ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19458, 14 October 1926, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

NATIONAL A_MD LYRIC. Edith O'Shaanghnessy, author of the celebrated novel, "Viennese Medley," which under the title of "The Greater Glory" is now showing at the National and Lyric Theatres, is the wife of Nelson O'Shaunghnessy, American diplomat at Vienna. The picture, which was produced by June Mathis, is an epic drama of Vienna before, during, and after the war. ( The authoress had unusual opportunities for injecting realism into her novel—a realism of which Miss Mathis has taken full advantage in making her adaptation. For years the authoress resided in Austria, before and after the war, and had entry into the highest diplomatic and social circles. Miss Mathis spent more than a year on this mammoth production. The cast embraces almost 2000 players. The principals are Anna Q. Nilsson, Conway Tearle, May Allison, lan Keith, Lucy Beaumont and Jean Hersholt. The story U-ustrates the manner which war prof eers obtained vast wealth by trading on the misfortunes of the population, of Vienna, once the centre of gaiety of the /uistrian Empire. For the sake of a sequence that takes less than five minutes to show 011 the screen, the First National Company found it necessary to reproduce at their Hollywood studios, a great Vienna cathedral for one of the most poignant scenes in "The Greater Glory." Starting before the Great War with a budding romance between the members of two aristocratic and wealthy families, the story develops in a stirring and melodramatic manner. Fanny, the girl, in order to aid a schoolmate, goes to a questionable resort and in defending herself her fiance's cousin is drowned. The result is disgrace for her, and the breaking off of the engagement. The war commences and Fanny faints in the street and is taken home by a war profiteer, who places her in charge of ;i gambling establishment. The period following the war finds her living in luxury, while the relatives who at one time spurned her are in dire want. She assists them financially and finally finds happiness in the love of the count who was her fiance in the beginning. Included in the supporting programme are the latest Gaumont Graphic and Fox News, a Felix cartoon and "Moving Day," a Fox comedy. STRAND THEATRE. A startling exposure of the tricks resorted to by many fraudulent spiritualists and mediums, who play upon the credulity of humanity by pretending to establish communication with the spirit world,, is told in "The Mystic," a Tod Browning production for Metro-Goldwyn, which will commence at the Strand Theatre tomorrow. The picture is said to be a tense, gripping melodrama of underworkMlife, based upon the deception and fraud of a false medium, whose supposed supernatural powers are exploited for liis own ends by a brilliant international confidence man. It opens in remote Hungary, where the "faker" discovers a gipsy mystic and brings her to America, where he uses her to fleece gullible wealthy patrons who wish to communicate with the departed, Under the talented direction of Tod Browning, himself an authority upon psychic phenomena, and recognised as the greatest producer of underworld dramas, this picture should provide a piece of remarkably forceful entertainment. In the leading role is Aileen Pringle, an intriguing actress whose dark, slender beauty makes her particularly impressive in exotic, seductive roles such as she portrays in "The Mystic," and she gives an excellent portrayal as the gipsv. Conway Tearle is said to have never played more convincingly than in this film, as the brilliant trickster. Others in the cast are Mitchell Lewis, Robert David Torrence,. Gladys Hulette and Stanton Heck. "Paint and Powder," a Hunt Stromberg production, will be the .second attraction. This story of Broadway stage life, is said to be a true picture of the life of a great stage star. It is a drama of midnight madness, the theme of which moves rapidly from the sordidness and pathos of tenement life through the cheap gaiety of the New York Bowery to the glamour of the stage and its people. There is a disillusionment in the story of "Paint and Powder" for those who hold the common views of the off-stage life of actors and actresses. Mingled with the revelry and gaiety of its lighter episodes is heart-stirring tragedy. Elaine Hammerstein has the leading role. The supporting programme includes the Strand Magazine and a cartoon. The orchestra will play Beethoven's "Minuet."

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. An interesting psychological study of the modern "flapper" is provided by "Girls Men Forget," .1 Master picture in which Johnny Walker and Patsy Ruth Miller have the principal roles. The film will head to-day's new programme at Everybody's Theatre. The heroine is Kitty Shayne, a somewhat frivolous but extremely popular girl, whose presence was always in demand at parties and social functions. But she longed for affection, which she did not find, and gradually she began to realise that she was regarded as somewhat "forward." She determined to go to another district, where she would not bo known and make herself appear shy and demure. When put into practice the plan worked as well as could bo expected, and the girl won the love of Russell Baldwin, a bashful country boy who at last proposed to her. Supremely happy, she accepted him. His mother, a kindly, lovable old was delighted. With Kitty she planned a party, at which the engagement was to be announced. Mrs. Baldwin secretly had longed for social success. She had a great dress made for the occasion, and was as happy as a child. But the party proved a failure at the beginning. Everybody sat in silence. Mrs. Baldwin was overcome with humiliation. Kitty's heart went out to her. She forgot that she was demure. Again she became "the girl who was the life of the party." She "mada the welkin ring" that night, She brought folks out of themselves, and soon everybody was dancing, laughing and shouting. It lasted till one o'clock ill the morning. Kitty's action had some unexpected consequences, but a happy ending resulted. Included in the new programme will be House Peter's latest production for Universal, entitled ''Combat." Wanda Hawlcy plays opposite the star. GRAND THEATRE. An excellent British production recording a picturesque and romantic episode in British history will commence showing at the Grand Theatre to-morrow. This will be "The Loves of Mary. Queen of Scots," a photoplay which was filmed in England, Scotland and France amid exquisite scenery. The picture is historically correct, and the acting is claimed to be of a high standard.. Th.e romantic story of Mary's education in France, of her marriage with the Dauphin, and her subsequent love affairs leading up to the rebellion of her people, followed by her abdication and imprisonment. is told in an appealing manner. Not long after her imprisonment Mary escaped from Loch Leven Cattle at the head of 6000 men, her loyal supporters. A battle was fought at "Langside, and Mary's army was defeated. She sought refuge in England, but a group of English statesmen looked upon her with suspicion, and contrived to bring a char go of murder against her. During this time there wow many plots against the life of Elizabeth, and it was generally thought that Mary had instigated them. She was removed to various English castles, and in 1586 was brought up for trial and sentenced to death. It was with great disinclination that Elizabeth gave her Royal assent to the sentence. Mary - was beheaded at Fotlicringay Castle in 1587. The part of Mary is played by Fay Compton, and that of the Earl of Bothwell by Gerald Ames. The second attraction will be "Romany," another British film. Victor McLaglen, a former prominent boxer and athlete, is the star. The picture embraces gorgeous , mountain scenery, many and varied types of gipsies, and 'a wonderful sheep dog trial.

