ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

STRAND AND TTVOLT. All tho nondescript representatives and typos of all nations and races, which are to be found in the crime centres of New York, are to be seen in Mary Pickford's new picture, "Little Annie Rooney," a United Artists' Corporation Release, which commences at the Strand- and Tivoli Theatres to-day. "Little Annie Rooney" deals with life—"kid" life—in the tenement house district of New York's famous lower East Side, with its teeming population, its thousands upon thousands who crowd into that section of the city from all parts of the world. With but just a few exceptions tho whole picture was produced in Hollywood at the Pickford-Fair-banks studio: tho cast is made up from the hordes of film extras there. In the storv Little Annie Rooney is tho 12-year-old daughter of a popular New York policeman and leader of a band of rough-and-tumble, alley-fighting youngsters of "The Block," and is secretly and. wildly infatuated with a strapping truck-drivei> .Toe Ivclly, who is the pal of her big brother, Tim Rooney. Her garb consists of the cheapest of calico, torn and muchdarned stockings and down-at-the-heel shoes. She spurns a hat. Gone are tho castles and their moats, the palaces and their princes, of Miss Pickford's "Rosita" ; and "Dorothy Vernon." Absent are tho heavy velvet and lace gowns with their sweeping trains of hor costume dramas. Here aro tho littered streets and areaways of the tenement district; tin cans and brickbats ever handy for the fighting "kid" gangsters; here aro tho broken bathtubs, old, rusty boilers, great empty boxes, all making convenient hiding places and ambushes for Little Annie Rooney and her band of supporters when attacked by rival gangsters. "Let 'Er Buck," featuring Hoot Gibson, will also be screened at the Tivoli Theatre. At tho Strand the supporting programme will include a Spat comedy, "Hard-Boiled Tenderfoot," and a Pathe review and gazette. Miss Laura Walker will give vocal items. NATIONAL AND LYRIC. Tho programme now showing at the National and Lyric Theatres is quite up to the usual standard set there. It includes a reversion to melodrama of the good old kind in "Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model," a Goldwyn production directed by Emmctt Flynn; and "a consequence" picture, "The Talker," which deals with the immense harm that may be done by'the "talkers" of this world, the people who mislead the innocent by loudly vaunting a policy they are really far too wise to follow. In addition there is an interesting little review, from tho hands of New Zealand Radio Films, Ltd., of the activities of the physical culturist. The progress that Aucklanders are making under the tuition of Mr. E. J. Wilson, the gymnastic instructor of the Y.M.C.A., is clearly demonstrated in this little picture, which does away with a current idea that physical culture 'is an obscure science practised in America. It appears instead that we have quite a number of enthusiasts in our own home town. For the main items, it may be briefly said that the melodrama is a good specimen of its typo, introduced with an intriguing situation and rounded off with a representation of the way the play was received in earlier days, and that "The Talker" is a clever treatment of a distinctly real problem. "The Talker" is a discontented wife who talks somewhat wildly about the rights of women, prescribing that the modern wife should have three husbands, one to keep her, one to entertain her, and one to manage her household. Another of her doctrines is that it is better to play with a rich man than to marry a poor one. Nevertheless she, herself has married a rising man, and in tho end is glad of her bargain. Her sister-in-law, at heart a splendid little woman, has been led away by all this wild talk, and tries to practise what her sister preaches. All concerned profit by the resulting lesson, "The Talker" herself not least. PRINCESS THEATRE. Boccaccio's "Decameron Nights" heads the new programme commencing at the Princess Theatre to-day. Boccaccio, one of the chief inspirers of the art of storytelling. began writing in 1348 a collection of tales supposed to have been told by Florentines in retirement. This collection, called "The Decameron," told of Prince Saladin, the son of a great, Sol dan, the most powerful enemy of the. Crusaders; of Perdita, the beautiful princess, the daughter of the King of Algarve, and the Lady Theodora, the virtuous wife of Venice. In "Decameron Nights," the destinies of these three people are interwoven in colourful romance. The success of "Decameron Nights," presented at Drury Lane for over a year, was such that there was an insistent call for its presentation throughout other countries. It was, however, then impossible to carry on tour the complete Drury Lane "dressing" of this great spectacular drama, with the result that, up to tho