ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19447, 1 October 1926, Page 17

ENTERTAINMENTS.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. A story of the modern girl, her loies, her joys And her sorrows is told in " Sandy," a First National release, which was screened for the first time at tho National and Lyric Theatres yesterday. El&nore . Meherin,,, the author of the tale, which had appeared in several American magazines, has drawn a character of the typical modern flapper, light-hearted, rebellious and care-free, but she has shown that underlying her superficial frivolity is a heart of gold, whifch is readily responsive to the call of true love. Madge Bellamy is admirably cast in tho role of Sandy McNeil, the daughter of Scottish parents of. i old-fashioned, reactionary ideas. Early in the picture her love for freedom and pleasure is checked by the insistence of her parents that she should marry Ben Murillo, a rich, arngant Spaniard. Caught in the vortex of doubt and uncertainty she eventually becomes Lie wife of Murillo. After two or three years of miserable existence, during which her baby dies, Sandy takes a vacation in Honolulu where she meets a young architect. Her cup of unhappiness is overflowing when she discovers he already has a consort. From there the story is carried to San Francisco, where a number of melodramatic sequences such as a suicide arid a sensational Court trial take place. In the final scenes Sandy realises the havoc she has wrought and fully atone 3 for her wrongdoing. An exceptionally strong cast includes Harrison Ford, Gloria Hope, Leslie Fenton, Charles Farrell and Bardson Bard. The second attraction is " The Spoiling Lover," starring Barbara Bedford and Conway Tearle. Romance and drama are cleverly woven into an absorbing photoplay which, commencing with some' thrilling war scenes, continues in tho atmosphere of a charming English ancestral home and concludes on the famous Derby racing track. A fine supporting programme includes the Fox News, a Felix comedy and another series of pictures recording the .Amundsen-Ellsworth expedition to the North Polo.

" THE VOLGA BOATMAN." Tho appealing story of the love of a low-born peasant for a Russian princess is told in " The Volga Boatman," which is stated to be one of the greatest screen achievement's of Cecil 13. de Mille, the famous director,. It is described as a melodrama of unsurpassed dramatic power, beauty and thrills with wonderful scenes and an unforgettable climax. Years ago the haunting, droning melody chanted by the men, who were employed to pull up-stream the heavily-laden freight boats was immortalised in the famous musical composition, " The Song of the Volga Boatman,-" which is known the world over. Konrad Bercovici, the celebrated Rumanian writer, sstw in these picturesque folk the possibilities of romance and visioned a leader arising from this lowly group; one who, having tasted persecution and degradation, would aid in leading his fellow-men on the road to freedom. The revolution, which npset the entire Russian social order eight years ago, was considered a fitting background for such a theme. Mr. de Mille shows the value of sustained conflict of wills and emotions and this is furnished in abundance in the difference in tho social status of Feodor, tho peasant boatman, and the princess. They are irresistably drawn together in spite of the disgust in which each holds the other. He also makes use of the value of the purely melodramatic "punch" and the building up of suspense in the rescue at the psychological moment. An excellent cast has been chosen, including such well-known names as William Bovd, Elinor Fair, Robert Edeson, Victor Varconi. Julia Fjye, Theodore Kosloff and Arthur Rankin. GRAND 'THEATRE. " The ending is a masterpiece of artistry and beauty. All through tho film the imagination is given free play, and no one can fail to , feel the compelling force of the symbolism. The settings are remarkable." In these words a reviewer sums up his impressions of " Destiny," which heads the new programme commencing at the. Gravid Theatre to-day. The story is about a strange man who enters a small town, buys a piece of land and builds a high wall around it. Nobody has any idea of what happens within the wall. A pair of lovers are mysteriouslv separated soon after the arrival of the stranger, and the girl, seeing an opening in the wall and sensing that it may have something to do with the matter, "enters. From then onward many novel and dramatic sequences occur which make the film exceptionally absorbing. The. acting of Li I Gagover, who is castas the heroine, is said to stand out as a piece of artful realism that approaches perfection. Bernard Gob;ke, who takes the part' of the figure of Destiny, interprets an exceedingly difficult role in a masterly fashion. The double-exposure scenes of " Destiny," particularly those of the ghostly figure who is seen in the title role, are said to be wonderfully effective. The backgrounds representing the City of Arabian Nights, Venice in the Middle Ages, and Peking some thousands of years before the dawn of Christianity,' have been filmed on a scale of magnificence and beauty hitherto unknown in motion picture history.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. "The Wrongdoers,'' a Paramount production, starring Lionel Barrymore, is the first of a series of films based on true stories, which are to be produced by Bernarr Macfaddeu, a \yell-known American publisher and proprietor of the True Story Magazine. The story concerns J and Helen Warren, adopted as children by Daniel Abbott, a practical philanthropist and a modern Robin Hood, who employs a gang to steal from the rich to give to the, poor. The climax of the story is reached when Abbott attempts to steal jewels valued at a million dollars, the property of a wealthy landowner who is notorious for his harsh treatment of the tenants of his ramshackle houses in the slum district. A revolver duel results in the death of both Abbott, and the landlord. The chief feminine role is taken by Ann Cornwall. The first part of the narrative eliminates sub-titles of tho regular order, . these being supplied by a typewriter, manipulated by the hero. The original theme combined with the unusual and exciting finish, mako an exceptionally entertaining film. A setond attraction will bo "The Eleventh Commandment." A strong cast headed by Fay C-ompton includes Stewart Rome, Lillian "Hall Davis, Charles Quartermairi and Dawson Wilward.