k(A<ssTzo TmE^ras. A very hum an drama of the- Sfoi oi simple peoj-io' Is brovijiic'"tO' she 'ssreeft by .the Metro-Gold vty u-Mayer production, "The Towe? of Lies," to commence showing at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. The theme of the story is old, but it is told in a delightfully refreshing way. Two old people, Jan and Katrina, are tenants on the estate of Eric Gunnerson. A daughter, Glory, is born to them, and when she reaches womanhood she is betrothed to August, a childhood sweetheart. Everything appears to be going well until Gunnerson dies, and the estate passes to his nephew, Lars. Jan has incurred a debt with his landlord and Lars orders him to pay it in six months or he will have to leave the land. Glory goes to the city to earn money, and though she succeeds in paying off the debt she comes back in disgrace. The villagers wish to drive her from home, and although August wishes to marry her she decides to go away rather than bring disgrace upon him. She sets out for the boat, but. fate, by a series .of dramatic episodes, holds her back in her own village. She finally renounces her old life and finds happiness with August. A fine supporting programme includes the Majestic News, a New Zealand scenic, a comedy, a musical interlude by the English entertainers, Rene and Menard, ami an orchestral selection, "La Sorrentina" (Salvadorez). PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. he and Dane:? Man,*' heading the programme to commence at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres to-day, is a pic ture which is said to faithfully reproduce the theatre life of New York, from its cheap song-and-danco arts to the rega! magnificence of the glorified musical comedies. Tom Moore has the title role originally made famous in the stage version by Mr. G. Cohan—that of a typical small-time vaudeville performer, who considers himself the greatest songand-dance man in the world. Moore plays the character with precisely the right mixture of conceit, comedy and pathos and holds the sympathetic interest of the audience throughout. Bessie Love, described as the screen's foremost exponent of "The Charleston," is happily cast as a performer who eventually wins fame and fortune in the musical comedy field. Harrison Ford, the third principal member of the cast, is depicted as failing in love with Miss Love and succeeds in persuading her that home and children arc to be preferred to the glitter and tinsel of a stage career. The screen version of "Sapper's" story, "The Third Round," one of the. "Bulldog" Drumvnond series, will also be shown. "Bulldog" Drummond is a widely-known character in modern fiction, and his virile personality is well portrayed by Jack Buchanan. Other featured players are Betty Faire and Juliette Compton. CHOIR AND SOLO RECITAL. A vocal and instrumental recital held on Tuesday evening in aid of St. James' Church, Wellington Street, proved very popular. The part-singing of the church , choir was the leading number on the programme. Quartette selections by Miss L. Russell, Mrs. A. Dollar arid Messrs. A. Macpherson and A. Dollar were also of a high standard. Miss D. Hislop and Mrs. A. Dollar rendered a piano duet, and a piano solo was contributed by Mr. Lert. Swabe. Mr. J. Finlayson was well received in a humorous number, and songs were rendered by Miss Mary Gow, Miss Daisy Hislop, Mrs. A. Bruce, Mrs. A. Stephen, Mr. E. li. Foot, Mr. D. McConochie, Mr. A. L. Macpherson, Mr C. F. Perfect and Mr. J. Bannatyne. Mr.' W. Irnpett and Mrs. A. Dollar acted as accom panists. " FRENCH LEAVE." "French Leave," an uproarious comedy, will be presented by the Muriel Starr Company at His Majesty's Theatre tonight. The play deals with the lighter side of war, and was written by a young barrister, Captain Reginald Berkeley, a member of the New Zealand Bar. ..He also practised in the Inner Temple, and during the war a brigade major of a rifle brigade of the Fourth Army (English). He wrote the play while invalided behind the lines during the Battle of the Somme. "French Leave" is the tale of a newly-wedded wife, who, to be with her husband, poses as a Parisian actress visiting her mother, the landlady of the house where her husband and the officers of his regiment are billeted. • The entire, regiment are soon her devoted slaves, from the ■ blustering general to his half-fledged staff captain. Friend Husband, in the scramble for the captivating little lady's favours, has an anguishing time.