PLAYS, PICTURES, PEOPLE

Northern Advocate, 22 January 1927, Page 9

PLAYS, PICTURES, PEOPLE

(By A.T.8.)

In “The Set Up,” with Art Ac ord, the Lyceum will screen n Western that is a Western. Daring horsemanship sensational hand-to-hand battles, thrilling captures and a mystifying romance that keeps yon in suspense until the final fade-out, are in the make-up of this great picture. Its outline is the life story of a daring, hard-riding Westerner who fought against overwhelming odds, outwitted the bandits, saved a fortune, solved a mystery and roped a ranch girl for life.

“The Foolish Virgin” is thrilling drama depicting a young girl lost in the underworld of a big city, open to many dangers among thieves and men of brutal passion. She rises out of the mire unstained and wholesome, escaping the doom that awaits a fatal move. It is a story full of thrills, clashes of passion and emotion, and finally the bitter struggle. Local motion picture fans will have a chance to see their favourite screen stars performing at their best. Elaine Hammcrstein, who has charmed many audiences, is back again, playing the leading role, and ■Robert Fraser, whom Pola Negri has proclaimed the screen’s, greatest lover, performs in the opposite leading role.

{ One of the most delightful pictures shown in Whaugarei will be screened on Wednesday in the richly humorous and picturesque Paramount super-fea-ture .‘lrish Luck,” with Thomas Meighan starring. The story opens in New York with the constable directing traffic. He wins the prize—a trip home —and the story transfers to Ireland. The outdoor scenes were all filmed in Ireland, and Irish eyes are smiling all through the picture. It is an unqualified treat to watch Meighan kiss the Blarney Stone. It warms all hearts to see the busy moving life, and contrasting monuments of patriotic glory, in the historic streets of Dublin.

The scenes at Killarney are surpassingly beautiful, and a red and gold thread of Irish wit and. romance runs throughout this charming story. The prologue will include an Irish song and dance, Miss Mona Lilley appearing in the latter. « * * • “ ‘Tony Puns Wild’ was my first Western picture,” says Jacqueline Logan, who has had the feminine lead in Fox Films, latest production starring Tom Mix, which is to be screened at the Town Hall. “I like Westerners. They have an inspiration all their own ■ —especially for me because I was born in Texas where horses are horses, and the vast open spaces are really vast.” This picture gives both Mix and his wonder horse “Tony” an opportunity to appear in new fonts of strength and skill and to add thrills that are new even for Mix and “Tony.”

Runaway wives is the theme of ‘ ‘ The Circle,” which screens a brilliant play by Somerset Maugham, on Friday at the Town Hall. Cheney Castle is the opening scene for the prologue of “The Circle.” The castle’s master is Lord Cheney, whose wife, Catherine, runs away with their mutual friend, Lord Porteous. The play opens thirty years later with Arnold, Lord Clive’s son, now master of Cheney Castle. Arnold is married to a charming girl, Elizabeth. She is receiving the attentions of Edward Luton, a friend of the family, who has asked her to run away with him.

A Zane Grey picture is always welcome. It quickens the pulses, lifts the dull weight of care, and touches life with the wand of genius. “The Rainbow Trail” screening at the two theatres on Saturday night will be a big Whangarei attraction. Dashing Tom Mix and his satin-coated Tony, the wonder horse, were acclaimed by thousands of admirers in the capitals of the Old World on their recent tour of Europe. When the William Fox cowboy star rode down the gangplank of the Aquitania on his cowpony star, he attracted more attention in the London papers than the new French premier.

Who was George Eliot’s model for Komola? There is a possibility that it may have been Madame Bodiehon, who appears in a "work published by Constable entitled “Emily Davies and Girton College,” by Miss Barbara Stephen. .She was a friend of George Eliot, and in outward experience, at all events, she might have stoo'd for Romola. With Miss Davis, Madame Bodiehon was a founder of Girton, and in writing its story Miss Stephen also writes a “fully-documented account of the struggle for high education for women.” Towards the end the Suffrage movement comes in for sufficient notice.

exercise, and the accompanying music is played by an orchestra. Before the advent, of the gramophone only millionaires could afford an orchestra with their physical jerks. Air .Tones delivers an introduction and incidental hints in staccato style that arc at once very helpful and a little awe-inspiring, and makes us resolve to do our bit with an assumption at least of cheerfulness while we try to forget that we have risen out of bed 15 minutes earlier than usual.