STRAND THEATRE.

All the thrills of horse-racing are reproduced in "Tho Sporting Chancej" to commence showing at the Strand Theatro to-day. Patricia Winthrop, tho heroine, is loved by Darrell Thornton and Robert Selby, boi.li racehorse owners. Events, move to a climax with the running of tho Nassau Handicap, one of the season's biggest sporting events. Both owners havo horses entered in tho race, but Thornton endeavours to excludeSelby's horse by trickery. When Selby's horse finally wins the event, Patricia , comes to the realisation of her love, and all ends happily. "Bright Lights," the supporting picture, is an excellent comedydrama. The story deals with the romance of an artless farmer and a disillusioned chorus girl from a Now York night, club. His simplicity attracts the girl, though he believes ho needs the sophistication of a man of the world to interest her. How ho learns through bitter experience that ho has been mistaken, but finally wins the girl, is told in a series of highly entertaining sequences. "The JPuneral of "Rudolph Valentino" and the Strand Magazine will also be shown. In addition the Strand Male Quartette will sing naafctcal^-airs.

" SKINNER'S DRESS SUIT." ' Several delightful comedy episodes are features of " Skinner's Dress Suit," now showing at the Princess, end Everybody's Theatres.- The part of Skinner, a poorly-paid clerk, is taken"by Reginald Dcnnv, while Lanra La Planta appears as his wife. The fun lies in the entry of the Skinners into the social world and their efforts to live the life of the rich. Skinner sets the ball rolling by telling his wife that he has had an < increase in salary. His wife immediately insists that he should buy a dress suit and that in orckr to be in the mode they should take dancing lessons. Skinner soon becomes financially embarrassed, but is unwilling to let his trusting wife know the true position. Several ludicrous incidents occur as the result of his endeavours to keep his wife from finding out how really impecunious he is. Hounded by creditors he keeps up the farce until "by sheer luck he finds himself rich and able to enjoy life to the full; Comedy also features largely in " Let's Get Married," also flowing at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres. Richard Dlx has the star part and playing opposite him is Lois Wilson. Of a series of amusing incidents perhaps the best, is when Dix, confined to prison, carries on his courtship with the heroine through the bars of his cell door. Clara Bovv'q latest picture, /" The Lawful Cheater," will be shown at Everybody's Theatre,

RIALTO THEATRE. "The Midshipman," a Metco-Golclwy©' Mayer production, starring w Ramon Novarro, heads the new programme at tho Rialto Theatre to-day. Wesley Barry, tho youthful though popular actor who has many screen successes to his credit), has ono of tho leading roles in this film of the American navy. "The Midshipman" is the first authentic, authorised photoplay depicting the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. In order that the film might be a faithful representation of tho American nautical college, the Secretary of the Navy appointed Admiral Shoemaker, Rear-Admiral Nulton and members of his official retinue 1o aid the director, Christy Cabanne. The choice of a suitable player for the lead- i ing role of Midshipman James Randall,/ was lftft to the judgment of the navy officials, and they finally picked Ramon Novarro from a large list of popular motion-picture stars submitted to them. An additional attraction will be a sensational film drama entitled "Tho Still Alarm." It shows#fire-fighting methods of to-day and of a period 20 years ago. "The Still Alarm" was adapted to tho screen by Harvey O'Higgins from tho famous old stage melodrama by Joseph Arthur and A. C. Wheeler. Helene Chndwick and William Russell have the principal roles.