present, "Decameron Nights" has not been seen in any form outside London. Circumstances, therefore, all combined to make "Decameron Nights" an ideal motionpicture subject. Its intrinsic dramatic beauty, its wonderful success at Drury Lane, and tho fact that it had been seen exclusively in this theatre, made it tho most sought after story during the past year. Here was a theme which gave opportunity for . all the pageantry with which the screen can so completely eclipse the stage. The second feature is "Fifth Avenue Models," a Universal-Jewel production in which Mary Phil bin and Norman Kerry have leading roles. The cast also includes Rosemary Theby, Ruth Stonehouse, Josef Swickard, Betty Francisco, Rose Dione and Lee Moran. HIPPODROME THEATRE. A double-featuro Western programme commences at the Hippodrome Theatre to-day. "The Fighting Smile," an Independent Pictures production, starring Bill Cody, and "The Devil's Bowl," a Selznick picture with Neil Hart in the leading role, are the principal films. -"The Fighting Smile" tells a stirring tale of cattle-rustling days. The hero sets out to discover what becomes of the cattle which are constantly disappearing from his father's ranch. Ho meets a girl, who is said to be engaged to one of the rustlers, and falls in love with her immediately. When the girl learns that her step-father is a member of the gang of thieves she assists in putting an end to their raids. This infuriates the leaders of the gang, and thrilling gun-fights follow. Tho girl is abducted and taken to a mountain fastness, but is finally rescued by the hero after a desperate battle. Jean Arthur heads a strong supporting cast. Tho story was written by William Lester, and the picture was directed by Jay Marchant. "The Devil's Bowl" is a powerful and moving drama of the Mexican border. It is said to be crowded with thrills and excitement throughout. MUNICIPAL CONCERT. A programme of novel interest will be presented at the concert to bo given in tho Town Hall on Saturday night by tho Municipal Band, with vocal assistance by Miss Nollio Woods. Ambroise Thomas' "Mignon" overture, Massenet's 'Scenes Pittoresquc" suite, a selection from Wagner's sacred stage festival play "Parsifal," an intermezzo-scene "In a Persian Market," an oriental phantasy, "In a Chinese Temple Garden," a duet for flute and clarinet, "Les Echos des Bois," by Messrs. McLennan and Maloy, and a grand selection from Wagner's - "Tannhauser" will all bo found of much beauty, character and interest. Miss Nellie Woods will sing "0 Mother Mine,*" "The Swallows" and other songs. Plans aro at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd. . As tho Town Hall is engaged on Sunday evening in connection with the Salvation Army's band festival, thoro will ba no frco organ recital that cvenrng.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. "A Kiss in the Dark," a Paramount comedy, will lead the new programme at Everybody's Theatre to-day. It is based on Frederick Lonsdale's cornedy, "Aren't We All," which proved such a success on the legitimate stage. It is a smart marriage comedy of sophisticated society, with Adolphe Menjou in the role of a gay philanderer. The scenes are laid in Havana and New York, and the story deals with the lovo affairs of a young American manager of a large sugar plantation in Cuba. Ho falls in lovo with every young woman who happens to come along until he meets an imperious beauty who commands him to stop his philandering. A Havana moon and tropical palms prove too much for the hero. He is caught by his fiancee with a beautiful married woman in his arms, and the engagement is broken off. After a series of the most amusing situations, however, peace is restored and all ends happily. There is plenty of Havana scenery in tho picture—Morro Castle, beautiful roof gardens, and the famous race track make beautiful backgrounds. Supporting Menjou are Lillian Rich, Aileen Pringle, Ann Pennington and Kitty Kelly, four of the prettiest screen stars in America. Kenneth Mc.Kenna plays the part of an irate husband, who takes a gun when he goes in search of his rival, whom he believes to be one of his wife's many Cuban admirers. The sun, the moon and the earth were utilised to make a setting for this delightful comedy, and the kiss in the dark is stolen during the recent eclipse of tho sun in Cuban latitudes. DIXIELAND CABARET. The new Dixieland Cabaret in the park at Point Chevalier will be open for public inspection to-morrow evening. The general arrangements and dancing accommodation are far more extensive and lavish than in the old cabaret, and a view of the harbour should greatly enhance the cabaret's attractions. On Sunday afternoon the tea room will be opened, and musical selections will be'played. On Monday the cabaret will be open all day for dancing. The plan for bookings for Monday evening is at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd.