ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18889, 11 December 1924, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS.

SAVOY HAVANA BAND.

His Majesty's Theatre was packed to the doors at the matinee - and evening performances yesterday when the Savoy Havana Band and tho talented company of vaudeville stars continued what is proving to bo a record season. So great has been tho success of the company that it has been found necessary to extend tho season and the box plans will open at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Limited, on Friday for next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday* A complete change of programme will bo given on Monday.

TIVOLI THEATRE. At the close of " The Sea Hawk " season this afternoon and evening a double programme will be shown at the Tivoli Theatre. This will include a Metro picture, " Half-a-Dollar Bill," based on the novel of Curtis Benton. Anna Q. Nilsson, W. T. Carleton and Raymond Hatton have the leading roles. The story tells of the finding of an abandoned baby by a sea captain and his cook. The mother hopes at a future date to claim the child by presenting the other half of' the dollar note, and by strange circumstances the mother is engaged as housekeeper. Her husband, who has deserted her, finds out where the hoy is, and attempts to steal him. In the struggle on hoard the ship the father is, killed and the way opened for the union of the captain and the girl. The second attraction on tho new programme will be another Metro release, " In Search of a Thrill," featuring Viola Dana. The story relates how Ann Clemance forsakes a stage career to lead a life of luxury and frivolity in Paris. Bored with the aimlessness of her life there, she arranges to meet. Adrian Torrens, a young American author, with whom she once thought herself in love. Their mutual friend, ■Tommy Perkins, brings them together, and they dine at a brilliant Montrharte cafe. Adrian piques her vanity when he ignores her charms. To spite Adrian she flirts and dances with Rene de Fat'go, professional dancer at the cafe, who in reality is a member of a gang of Apaches, but Adrian's indifference arouses her interest, and she realises he scorns her frivolity. Ann decides to impersonate an Apache. She disguises herself as an underworld character and enters Adrian's apartment bv means of a window, allowing herself to be caught in the act of robbing him. His sympathy for her makes her ashamed of the trick she has played. Anxiously she seeks a means of escape before he 'recognises her, but is prevented from doing this when Adrian tells her that he is going into the slums in search of material for his books, and asks her to accompany him. Their adventures in the underworld supply the cirl with plenty of tho thrills she seeks, and show her a phase of life which brings a sense of realisation as to her own position.

STRAND THEATRE. A Scottish week will commence, at the Strand Theatre to-morrow, when the programme Will be headed by a film version of the celebrated story of Rob Roy. immortalised by Sir Walter Scott. Scotland has always been proud of Rob Roy and the glorious country in which he performed his daring exploits, and the picture will probably do full justice to its outlaw hero and its scenery. Says an advance notice: "There never was a film more full of vigorous and daring adventure or which presented such a continuity of choice and well photographed Highland scenery. From Ben Lomond to the Trossachs," every feature of Rob Roy's huntingground 'is pictured. Then there arfl old Highland ceremonies, a gathering of the heads of the clans at a great ball, a most graphic depiction of the burning down of the Mr.cGregor homesteads and some wonderful panoramic views of the big fight in which Rob Roy wrested his native Inversnaid from the Duke of Montrose. By way of contrast to the strenuous scenes of Rob's fighting existence, the film gives a picturesque account of how Rob won his bride—the beautiful Helen Campbell—from under the very nose of his wealthy and powerful admirer, the Duke; glimpes of the happy year •which followed the elopement; the coming of their first-born; and then their ruin by treachery; ten years of struggle with Rob hunted as an outlaw; the famous ruse (with the plaid in the river) by which Rob made his most narrow escape; the story of his "death"; the wonderfully impressive scenes of his "funeral"; the pathos of the Rob Roy, Lament: and finally, Rob's boldest surprise stroke against Montrose and his return home in triumph to Inversnaid. Never was a more picturesque narrative more picturesquely presented. The picture, is worthy of the setting, and the setting worthy of the picture." The supporting programme will include a Mack Sennett comedy. "One Cylinder Love." while a musical prologue will be provided bv Madame Annette Hay ward and J. Mackie.

PRINCESS THEATRE. "The Warrens of Virginia." a William Fox picture, based on the David Belasco stage success, will be shown al the Princess Theatre to-morrow. The. picturo features Wilfred Lytell and the war scenes ifc shows were made at Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, the largest military reservation in the United States. Only regular army officers and men wero used. The s.tory deals with the last four days of the existence of the Confederacy, and much hinges on an attack of the waggon tra.ni which tho Southern forces need badly in order to keep on fighting. Tho usual lovo element of a woman and a man both torn between love and duty is very much present. Wilfred Lytell plays the part of the dashing Lieutenant Burton, of southern birth but Northern sympathies, in love with Agatha, General Warren's daughter. Agatha and Burton had known each other well before the war, and she has hopes of using him to get the waggon train through. He is actuated by much the same motives, only he wants'to employ her as tho means of letting the train fall into Northern hands. Of course, Burton has to do his duty even though it does call for conduct which seems like a breach of hospitality. Agatha and her father are both enraged with him, and that is tho situation when the. war ends. The solution does not come until five years are supposed to have elapsed since the close of the war. Time has healed old wounds and everything ends to the spectators' satisfaction. A second attraction in the programme will be a film adaptation of Sinclair Lewis' story, "Free Air." featuring Tom Douglas and Marjorie Seaman.

NATIONAL THEATRE. "Flirting With Love," a First National picture, featuring the screen's "perfect flapper,'' Colleen Moore, will head the new programme at the National Theatre to-morrow. Supported by Conway Tearle, Miss Mooro demonstrates in this picture that she is just as much at home in parts calling for emotional dramatic acting as she is in roles of lighter vein. She enacts the role of a highly temperamental actress, a star in musical comedies, the success of which has been based on the risnue nature of their plot. Her newshow is closed through the instrumental ity of a stage reformer, a part played'by Conway Tearle. The actress pretends to lose her memory and wanders into the home of the reformer, who also is a student of psychology, planning to deceive him into believing that she is a subject for psychological study and then to ridicule him publicly. Miss Moore's part calls for a difficult type of acting, for throughout the play she really enacts tw<> roles —that of the tempt l ' B mental actress and that of the "amnesia victim." a demure, modest and shy young woman, tho antitheses of the blase, stage performer. An additional attraction in the new programme will be a drama entitled "Luxury," featuring Ruhye de Remer, who is described as America's most beautiful woman.