ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3494, 2 November 1926, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

RAYMOND GRIFFITH IN “HANDS UP” AX THE DE LUXE.

Playing comedy scenes with Mack •* Swain often provides less fun for the a other fellow in the scene than it does p for those who see the results In a a motion picture theatre. Ray- p mond Griffith vouches for that. s He and Swain spent several weeks 0 together during the filming of t Griffith's new starring comedy v “Hands Up!” and lie ought to know, t Ray weighs 135 pounds, while Mack a makes the Fairbanks scale groan in t protest at 30Gi pounds. On one day £ in particular Swain fell on Griffith i fifteen times, and by noon the latter j was beginning to feel like a pancake. ( In addition to Mack Swain, the pro- ] minent players appearing in support £ of the star in “Hands Up!” include j Marion Nixon, Virginia Lee Corbin, j Montagu Love, and George Billings. f Griffith has the role of a devil-may- . care spy, who goes through many j hair-raising experiences, and comes < out with flying colours. The picture . opens at the De Luxe to-day. i 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 jusi been completed at a tremendous cost after months of preliminary work and ac- 1 tual shooting time. “The Johnstown Flood” differs from previous pictures 1 of the thrill variety in that it does not depend for its action on stums or faked camera effects. The story itself has the advantage of actuality and is built with all the logic of truin. A staff of research exports was en- ' gaged to assemble the details of the appalling catastrophe that startled the whole world when the North Pork , Reservoir near Johnstown, Pennsyl- ] vania, broke, carrying death and destruction through the Conemaugh j Valley. The thrills disclosed by these , authentic records have been faithfully reproduced for the screen story. i A THRILLING PICTURE AT THE ROSY THEATRE. “The Sporting Chance,” a Tiffany Production, is the feature production at the Kosy Theatre, starting yesterday, and was received with a great deal of enthusiasm by a large audience ,who wore thrilled by the various scenes 'as they unfolded on the screen. The climax-, of the picture, a vivid, ■ smashing picture, makes the spectator fairly howl as the horses, running neck and neck, come down the home stretch. It is one of the best scenes of its kind this reviewer has thus far ever seen flashed on a screen. The work of Miss Dorothy Phillips, who has just returned to the screen after an absence of two years. Is highly praise-worthy, and Lou Tellogen, George Fawcett. Thee. Von Eltz and Sheldon Lewis complete a great cast in a great picture. And "Kentucky Boy” bears out the judgement of his owner that he is a great race horse. "The Sporting Chance” will bo at the Kosy Theatre for two more days. A new crook drama of distinction is “Silk Stocking Sal,” starring Evelyn Brent. This versatile young actress gives a startlingly vivid portrayal of the title character, and those -who attend the Kosy Theatre for the next two days will agree with the critics who have already singled out Miss Brent os one of the outstanding artists o£ the season. “Silk Stocking Sal” is a fast-moving melodrama of underworld and society life in New York city, and enough comedy has been injected into the work to relieve the taut dramatic situations which have been evolved. Richard Ellis and Earl Metcalf give Miss Brent fine support in the most important male roles. In addition, a selection of excellent supporting subjects will bo shown > PALACE. “THE TORRENT.” Specially designed costumes wore created for Greta Garbo, the famous Swedish star who recently arrived In America to star the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer productions, ,to wear in Ibanez’ “Torrent” her first starring vehicle coming to the Palace Theatre to-night. Gold and tan were the Imain colours utilized by Max Rce, famous costume creator, In one of the most striking costumes ever worn by a picture star-, and which is being used among other gorgeous costumes by Miss Garbo in this film. The costume is made of woven gold wire, laid. over tan velvet and throughout the tan tone merges into g old. To the eye there is hardly any appreciable difference between g old and cloth save where the metal glitters, but under the camera the effect is startling. Ricardo Cortez and Miss Garbo head a notable cast in the new production which was directed by Monta Bell, which includes Gertrude Olmsted, Mario Carillo and Tally Marshall.

.“SKINNER’S DRESS SUIT” .ON. THURSDAY. “There is more to comedy than just a situation to be laughed at. *3 he ancient buffoons and clowns attached to the courts of medieval royalty had one mission in life. And that was to excite the risibilities of their jaded and satiated royal masters. But they weren’t comedians. They were comics, if you got the distinction. Reginald Denny .star of ‘‘Skinner’s DrcssSult,” the, Universal-Jewel which will be the feature attraction a’ the I’ulaeo

Theatre commencing next Thursday, made the above remarks, ana then, warming up to his subject, continued.

The great comedians of tho stage ud screen do more than make you nigh. They make you think, as well, nd beneath your chuckles and mghter there is an undercurrent of empathy. And Denny bears out his wn statement, which is a result pf areful study and research, remarkbly well. He is known throughout he length and breadth of Filmdonf s tho screen’s foremost interpreter f farcial roles. In “skinner’s Dress luit,” his long series of smashing hits las been climaxed. This story, by lenry Irving Dodge, which has sold ver a million copies in book form las been carefully adhered to, by the tar and his director. William A. iciter ,and the result is a screamingy funny situation comedy. Denny as Ikinner is superb, and he is ably tided and abetted by charming Laura .a Plante ns “Honey," his wife. The ,wo leading players have been given 1 i wonderful supporting cast in this I uodern. comedy of the mishaps and I id ventures of a young married couple ,vho find themselves In difficulties vith instalment houses and partial payment concerns. MISS HOOK OF HOLLAND. OPENING OP SEASON TO-NIGHT. At tho final rehearsal last night everything went without a hitch from start to finish, and there can be no Joubt that the Operatic Society has taken every care to ensure an artistic success this year with their Show .veek presentation. Mrs. Hulme will lave the satisfaction of knowing that ihe has dene everything possible to uake the pre.seutatlon a worthy one, md tho public can book their seats with every confidence. 'lhe comedy is particularly well itaged and aressed, the principals are ixcellent throughout, the chorus is easily the best yet available to the Society, tho orchestra is in groat form ind tbo introduced ballets and dances will materially assist in making tho intcrtaimncnt well worth while. The box plans are available at the Opera House, where seats can still :>e booked for the five nights’ season. kVo can recommend "Miss Hook of Holland” as a first-class show and right up to city standard. CARNIVAL SEASON. An important announcement appears in the advertising columns to .ho effect that the Carnival Company’s sixth carnival of the season will take place in the Soldiers’ Club on Thursday evening. Those who remember ,he Grand Winter Carnival conducted ay the above organisation will doubtless attend in force and they will aat jo disappointed, for several new novelties, recently arrived from England, America and the Continent will be introduced, and, as usual, souvenirs will be distributed on the company’s lavish scale. The Continental style of dispensing supper will again bo adhered to, and with artistic lighting effects and decorations the hall should present a most cosy appearance. The sixth round of the 1926 Manawatu Foxtrot Championship will be eoniucted, and dancing will continue from S p.m. till 1 a.ra. DIXIELAND CABARET. The Dixieland Cabaret has become an accepted Palmerston North Institution and is recognised far outside this town for tho excellence of its management and tho high standard reached by its functions. On Friday next, Cabaret night, fortunately falls on Guy Fawkes night, as well as race night, and an effort is being made to mark tho happy combination in a fitting manner. Special preparations are being made for the occasion which promises to be a notable one. booking is already heavy, and intending patrons are advised to make their reservations early to‘avoid disappointment.