ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19321, 7 May 1926, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THAT ROYLE GIRL." D. W. Griffith's first production for Paramount, "That Royle Girl," commenced at Everybody's Theatre yesterday. Discussing his method of treating Edwin Balmer's story Griffith states that characters are the basis of photoplays, while stories are secondary. "It seemed to me," he states, "that the girl was a remarkable figure, the daughter of a useless father, working hard for a bare living and craving the jazzy excitement surrounding her in Chicago, and yet with a strength of fibre that led her out of her environment. She gropes her way out with an instinct for fine things. Her address to the statue of Lincoln is symbolic of her faith in a kindly power that will guide things aright; her loyalty to the weak, egotistic jazz loader has a sacrificial quality, and her love for the district attorney is deep and fine. It conquers the austere spirit that would re- i form the world single-handed. In the j background I could see the lovable old rascal of a father, too weak to earn an honest living, but with a Micawber-like humour that could polish off the rough edges of life with laughter. I had to visualize these characters iri sharp outlines before I could begin to weave them j into a story of law-breaking, murder, in- j trigue and jazz-mad pleasure. The pro- j cess of reproducing them in pictures j could not have been completely outlined j in advance. I meet my problems as I proceed- I live with my people; they S help me in working out details. Critics may question the desirability of buying j stories and using their titles if they are j to be radically changed, but I will disagree with them. The author furnished ! the idea; ho deserves credit for it. But the job of the motion picture director is to try to develop it pictorially by means of its chief characters." The stcrv tells of Daisy Royle, a product of the slums, and a daughter of a drunken confidence trickster and a mother addicted to drugs. She falls in love with an orchestra leader who is separated from his wife. When the Tatter is murdered her husband is convicted on circumstantial evidence and Daisy is involved. The girl determines to free the convicted man, knowing that he is innocent. After being imprisoned by members of a rival gang she escapes during a great cyclone, and a happy ending is reached. STRAND THEATRE. A strong cast, headed by Marie Prevost, Monte Blue, Hplene Chadwick and Arthur Rankin, portrays the latest Master picture, " The Dark Swan," which will commence at the Strand Theatre to-day. The film is adapted from a " best seller" by Ernest Pascal!. It tells the story of Cornelia Quinn, who is plain outwardly, but beautiful of soul, and her sister, Eve, who is inwardly corrupt, but beautiful to look upon. All the good things of life have come to Evo without effort on her part. It is when she seeks for herself the only man whom Cornelia can love that tragedy comes upon the scene. Cornelia is transported to a veritable fairyland when Lewis Dike first begins to pay marked attentions to her, bui, as suddenly as it had begun, her happiness is ended when Lewis meets Eve, and is infatuated with her. When Eve and Lewis marry Cornelia goes abroad for a year, but on returning again meets Lewis, who is beginning to realise the shallowness of Eve's character. Cornelia endeavours to shield Eve from the consequences of her folly, but it is not long before Lewis is enlightened, and determines to seek a divorce. The way is then made clear for a happy ending. The film is said to differ from most versions of the ugly duckling story in that the heroine does not become charming and attractive toward the end, but remains her own normal self until the hero realises her true worth. The supporting cast includes John Patrick, Lilyan Tashman, Vera Lewis and Carlton Miller. An Aesop Fable cartoon, " An Ideal Farm," and a comedy, " Daily Dozens," will also be screened. The overture will be Suppe's "Light Cavalry," arid the orchestra will also play a special musical item, "Ballet Music," from Faust. The StrandMajestic Follies will appear in an attractive prologue. HIPPODROME THEATRE. The famous Australian athlete, Snowy Baker, who has competed with marked success in the Olympic Games and holds numerous championships, appears in the role of an attache to the American Legation at Madrid in an unusually stirring film, "The Sword of Valour," which was screen at the Hippodrome Theatre for the first time yesterday. The supporting cast includes Dorothy Revier, Fred. Ravers, Otto Lederer. and Edwin Cecil Kavers, the Belgian fencing champion, gives a wonderful display of swordsmanship. Baker's famous white Arab horse, Boomerang, also appears prominently in several parts of the picture. Boomerang has won wide fame, both in the show ring and on the racecourse. The story relates the adventures of an American army officer in Spain where he falls in love with a daughter of a proud old Spanish family. The girl is also loved by a Levantine fortune hunter, and a hot-tempered gipsy youth. After fighting a duel with Europe's most accomplished swordsman, the hero is compelled to set out on a dangerous pursuit of a band of gipsies, who have abducted the girl. The programme also includes a society drama, "The Truth About Women," directed by Burton King, with Hope Hampton, Lowell Sherman, David Powell, and Mary Shuman in the principal roles. . ■