"SPARROWS." " Mary Pickford," says the Christian Science Monitor in a review of " Sparrows," a United Artists production which will commence its Auckland season at the Majestic Theatre to-day, " has never done better work for the screen, and Sparrows ' is, in her own opinion, her *4magnum opus.' Once more she drops hep sweet maturity and becomes the little waif of a dozen years, battling her way through a hard world with strong right arm and readv right foot, and with an abiding faith in ultimate reward for services honestly rendered. As Mamma Mollie, she takes the measure of her foes, be they big or little, with an un» flagging zeal and ingenuity, as Old Grimes (keeper of the baby farm J.nd ably, interpreted by Gustav von Seyffertitz), young Ambrose Grimes (his mean, tittle-tattle son, capitally plaved by Spec 0 Donnell of ' Little Annie 'Rooney ' memory) and Mrs. Grimes (slatternly mistress of the place, in the person of Charlotte Minean) learn to their sorrow. Under the ablo direction of William Beaudine the whole mood and atmosphere of ' Sparrows has been achieved with remarkable success. While there are any number of amusing incidents worked into the narrative, .it remains an essentially serious, drabcoloured tale, rising slowly to the escape of Mollie and her frail craw and then achieving dramatic values of sharp intensity in rapid succession.''

QUEEN'S THEATRE. ' James Cruze's great Paramount production, " The Covered Waggon," is now being screened on the double-feature programme at the Queen s Theatre The story, with the vast sweep of the western plams for a background, across which winds the "covered waggons" with their human freight, is essentially good picture material. The plot is dramatic and the storv unfolds like a stirring panorama of history. The second picture is Tho Eleventh Commandment," featuring Fay Common. Stewart Rome, Lillian Hall Davis, Charles Quartermain and Dawson Milward. The film is said to be beautifully- acted and splendidly produced. It is the impossible storv of an impossible English baronet, and tells how, one daughter's frailty and another s selfsacrifice almost wreck her love and happiness.

MUNICIPAL CHOIR. An attractive programme of choral, vocal and organ music will be given at the municipal concert in the 1 own iiall to-morrow evening. Elg.tr s Serenade and "Angelus," and arrangements of "\ll Thro' the Night, and John Feel will bo sung by the choir. Miss Kate Campion, the operatic soprano, wiL smg arias from Verdi's "Aida" and Wagner's "Flying Dutchman," and Mr. J. Manghan Barnett, city organist, y 1 " play works by Bach, Yidor and Silas, and the "William Tell' overture.

"KOA!' BENEFIT CONCERT. There was a fair attendance at a benefit concert in the Town Hall last evening in aid of the 1 Koa relief fnnn. An entertaining musical and vocal programme was presented. An opening chorus was snng by the Takapuna Club picrrots, who also gave a comedy sketch, "Carmen Up-to-Date." Selections were given -by the Ponsonbv Boys' Band, the Boston "Jazz Band and the Ramblers' Orchestra. Vocal talent was represented bv Mr. J. Meld rum with "Rose of My Heart." Mr. J. Smithson, "Let Me Like a Soldier Fall," and Mr. L. Warburton, "Toreador." Monologues were given by Mr C. H. Turner Pelluet and Mr. W. Forshaw. ,Mr. L. Bickertou gave a humorous item. "Serenade." Dancing was provided by two little girls, styled the Caro Duo "and by Messrs: Delaney and Watson. A cornet solo was given by Mr. H. Hoffman. Three topical soncs were given by the Masked Trio, comprising two singers and an accompanists, who received an enthusiastic recaption and had to respond to an encoro. The company sang "Pretty Little Baby," "Shadow Land" and "Sitting on Top of tho World."