ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19280, 19 March 1926, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. " The Narrow Street," which will be presented at the Majestic Theatre to-day, is a brisk comedy romance. It is the type of picture which made Harold Lloyd so popular and the two leading players are already famous for their success in comedy situations on the screen. Dorothy Devore, the star of Christie Comedies and more recently in the comedy drama, "Hold lour Breath," has first place in the cast, with Matt Moore opposite her, in a characterisation that is refreshingly unusual. " The Narrow Street " is the motion picture version of the novel by Edwin Bateman Morris, whose delightful story of mystery and love has been adapted for the screen by Warner Bros. J with excellent results. The fun starts at < the very beginning of the picture, when I Dorothy Devore, who plays the part of j Doris, eludes her pursuers and gains j refuge in strange bachelor quarters. With swaggering bravado she makes herself so completely at home that the bachelor, Simon Haldane, whose part is taken by Matt Moore, finds himself her husband in the eyes of the world. His bewilderment is so effectively portrayed that each inei- j dent becomes more hilarious,, until he dis- j covers that he loves this nameless girl, i who has by now disappeared from his j home as mysteriously as she came. Both Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore give excellent performances and are ably supported by David Butler, lvussell Simpson, George Pearce, Gertrude Short, Tempe Pigott, Kate Toneray and others. The smoothness of the picture, which carries the audience along with it, is due j to the masterful direction of William i Beaudine. "The Narrow Street" has! been produced with special attention j to the comedy element, but in it will be found every other popular element. There is romance, variety and speed of action, beautiful and spectacular settings, true drama and a thread of mystery and suspense. Comedy will also predominate in the fine supporting programme. The chief of the. supplementary features is the latest "Stereoseopiks," the unique development of motion picture photography, which by the apparent use of the third dimension make figures appear to leave the screen and walk out among the audience. As well as the Majestic News and Pathe Review, a new "Aesop Fable." cartoon will be presented. A special instrumental number and vocal . items will complete what should prove an excellent entertainment. NATIONAL AND LYRIC. The perfection with which the leading artists fit their respective roles is the outstanding feature of "Graustark," the dramatic lomance which made its appearance at the National and Lyric Theatres yesterday. It seems not so much that Norma Talmadge suits the role of Princess of Graustark, but that the role was created for her alone, as such characters as Shallow are said to have been created by Shakespeare to suit the personnel of his company. No less perfect is the harmony between the personality of Eugene O'Brien and his role of the adventurous young American lover of the princess. This striking suitability of actor to part is noticeable too in Che case of Marc McDermott, who is seen as Prince Gabriel of Axphain and who looks the very incarnation of polished villainy. The story is one in which romance and intrigue are closely mingled. Its conception is almost daring in its originality and one which few writers could have worked out so convincingly. It centres round the love of the charming Princess Yetive of the little European Kingdom of Graustark for Grenfall Lorry, whom she. met while, visiting America and travelling incognito. Lorry follows her back to Graustark after her unexpected departure and arrives in the royal capital still ignorant of the .fact that the girl he is seeking is the princess royal. The two meet in a most dramatic fashion at the palace ball. The princess has been forced by her father to promise her hand to Prince Gabriel of the neighbouring kingdom of Axphain. The battle of wits between Lorry and Prince Gabriel provides the action of the remainder of the story. A vorv effective background to the scenes of royal intrigue is furnished by the magnificence of the palace and court rooms of the royal city. The film is marked bv considerable swiftness of movement and abundance of incident, which characteristics result from the skilful adaptation from the original novel by George Barr McCutcheon, RIALTO THEATRE. A programme of unusual merit will be presented at the Rialto Theatre for the first time this evening. It includes two full feature length pictures. They are "Siege" and "The Sky Raider." In the first named, Virginia Valli once more gives a demonstration of her unusual ability and versatility as'a screen actress. The picture is a Universal-Jewel attraction. in which she is starred with Eugene O'Brien. In the role .of Fredericka Gage, an intelligent, strong-willed girl of the modern type, she presents one of the most interesting characterisations o| her career, and demonstrates that she is one of the screen's best emotional actresses. Introduced by marriage into a conventional, aristocratic New England family, who are the owners of huge woollen mills, Virginia Valli, in this role, shows her acceptance of her new surroundings, and her constant battle agftinst the domination of Augusta Rnyland, a selfish, sarcastic and wealthy old woman who controls the private lives of the Rnyland family as well as the corporation which owns the mills. Mary Alden stands out conspicuously in one of the greatest