NATIONAL AND LYRIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 12

NATIONAL AND LYRIC.

An interesting double-ijoatujo programme commenced at the .National and Lyric Theatres on Thursday, an Uassilied " a First National picture, wluch is the principal attraction, Corinne Griffith has the role of a, pretty New \ ork girl employed in a newspaper office. bhe prides herself on her ability to obtain "lifts" on her way to work in the expensive cars of wealthy business men. One morning when she is already late and expensive cars seem to be unusually scarce, she accepts a ride in a very dilapidated "home-rnade" car driven by a young motor mechanic. _ Although sua tries to look down on him she is attracted by the young man, and they becomo more and more friendly. one evening the <4 home-maae ' car breaks" down and prevents its owner from keeping an appointment the girl consents to go for a drive with a young millionaire. From "this point the story is • * developed in an interesting manner until it ends in an unexpected climax, Connne Griffith makes a charming heroine, and her acting is natural and convincing throughout the film. There are a number of delightfully amusing incidents in which the humorous situations are developed with great skill. Perhaps the best is that which results when tho girl, hoping to make a favourable impression on a young millionaire gives her address as Fifth Avenuo. Scarcely less amusing is tho effect on the girl's family of their belip.f that she is about to marry into a fashionable Fifth Avenue family. The antics of the father are especially effective, but the conversion of the girl s mother, who hud previously frowned on her daughter's friendship witli wealthy young mem also adds to the humour oF the situation. sThe other featured film is "Lazvbones," a Fox production, telling the storv of a young man whose chief characteristic is a fondness for reposing peacefully in the son. Although he cannot bring himself to any unusual exertion he manages to capture 20 Germans singlehanded during a Drief sojourn in the fighting line in France. But in timo of peace he proves his real wortn even move convincingly by the manner in which ho bears the disappointments of life and makes sacrifices for the sake of others. Tho story has :moro than the ordinary amount of heart interest and the ending has little in common with the customary type. Buck .Jones gives an excellent performance in an unusual rolo and is well supported by a strong cast.

TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY'S. James Cruze, who directed "Morton of the Movies," is said to have achieved even greater success in his latest comedy, "Welcome Home," which is now showing at Everybody's and the Tivoli Theatres. The story tous of the amusing adventures of an old widower, who comes to stay with his son, Fred Prouty, and his daughter-in-law, Nettie. His arrival is premature, causing Fred and Nettie to cancel a party engagement they .had planned for weeks, for they feel that they cannot leave the old man alone on his first night ij;. the house. On his arrival the old man immediately begins making himself at home. He trots about the house, prying first into one thing, then another. Extra blankets and a pillow are provided upon his demand, but he never uses them. They are simply a habit of years. The next morning he slays in the bath-tub for an hour, leisurely reading the morning paper, which gets so wet that it cannot, be read again. Owing to business and club affairs the old man is given but little time by the young folks. Wandering in the park, he makes friends with siomo inmates of a nearby homo for old men. There is a gathering of.theso old men in the park and the widower beoomes somewhat of a leader among them. He invites two of his friends from the home to his son's house,, but unluckily does so just before Nettie's club membern arrive for an important meeting. Paying no attention to the club affair, the widower ushers ihis friends into the meeting room, treats them to the luncheon prepared for the c'tub women, and puts the house in disorder. Nettie arrives home to get the two old visitors out just as her guests enter. The fatherrin-law thwi insists on remaining at the club meeting, wanting to see what goes on. After t>io meeting Nettie declares bitterly that either the old man must go or she will. The mischief-maker is urged by his cronies to take the one vacancy ramaining at the home, bet asserts that his son and daughter-in-law would GGu let him go. The climax is said to be delightfully amusing. "Stereoscopics," the latest screen novelty, which are said to give surprising and startling results, will also be seen at both theatres for the first time. A film entitled "The Life of Jack Hobbs" is a third attraction. At the Tivoli Theatre the programme is completed by Hoot Gibson's latest Universal production, "The Saddle Hawk." _

GRAND THEATRE. Owing to the great popularity of "Girl !2by," Harold Lloyd's latest comedy, at the Grand Theatre, the season has been extended for another week. The film is declared to be easily Lloyd's "best production to date. The hero is a tailor'-jy assistant in the shop ox his uncle, who- presides over a small-town store. His unnatural shyness and stuttering make hh-a the butt of the community. Nevertheless, Harold has a soul, and, in his spare moments, he is writing a book on Girls—"By One Who Knows, and Knows and Knows." Going to the city, in order to place his work before the publishers, ho is the unconscious hero of an incident which soon develops into romance, for a wealthy young woman has fallen in love with him. He does not tell her of his capacity for tailoring, but dwells upon his ability as a writer and a man who'understands women. The. girl is interested and promises to meet Harold at the office of the publisher. The author arrives early, and before the girl comes on the scene the young man has passed out of the publisher's presence, crestfallen in the knowledge that the book is a joke. A somewhat unusual turn in affairs sees the work accepted as a, humorous subject, and a cheque to cover temporary expenses is forwarded. Harold, imagining it to be the reject slip, tears it up. In the meanhe has parted company with the heroine. Later on, when he learns of her coming marriage to a man who is already married, he prepares to warn the girl of the faithlessness of her husband to be. "It is in reaching the scene of the wedding, just at the psychological mement," says a critic, "that the picture secures its greatest interest. From this point onwards it is ont), long scream, and certainly nothing as funny has ever been seen in a film comedy." A new Our Gang comedy and new Pathe Gazette are also screened. THE MUNICIPAL BAND. Th« Municipal Band will present a, splendid programme of musical numbers at the Zoological Park to-morrow afternoon. including the fine marches, " Under the Allied Banners," " The Third Battalion," and "Leonidas"; overture, "Morning, Noon and Night"; morceau, "A Memory Garden"; intermezzo, "Crushed Petals"; selections, "Gems from Sullivan Onsras" (No. 2); "Silver Cloud"; selection, "The Shamrock"; and an oriental phantasy, "In a Chinese Templo Garden." CARNIVAL CABARET. A large crowd assembled at the Town Hall on Thursday evening to bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the new. The large hall was converted into a cabaret with ample floor space provided for dancing. Tables were arranged at the sides and made a good showing with their decoration;). The hall it-self was decorated with flags, bunting and greenery. Music of an exceptionally high order was provided by Fred Haywood's Jazss Band which played the ■whole programme of dances. Its fine music was a great factor in the success of the evening. On the approach of midnight nearly all the couples in. the hall took the floor for the New Year dance. The scene was one in which the spirit of carnival had made itself manifest. Midnight struck in the middle of the dance and the couples broke off. Joining hands they sang "Auld Lang Syne" until its notes reverberated through the building. Then the dance was resumed amid an atmosphere of unre,'/teamed gaiety. Dancing was continued until aa early hour in the morning.