ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3493, 1 November 1926, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

PALACE THEATRE. “THE TORRENT.” Greta Garbo, the newest screen j star, recently left the European stu-1 dios tor Culver City, .and now wo have her first Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr pro- ■ duction, “Ibanez’ Torrent,” made by Mbnta Bel! from “The Torrent” by Vicente Blasco Ibanez, at the Palace Theatre. Miss Garbo is blue-eyed and has, fair hair, and is without doubt one of the world’s loveliest movie players. In addition it is apparent that she has been given a typically thorough European grounding in drama and the histrionic arts. She plays her role in this picture with the instinctive ease that achieves realism without effort and gives evidence of intense study devoted to the character she plays, Leonora. Opposite her is seen Ricardo Cortez, who has already won fame in a number of outstanding leading roles. They are supported by a largo cast of important players including Gertrude Olmsted, Tully Marshall, Mack Swain, Lucicn Littlefield, Lillian Leighton and others. Tho story of the film is of a young peasant girl born with a glorious voice. She loves tho son of tho woman who dominates their small village, but tho mother h:iS other plans for him. The boy is a weakling and fails to assert himself even a second time, when the girl has become a famous prima donna. The picture skilfully traces tho careers of each, particularly when tho two arc thrown together. Thrilling moments intersperse the drama which moves steadily to a most unusual climax that certainly is not foreseen. Monta Bell retains all his subtlety in handling tho theme and details of ‘‘lbanez’ Torrent” a.nd is - responsible for a gripping piece of film entertainment. THE .JOHNSTOWN FLOOD. A picture that will surpass anything ever attempted before in the line of melodrama is what is promised in "The Johnstown Flood,” screening on Wednesday at the do Luxe, a screen story based on the historic disaster. The production has .lust been completed at a tremendous cost after months of preliminary work and actual shooting time. "The Johnstown Flood differs from previous pictures of the thrill variety in that it does not depend for its action on stunts or faked camera effects. The story itself has tho advantage of actuality and is built with all the logic of truth. A staff of research experts was engaged to assemble the details of the appalling catastrophe that startled tho whole world when tho North Fork Reservoir near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, broke, carrying death and destruction through tho Conemaugh Valley. The thrills disclosed by those authentic records have been faithfully reproduced for tho screen story. RAYMOND GRIFFITH IN “HANDS UP” AT THE DE LUXE. Playing comedy scenes with Mack Swain often provides less fun for the other fellow in the scene than it does lor those who see the results in a motion picture Raymond Griffith vouches for that. He and Swain spent several weeks together during tho filming of Griffith’s new starring comedy "Hands Up!” and he ought to know. Ray weighs 135 pounds, while Mack makes the Fairbanks scale groan in protest at 3061 pounds. On one day in particular Swain fell on. Griffith fifteen times, and by noon the latter was beginning to feel like a pancake. In addition to Mack Swain, the prominent players appearing in support of the star in “Hands Up!” include Marion Nixon, Virginia Lee Corbin, Montagu Love, and George Billings. Griffith has the role of a devil-may-care spy, who goes through many hair-raising experiences, and comes out with flying colours. The picture opens at the De Luxe to-day. ROSY THEATRE. A VIVID SCREEN DRAMA—“THE SPORTING CHANCE.” Many race pictures have been flashed on screens at various times,: but we take off our hat to the most exciting and thrilling race ever de-! pioted on the screen in tho Tiffany l production, “The Sporting Chance,"! now at the Kosy Theatre. Before! reaching the climax the story tells of j a young, handsome, but impecunious: horse-owner of tho South, who comes North to enter his race horse in a rich stake race. He meets the girl, who is coveted by a rich sportsman,! and to outwit him many novel and entertaining scenes are enacted. One! scene, where the horse is hidden from the hands of the law, is something j new and ingenious, and another of j how the horse is smuggled into the! race course is one of the best of the! many situations in the drama. Lou! Tellegen, as the rich sportsman, plays! his part with a sureness that makes! it convincing, while Dorothy Phillips, i always a screen favourite, plays the heroine in a sympathetic manner. Also in the cast are such well known players as George Fawcett, Theo. Von Elezt and Sheldon Lewis, who give creditable performances. A new type of crook play, with more punch than "Kick In” and more tense situations than "Within The Law,” comes to the Kosy Theatre to-day, when Evelyn! Brent’s second starring vehicle, “SiIK j Stocking Sal,” enjoys its local premiere. Crammed with action and (h til Is of a melodramatic order ant enlivened with tine touches of comedy the new Gothic production provides a delightful form of entertainment. It is a picture that audiences will long remember and the' story, which was written especially for Mias Brent by E. Richard Schayer, offers the new star what is tho host act-

