love is presented to the most dramatic conclusion imaginable. A famous American physician finds his wife on the verge of entering into an unsavoury alliance with an Austrian officer. He makes the discovery while the weakling officer is in the jagged ice-trap of the mountains, powerless to save his own life. Eric Stroheim depicts the role of the Austrian officer. Francelia Billington is Margaret Armstrong, wife of the famous American surgeon. Supporting the two principal players is a strong cast of favourite Universal players, including Sam de Grasse and Jack Perrin. “Blind Husbands” is in itself a vigorous drama, a beautiful travelogue and a most unusual photoplay. The serial is again most exciting. “The Vanishirig Dagger” is one of the best longstory films shown in our town. GABY DESLYS COMING. “The God of Luck,” which comes to the Palace to-morrow night, is a production that for pure artistry of sotting and retention of interest would be hard to improve on, even were it not for the appearance of the late Gaby Deslys, whose brilliance and fascination captured three 'continents. It is the real Gaby who is seen in the picture—as she was in real life, and when one sees the wonderful dancing scenes with her partner, Harry Pilcer, one no longer wonders whether Gaby was as attractive as fame would have her. Several scenes were filmed at the fashionable French watering place, Deauville, and the famous course where France's Derby, the “Grand Prix,” is run. Mr Ray Crichton has been engaged by the management to dance his specialty dances in female attire. "The Danse De Deslys” and “The Joy of Spring” will be danced on the stage prior to the Gaby Deslys picture being shown. ROSY. BILLIE BURKE AND ROBERT WARWICK. Billie Burke pictures are always clean and entertaining. “Wanted a Husband,” now showing at the Kosy, is no exception. The clever star has a great part to play as the untidy member of a trio of pretty girls living together. The other two girls become engaged and gloat over their success to Darcy, the pet name by which Billie Burke Is known in this play. Darcy resents their jibes and resolves to beat them, so she goes to a calisthenic class for physical development and wears some pretty frocks, altogether changing her appearance. Robert Warwick in “In Missoura” is the other feature showing in this programme, with Eileen Percy, Monte Blue and Robert Cain in principal parts. In the play there is swift moving action —gun and fist fights, a railroad express robbery, lots of heart appeal and a sweet love interest—all in a delight, fully human story, that will thrill and charm., “Stingaree” and a Mack Sennett comedy are also being screened. EVERYBODY’S. “CYNTHIA-OF-THE-MINUTE.”i Novel and unusual lighting effects are not the least attractive aspects of Leah Baird’s new Gibraltar feature, “ Cynthia-of-the-Minute,” picturised from the novel by Louis Joseph Vance, now showing at Everybody’s Theatre. In the desperate fight that takes place ostensibly at midnight on the deck of an ocean liner between Hugh Thompson and Alexander Gaden, the exsiting moments of the encounter are brought out with astounding clarity and effectiveness by the use of a special lighting battery rigged up by Director Perry Vekroff and his technical aids to cover the exigencies of the situation. INDEPENDENT PICTURES. “THE BEST PROGRAMME FOR MONTHS.” Patrons -w;ho visited the Opera House on Monday night described the programme as "the best seen in Palmerston for months.” The entire programme, which will be repeated to-night, Is headed by equal starring Fox features: Buck Jones in “Sunset Sprague” and Eileen Percy in “The Husband Hunter.” Buck Jones, in his big Western feature, has thrown a decided challenge to Tom Mix for the title of "the daredevil of the screen.” His stunts are described as every bit as hair-raising as the great stars and his horsemanship, shooting and roping are on the highest plane. The story of "Sunset Sprague” is that of a wandering cowboy, who unexpectedly finds a job of a sort he had hardly expected. Before he finishes it he has rescued a beautiful girl from bandits and married her and has recovered her father's mine from his murderers. Such a theme gives Buck Jones a chance to shine at his brightest and he makes use of every opportunity. Eileen Percy, who takes the lead in “The Husband Hunter,” is an actress of great beauty and of more than usual histrionic ability. She. puts her whole soul into the production of one of tiro most attractive comedies seen on the silver sheet for a considerable time. A brilliant supporting company help her to make the situations of the play screamingly funny. Miss Percy has the part of a little Will o’ the Wisp, who abandons flirtation for the more serious business of securing >a husband. Unfortunately the victim is informed of her intention and prepares to be equal to the situation. But. the “husband hunter” is really on the job and ho throws up his hands without even a wail of protest. Topical news films and an unusually clever cartoon complete the entertainment. NEW ARRIVALS. An event of paramount importance is advertised in another column to the effect that the British Amusement Syndicate, in conjunction with Wm. Lints, are to pay Palmerston North a visit with its renowned band of talented artists, the London Gaiety ’tu-io touring manager an-