ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19086, 3 August 1925, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. " Slave of Desire," a Goldwyn adaptation of Balzac's colebrated novel, " The Magic Skin," heads tho current programme at the National and Lyric Theatres. It is a remarkable story of a young poet who is about to commit suicide owing to his fear of poverty, when he comes into possession of a magic skin which brings immediate (fulfilment of every wish. For a time ho uses tho skin to bring himself wfi&lfch and success, but with every wish it shrinks until ho is afraid to use it again. Finally, an unselfish wish brings happiness and ho no longer has need of the skin. The other featured film is, " Learning to Love," a First National production in which Constance Talinadge is said to be responsible for much delightful comedy. The story tells of a heartless girl who is surrounded by a bevy of beaux, all anxious to make love to her. She agrees to become engaged to several of them at the same time, hut is piqued when her guardian refuses to become interested in her. On Thursday of this week there will be seen at the National and Lyric Thoatres the First National production, " Tho Lost World," which has been hailed by critics as perhaps the most wonderful achievement the screen has yot seen. In this photoplay audiences 'will bo whisked back millions of years to tho time when this old earth was an amazing world inhabited by monsters of fearsome size. They will soe the brontosaurus of 10.000,000 years ago as ho lazily browsed on tho luxuriant vegetation of that age —ferns as large as trees, water plants of gigantic size. Tho brontosaurus that is reincarnated in this picture—by means of a socret process that the producers havo not divulged—is as big as eight or nine present-day elephants and as strong as twentv. Yet the brontosaurus is helpless in the scene where he is attacked by the allosaurus, which was another species of prehistoric dinosaur. Tho allosaurus was tho most terrible creature that ever stalked this earth. He was a meat-eater as big as five elephants and with business-like teeth. Tho brontosaurus was a vegetarian and did not have tho teeth to fight back when tho allosaurus decided it was dinner time, and he was too stupid to uso his superior size and strength as a crushing forco. Another movio star that nukes his debut ip this picture is the pterodactyl, the mightiest flying creature of all time. He was a meat-eating monster, bigger than some models of rnodoni aeroplanes, strong enough to pierce two grown men with his razor-like talons, and then fly to a distant mountain top ueforo starting breakfast. Theso are but somo of tho creatures that Bessio Lovo, Lewis Stone, Wallaco Beery and Lloyd Hughes encounter in this screen version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's well-known story. HIPPODROME THEATRE. Vaudeville items will again be an attractive feature of the programme at tho Hippodrome Theatre this evening. Tho featured pictures will be, " Half-a-dollar Bill," a Metro production, with Anna Q. Nilsson in tho leading role, and " The Snowsboe Trail," an F. 8.0. release, with Jane Novak as tho heroine. " Half-a-Dolkir Bill" tells tho story of a little foyndling discovered by tho captain of a ship with a scribbled note and a torn dollar bill pinned to his clothing. The noto tells that tho boy's mother has retained part of the bill in order that she may some day identify her child. The film contains many exciting incidents due to tho efforts of tho first offtcer of the ship to kidnap tho boy in order to avenge himself on the captain. " The Snowsboe Trail" relates tho adventures of a society girl who goes into tho frozen North to seek her lost lover.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Tile efforts of a band of law-abiding citizens to remove from the town of Sacramento all its undesirable element form the central episodes in the plot of " The Devil's Cargo," which is now being screened at Everybody's Theatre, The hero of the story is a member of the band of vigilantes, but on tho night when the great "drive" takes place ho is discovered in a compromising position and is hustled on board a boat with the undesirables. Tho heroine follows him, and the ship sails from the port. Skater tile boilers burst and the vessel is left drifting out to sea, while the passengers are cowed by a gigantic stoker who takes charge of tho ship, Pauline Starke, Wallaco Beery and William Collier, junior, are tho featured players. Tho supporting cast includes Raymond Hatton, Claire Adams, Dale Fuller and George Cooper. OPERA HOUSE. A record Auckland season of 17 weeks will be concluded this week by tho Jim Gerald Revuo Company at tho Opera House. The popular comedian will stage for his final woek a rovuo of "bits" entitled, " Farewell, Auckland." The revuo is said to be oven more humorous than any of its predecessors. Opening in the vaudeville section of the programme will be Edwards and Hughes, in an entirely now offering, entitled " Cutlets of Comedy." Miss Hughes has a reputation as a dancer of distinctive personality, and Mr. Edwards will impersonate various actors sucli R3 Leonard Nelson, Wilkio Bard and Jim Gerald. Danny D'Alma and his trick dogs will also prosent a new act, Other supporting artists are Ben Beno, Bargariua and tho Buckleys. HEADLAM GREENHOW RECITAL. A varied programme is promised for tho recital to bo given in the Town Hall concert chamber to-night by Mr. E. Headlam Greenhow. In addition to a long progrannmo of humour at tho piano from tho repertoires of Mel. B. Spurr, Leslie Harris and others, Mr. Greenhow will give a number of his own compositions and writings. Ho will also give short selections from the great poets, illustrated by fine lantern slides. The plan is at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Limited.