parts of her career—that of the vitriolic old dowager who holds the whip over the other members of her family. Although it is unlike anything -.she has done o i the screen before, Mary Alden makes it her .most convincing characterisation. Eugene O'Brien appears as Frederickrt's husband and the rather weak-willed heir to the Rnyland fortunes, whom his Aunt Augusta has dominated all his life. The second attraction, "The Sky Raider," is a Paramount production of an unusual kind. In it appears Captain Nmigusser, the famous flvi.»g "Ace," who accounted for a hundred enemy planes in the war. GRAND THEATRE. The great scenic film, "Wonderful London," will be screened at the Grand Theatre during the coming week and will be shown there for the first time to-dav. In this picture, which is released by the Paragon Film Company, the producers have not merely photographed the city's stone walls and, let it go at that, but have tried to present not only London, but Londoners, and with them the little comedies and tragedies of everyday London life. The film is divided into 12 sections and each is so interesting and so well arranged that it, would be difficult to pick any one which stands out above the remainder. THE BAYSWATER FIESTA. The Takapuna Boating Club's Fiesta at Bayswater continues to attract crowds ! nightly. The carnival breaks new ground | and the beautiful Spanish settings and costumes make a picture that must be seen to be realised, so complete is it in detail and colour. The burlesque bull fight which brought down the house earlier in the week will also be included in to-night and Saturday night's programmes, and there | will also be a varied selection from the ; club's repertoire of ballets. The fiesta I will continue nightly until March 24. A fin? selection of beautiful goods has been marked low to clear. The ferry boat Lake Takapuna will run every evening, at 8 p.m., a free return trip for the benefit of city patrons. MUNICIPAL CONCERT. A municipal concert will be given in the Town Hali to-morrow evening, when works by British composers will he played by the acting city organist, Mr. Edgar Randal. Organ selections will include, Basil Horwood's lengthy Sonata in 0 sharp minor, No. 1. In addition Miss Phyllis Orjbbin will sing "Like to the Damask Rose" (Elgarj. "Down Here the Lilaco Trade" {James Mi Derm id) and "Sacrament" (Constance Maud). Mr. Leo Whittaker will act as accompanist*

STRAND THEATRE.. "The Bandolero," a romance of Spain, in which the vendetta of parents and the love of a boy and girl are woven among the scenes of bull-fighting and mountain brigandage, appears for the first time at the Strand Theatre to-day. It is a fast moving drama filmed in natural locations both in Cuba and in Spain. It is based on the novel by Paul Gwynne which was adapted and directed by Tom Terriss. No pains have been spared to make the production thoroughly Spanish in every way. Not only were most of the scenes actually photographed in Spain but the cast has been chosen principally from Spanish artists. Pedro De Cordoba, who plays the title role is already a favourite on both stage and screen, being noted for his success in parts requiring the passion and fervour of the Latin blood. He is an experienced leading player whose work has been divided almost equally between villain and hero roles. This is true of his appearance both behind the footlights and before the camera. In "The Bandolero," Do Oirdoba is seen as a Spanish bandit who has stolen the little son of the. country's leading citizen in order to avenge the murder of his wife.

A feature of the picture is the appearance of Canero, a wealthy Spanish ranch owner, who has the reputation in. Spain of being not only the greatest, but the most original bull-fighter, and his valuable white horse. The bull-fighting scenes in which Canero and his horse appear were photographed in Granada, Spain. Canero, when in the ring, never leaves his horse's back, but evades by the narrowest possible margin, the bull's fierciest charges. At times he actually uses the bull as a hurdle and is successful in despatching him with a single stroke, Renee Adorce, who takes the principal feminine role is also of Spanish blood. She is rapidly rising to the sole star rank and has made outstanding success of her roles in such well-known pictures as " Excuse Me " and " The Big Parade." As has become customary at the Strand the entertainment will be characterised by a specially strong supporting programme. This week's extra attractions include a two-reel comedy ''Rupert the Hoe-Haw," an "Out'of the Inkwell" cartoon, entitled "Koko Celebrates, ' a cornet solo, "The Trumpeter" and also a musical monologue by Mr. Arthur Burton. QUEEN'S THEATRE, The first, film in which William S. Hart has appeared since his recent retirement will appear as the premier attraction at the Queen's Theatre to-day. It tells the romantic story of Calamity Jane, who shared with Salomy Jane, immortalised by Bret llarte. the honour of being the most outstanding feminine character of the, West in her day The second attraction on the programme is a Yitagraph picture, "The Clean Heart," adapted by J. Stuart Black ton from A. S., M. Hutchinson's novel of that name. "If," says a critic, "Stuart Blackton would keep on showing in each new picture ho produces the same degree of improvement, as he has shown in his la«t three, one of these days the industry will wake up to find that he has produced a picture that will stand ns a model for a lorn* time to come. These two films, each a feature picture itself, should provide an excellent entertainment.