ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18325, 15 February 1923, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS.

NATIONAL THEATRE. . The final screenings of the William Pox / special film, , "Silver':; Wings," will '/i be given at the National Theatre' to-day and; / this evening. \ One of , the" outstanding pictures of the year., "The /Prisoner' of Zenda," will commence a week's season to-morrow. This is a etory teeming with dramatic ; action, full of intrigue, romance, and excitement. It concerns the adventures of an English gentleman, one Rudolf Rassendyll, who, because of a remarkable likeness to the ruler of the mythical kingdom of Ruritania, becomes for a time its actual ruler and wins the love of the Princess Flavia. "The Prisoner of Zenda" was the most popular romance of its generation. From the time when Anthony Hope, then more interested in his political career in. England than in writing, composed it, the narrative of Rudolf Bassendyll'sreckless adventure has taken hold of the hearts of all who read. This was the first of the stories of romance in little kingdoms in Europe, and no better indication can bo had of its success than that it inspired hundreds of writers to imitate it. But none of the resulting stories had the zest, the devil-may-care spirit of the original, for that was written chiefly . for the love of imagination the author had; it was as glamorous to him as to his readers. , In the hands of a director such as Rex Ingram, who made "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," the v "Prisoner of Zenda" is said to have stepped out <£ the pages of the book and come very much to life on the screen. .Different essentially from "The Four Horsemen," as different as realism is from romance, the newer picture nevertheless has been done upon the same great scale and with the' same faithfulness to the spirit of the written pag». t * . - -r^y'^^'-'■■--■- ' PRINCESS THEATRE. r ' A pronounced success ? has been, achieved at the Princess Theatre by the Paramount feature film, "Blood and Sand," adapted from Vincente Blasco Ibanez's book of the same name. ' Rodolph Valentino, known as the "greatest lover on the screen," plays the leading role of Gallardo, a gallant toreador who rises to be the idol of Spain. Happily married to a girl ' of high character the bull-fighter becomes enmeshed in the toils of an unworthy woman, who, being wealthy and moving in the upper circles of society, dazzles him and causes him to lose control of his better feelings. The inevitable happens when the designing widow, who has been his undoing, succeeds in compromising Gallardo in the eyes of wife. The sequel is highly dramatic and emotional. The film is remarkable for the gorgeousness of its mountings. The bullring scenes are actual reproductions of the national sport of the Spaniards. Thearena is shown with its thousands; of spectators -assembled, and in .'the bull fight's Which ensue Valentino takes his part. :■ EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The current programme at- Evervbodr'a. Theatre includes "The, Golden Gift," featuring Alice Lake, and - the ...'. third , and fourth chapters, of the serial, #The Lion Man." There will be,, a. change to-morrow,-when the principal attraction will be a; British . film, "Scotland ... Yard," an official record of the activities of the police force in London. Commencing with ?a ? vista of the historical "Charley" of 100 years ago, < the headquarters of i the >■ metropolitan police at Scotland \ Yard are } presented' in { all their interesting detail, . and the ; spec-' tator is introduced to the \ commissioner, the assistant commissioners, and the"big' four" of the detective h division. This is i followed by a peep at the'weekly conferences between - various / officers. v/ ! " Then is disclosed the method by which Londoners were warned :of air raids during the war, and the work of the criminal investigation department, as well as numerous other activities. Further ' chapters of "The Lion Han" will also; be ■ screened.

■',;.'■., .. v QUEEN'S THEATRE. \. : /.' The final screenings of "Dinty" and the r supporting pictures at the Queen's Theatre will ;be .given, to-day , and this evening. Heading, the new programme to be pre- -/; : sented for the week i> commencing :. to-mor- r ..//, row will be "Poppy," , the ,-film version of ! / K Cynthia Stockley's , ! well-known novel, fea- > turing Norma Talrriadge. *SThe favourite '- actress is seen • first as a ■ ybung •- girl in short ! dresses, /sand./ later . as- >: a grown woman, who believes '/ herself intentionally ', , wronged/ and /■ neglected. Frederick , Perry ' and/ Eugene O'Brien ■' play ! , prominent parts. :' ,■ Also on the billl/ will &be William S. Hart, in his greatest Paramount picture, . "The '.',' Testing Block." The comedy element will be provided by tCharles Chaplin in "A Millionaire's Job." <.- "THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE." :! A : new Australian comedy-drama, -.'The'/*' b" Sentimental Bloke," will be presented at' His: Majesty's lTheatre7,'uhder! the direction " of Messrs. E. J. and Dan /Carroll,' for the • ( first time next Thursday. The piece, which is in three acts, iV" C.'7J./ Dennis' . own stage version - of ' his famous verses.: The adaptation/ of ;, the : poem .'to the stagy "«/*- : is .said to \ have been cleverly executed.' It '„ > :is a domestic comedy, described aa being full r of. heart interest, and it should be.' appreciated/ as thoroughly by New Zea- .. land audiences" as it has been in Australia! v Walter Cornock, who plays the name "part; ; > is said to be the idear "bloke," while the >; role of Doreen is taken by Miss Eileen Alexander, who achieved signal- success in 'Australia. The box;plans/for■ "The Senti- ; : . mental. Bloke" open on Monday morning , i at i Lewis R. Eady and Son/ Ltd. . '"■■'■'' .'■■' '•/.-.'■■ :•.-',' : y : y. ■.i " '''•:■'/'/:/: •- '.; • )\^' i 'i.^/ I ;'.■■.*/'. , VAUDEVILLE COMPETITIONS. y A feature of the vaudeville ■:competitions to be held-'"it His Majesty's Theatre tomorrow and on Saturday will be the competition for the,most artistic rendering of . that popular song, "Saucy v /Walse," fop, which Messrs. Lewis R. ,Eady/. and Son :,-■■ ■ have ': donated ,a I special : - prize. \,' Entries / for other items ■ are coming .in t freely, and /'' - intending competitors are reminded that ; \ the entries close ; to-day >at His Majesty's 'l:0-\ Theatre ■■, office..; Liberal prizes are offered r . ; for 5 the; first and . second-;, competitors % : : in ".//-: each item, and the management is taking every precaution to have the competitions conducted on the 4 same complete ; scale /. that characterised 5 these entertainments ,in : ; the ■'<;, South. The box./ plans. are : now, on ', view Lewis<R.Eady and Son, Ltd. .;' ,■„...•.:■