ing role in which she has over been seen. Robert Ellis and Earl Motcalf head a fine supporting cast which | has evidently been selected with rare | judgment down to tho veriest extra. 'j An exceptionally good supporting 1 programme is shown with the above special attractions. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. One of the most important factors • in "The Ten Commandments” Para--1 mount’s great picture commencing 1 to-night at Bunnythorpe Picture Circuit Theatre is tho tremendous cast of 1 players that have been assembled. In | tho ancient story, Theodore Roberts 1 as Moses, Charles de Roche as I Pharaoh, Estelle Taylor as Miriam, Julia Faye as the wife of Pharaon, Lawson Butt as Dathan, Clarence Burton its tho Taskmaster, James Neill as Aron, Terrence Moore as tne , son of Pharaoh. In the modern story, , Richard Dix, Beatrice Joy, Rod La , Roque, Edytho Channan, Nita Naldi, Agnes Ayres, Robert Edoson act i Charles Ogle. From tho cast atone the size of this picture may be con- . ceived. A glance over this list or ! names will show that nearly every 1 player is a star. In support of tnese there is a supporting cast which comprises some three thousand people of all nationalities including Arabian, Armenian, Austrian, American, British, Bulgarian. Belgian, Checko-Slo-vakian, Caucasian, Dutch, Egyptian. German, Greek, Jewish, Moorish, Portuguese Polish, Russian, Roumanian, Syrian, Swiss, Scandinavian, Turkish and Zingari. MUSICAL COMEDY SEASON. COMMENCING TO-MORROW NIGHT. ‘‘MISS HOOK OF HOLLAND.” In another column will bo found the advertisement of the Palmerston North Amateur Operatic Society which | will commence to-morrow night, a five-night Spring Show Week attraction with “Miss Hook of Holland." In selecting this comic opera for presentation this year, the Society showed considerable discrimination as the comedy is particularly bright and tuneful and lends itself to amateur production. Tho cast is a good one, tho chorus an excellent one, the wardrobe continental and modern in dressing, and the scenery, lightning, and effects will assist, to make the. presentation a notable one in the Society’s career. Mrs. Hulmc is the sole producer and she has undoubtedly excelled herself on this occasion. Miss D. Tabor is arranging tho ballets and solo dances, the Orpheus Society is assisting with a double quartette, i the Municipal hand members are ’ lending assistance, and tho orchestra comprises the best local talent under the leadership of Mr. C. L. Mowlem > Mr. A. J. Graham is tho musical director. and Miss Eyre is at the piano. Mrs. Harry Palmer is the wardrobe : mistress and she has done wonders : in this department. Tho box plans t for tho five-nights’ season commenct ing to-morrow night aro now filling . rapidly and seats may be reserved at the Opera House from ten in the i morning every day this week. ; PALMERSTON SOCIAL CLUB. On Saturday evening last in the ■ Oddfellows’ Hall the Social Club held 1 another of its popular euchre tour- ’ neys, when there were 164 players 1 present. At the conclusion of two ’ and a-half hour’s interesting play the ■ following wore declared the prize- ■ winners:— ; Ladies:—Mrs. Spencer (pair double i white blankets), Mrs. A. Jones (70 lb. bag sugar), Mrs. Gold (25 lb. bag , flour). Men:—Mr. Smith (pair double • white blankets), Mr. Kennedy (1 ton i coal), Mr. Peterson (1 bag coal). . The highest score registered was ISA out of a total of 24 games played. During the evening the chairman of the committee announced that the-, final night for the points prize would ; be December I and that December 4 would be the final night for this season, when the points prizes would bo [ awarded. Also that the gold wristlet ; watch would still be awarded to any ; player winning all games but three [at any function until the close of the ,iseason. Should the watch not be won ,| in this manner, it will he presented | to the player who scores the highest | number of points on any night bnI tween November 3 and December 4, both dates inclusive. It was also announced that for next, Wednesday evening two extra prizes (.’, ton coal, | and 70 lb. bag sugar) had been donated. LITTLE TIOH. I Vi itors to the forthcoming A. and i l’_ Show that are desirous of seeing something very interesting and most educational are advised to have a look Ini Little Tich. the World’s smallest bull, imported from the Argentine, Islanding but a few inches high ana being perfect in every detail, now rising seven years old.