GRAND THEATRE. Harold Lloyd has long been known as one of the most, popular comedians of the screen, and each film in which lie appears seems to be received with even greater enthusiasm than its predecessor. His latest production, "Hot Water," which will commence a season of a week at the Grand Theatre to-day, is no exception to the rule. It has attracted crowded audiences to the Strand Theatre each evening during the past week, and its popularity shows no sign of waning. The comedian is ably supported by an excellent cast headed by Jobyna Ralston, who played the feminine, lead in Lloyd's last production, "Girl Shy," arid who makes a charming and capable heroine. The film contains little or no plot, but it amply justifies its claim to be a delight-fully-amusing entertainment. Lloyd himself gives an inimitable portrayal of the young man who vowed never to fall in love, but forgot his good resolutions the moment they were put to the test. He is responsible for most of the humour of the production, but his part is not emphasised to such an extent as to mar the balance of the whole production. MAJESTIC. By providing original entertainment in the form of excerpts from grand opera, special musical attractions, and colourful prologues, the proprietors of the Majestic Theatre have undoubtedly earned widespread popularity. The exposition of Maori songs and dances by Miss. Bathie Stuart and four Maori maidens this evening, will, it. is said, be the most unique aud interesting feature introduced by the management. The scenes, with the smoking cone of Ngauruhoe in the distance, form an admirable setting to the various poi dances and hakas. Miss Bathie Stuart is well known for her excellent.interpretations of Maori folk lore, while the Maori maidens were specially chosen for their singing and dancing abilities. "Hoki Tonu Mai," a. Maori love song, "The Dance of the Green Branches," and the famous "Aote.a Canoe Incantation." will lie among the items rendered. The supporting features will include "So This is Marriage," a film story of modern marriage with a Biblical interlude in natural colours. Eleanor Boardman, Conrad Nagel, and Lew Cody have the principal parts. A special musical arrangement, "Evolution of Dixie," will be given by the Majestic Orchestra, and in addition there will be an amusing comedy, a scenic, and topical news.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. J A Spanish legend more than three centuries old concerning a mysterious lost mine fabulously rich in gold ore forms the background for the story of "The . Mine With the Iron Door," which will appear j for the first time at the National. and Lyric Theatres to-night. That gold is not j to be possessed without a long and arduous ■struggle is the guiding theme of this film version of Harold Bell Wright's latest and greatest novel. The story has been transferred to the screen by Sol Lesser, of Principal Pictures Corporation, with faithfulness to detail that is seldom found in picture adaptation. In addition to the lure of the lost gold,' which never loses its fascination to the average person, "The Mine With the Iron Door" is said by the best-known critics to have many other features that tend to make it one of the most widely-appealing and absorbingly-An-teresting pictures,: that have come to the screen this year. The accompanying picture is "Little Old New York," au adap- j iatkyi by Luther Reed of Rida Johnson " j Young's successful play; Marion Davles i lets the role of Patricia O'Dav, masquev- ; nding as her dead brother Pat," in order to . I inherit a fortune left by an uncle in New >| York. She bria'gs to the part a wistful- , | ness. charm and naturalness which former screen roles had given no inkling that "he possessed. Mingled with the charm j and comedy of the story is a compelling *<■ 1 j strain of drama and several spectacular \ | episodes which make "Little Old New > t | York" an ideal screen entertainment. ' . | ! Owing to the late arrival of the film "The j Mine With the Iron Door" could not be | screened yesterday, its place being taken j by "Don't Marry for Money." RIALTO AND REGENT. ' - \j "Wild Horse Mesa," a Paramount ! adaptation of Zane Grey's famous novel, ] will be the principal attraction at the j Rialto and Regent Theatres to-day. The | climax of " Wild Horse Mesa" is a particularly thrilling one, depicting a. spec- | I tacular stampede of 5000 wild horses raci ing at breakneck speed toward the i camera. The plot that Zane Grey has j evolved is a unique one, dealing with the I thousands of magnificent wikl stallions j that roam the vast plains and deserts | of America. George 15. Seitz directed the j photoplay, which features such . wellj known players as Jack Holt, Noah Beery, | Billie Dove and Douglas Fairbanks, | i junior. Additional at"' the Rialto Theatre' f j will be " Broken Barriers," and at the Regent Theatre, "We Moderns," featur-; ing Ooleen Moore. ! MUNICIPAL CONCERTS. The Municipal Band, with six of its | leading soloists, will be responsible for the next municipal concert to take place in the Town Hall to-morrow evening. Vocal numbers will be rendered by Mr. Jeati Dellore, with Mr. Leo Whittaker at the J] piano. Solos on the clarionet, cornet, flute, euphonium, saxophone and xylophone will be interspersed with brilliant band numbers and vocal items, so that a programme of rare musical,value is promised. Box plans are now open at Lewis F. Eady ami Son, Ltd., and early booking is recommended. j ======== I