PLAYS, PICTURES, PEOPLE

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1927, Page 7

PLAYS, PICTURES, PEOPLE

(By A.T.8.)

“The Denver Dude” stars Hoot Gibson with, sparkling Blanche Mohaffey, whose bubbling personality and Irish smile have won her a warm place in the appreciation of picture fans. Hoot plays “Rodeo" Randall, a broncho busting champion, out on a vacation trip by himself, who runs into more adventure than the ordinary mortal encounters in a lifetime. He first rescues a shipment of £6,000 from two bandits. Circumstances oblige him to change his rqiment and his name to match. Next he is guarding the money in order to be near Patricia, the daughter of his father’s enemy- The; ranch store is robbed and Rodeo is suspected and arrested. He escapes in kilts, rides an Untamed horse, arid clears himself by bringing the real safe-breakers to book. Hoot has to play a dude’s part to get away with an important part of the plot, and its some playing too, that lets sunlit laughter into the dullest moods. Try the “Denver Dude’’ for the excitement of its thrills and the joyousness of its romance and humour. supporting cast includes Blanche Mehaffey, Robert McKim, “Slim" Summerville, Glenn Tryou, Mathilde Brundage, Rolf© Sedan, and Howard Truesdell. Reaves Eason, who directed the “Denver Dude" for Universal, is an expert not only at the difficult task of telling a story in motion pictures, but at the tricks in motion picture photography, lighting and spectacular effect. So expert is he at directing scenes, thrilling and spectacular, and at getting the sweep of rapid, dangerous action onto celluloid that he was signed especially to direct the splendid chariot race in 11 Ben Hur. ’ ’

“The Happy Warrior," a Master Picture, is a gorgeous melodrama of fresh resillient, courageous youth. Alive with action, colour, beauty and thrills, it tells the adventurous tale of an aristocrat who became an exhibition boxer in an itinerant circus. It is a story that reflects the humour and the bespangled enchantment of the circus ring. It is an adaptation of A, S. M. Hutchinson’s novel of a travelling circus, It has no gloom, but is a joyous swift, strong tale, salted with the tang of vivid and vital - interest. Malcolm McGregor, although not officially starred, wins starring honours through his performance in the title role. “The Happy Warrior," in this case, a fighting young Englishman, who joins the circus as an exhibition boxer. Like the hero of Wordsworth’s poem, “The character of the Happy Warrior," he is called upon to face a tremendous series of bitter trials, but he faces them with a gay abandon that expresses the unquenchable joy of human courage. Alice Ualhoun shares honours with him as Dora, the beautiful girl who jilts him for a title; and other outstanding performances are given by Wilfrid North, Mary Alden, Anders Randolph, Olive Borden, Otto Matiesen, Andree Tournier, Eulalie Jensen, and the two boy actors, Philippe de Lacy and Bobby Gordon.

•“The Eagle of thd Sea,” a Paramount, Frank Lloyd production (brings to Whangarci on Wednesday' a very welcome return visit of Florence Vidor and Ricardo Oortez in the star roles. The theme supplies a swashbuckling story of pirate days.. Early New Orleans is the locale and tells the romance of Captain iSazarac, with a price on his head and Louise Lestron, an aristocrat. Charming romance, thrills of sea battles, and the lure of the rolling ships are all in this picture. Romance and deeds of daring on the Spanish Main where the Jolly Roger daringly flaunts its sinister colours. From the gay town of New Orleans a lady is stolen and pursuit is given. Then after the roar of battle has died away, she finds her captor the dreaded pirate Lafitte, a man with a price on his head. Because he dared risk his life to re A urn her home, his men mutiny. Days of ceaseless worry and vigil, and then out of the stillness of the tropic night, the boom of guns and the noise of •battle. A picture that rivals in glamour, sea fights, thrills and romance, Frank. Lloyd’s previous productions, not excepting the “Sea Hawke.”

“The Canyon of Light,” gives us Tom Mix in 'his element as “Tom Mills” a popular rancher, who answers the call to arms in 1917, and at the station rescues a girl, Concha Dene, from a runaway. Tom becomes interested, but is unable to learn her name. Mills becomes a motor-cycle despatch rider, in company with Concha’s brother. The latter writes home about Tom', in praise of his character, but Dene is mortally wounded. Back home, Tom is mustered out of service, but, learning that robberies are rampant, determines to help the law. Tom has received an invitation to visit the Dene Home, but this is stolen from him by his brother-in-law, a leader of bandits, who makes his way to the Dene home, impersonates Tom and attempts to loot the ranch, forcing Concha to ride away with him. Mills overtakes the outlaw, beats him up and reveals himself to the girl as the true Tom Mills. Through a senes of exciting incidents, true love -anally triumphs. * • • v “The Bat,” a sensational winged mystery, as the title imports is a problem picture, and the climax, disclosing the secret, comes with a blow of surprise. Advance promises of thrills in motion pictures sometimes are not fulfilled; but “The Bat” is a photoplay that lives up to the predictions made for it. The screen version of this famous mystery melodrama <\oes not allow yf a dull moment. There is action every minute —action that keeps spectators on the edge of their seats. Although the general plot of the Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood plav has been followed, Roland West, mystery-plav expert, who made the picture, has introduced so many new complications that even those who saw the stage “Bat” are completely baffled till the big concluding climax arrives. The “all-star” cast justifies the phrase. Some of the eminent players are Jewel Carmen, Tullio Carminati. Emilr Fit* roy, Robert McKim, Eddie Grlbbon, Jack Bickford, Andre do Beranger, Arthur Houscmah, Lee ShumWay, Charles Heriihger and Sojin tfaMyama. Sol* and West personally directed “The Bai »' Which is a TJriited Artists pro* auction. The weird settings and art effects are magnificent.

In “Babe Comes Home,” First National, presents the famous baseball hero, Babe Ruth, with Anna Q. Nilsson and Louise Fazenda, in an absorbing comedy romance. The fact that a refreshingly novel love story and bubbling comedv are even more important than baseball in the 1 picture will no doubt interest all patrons, Ruth scores as a comedian, as a Screen lover, and — *nßtutally‘-“aS a provider of thrill# in baseball sequences. His# NiiaSefi WaS