ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19501, 3 December 1926, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS.

" THE SEA BEAST." John Barrymore, one of the world's greatest actors, is said to give a magnificent performance in " The Sea Beast," a .stirring and vigorous epic of the whaling industry, which is released by Warner Brothers. The film will commence its Auckland season at the Majestic Theatre to-day. 'lt will be presented with a special stage prologue on a scale worthy of the importance of the picture. The story tells of the love of a whaling captain for a beautiful girl. Through a misunderstanding the girl and the captain are estranged and the latter becomes a half-crazed creature living only for vengeance on the sea beast which he regards as being responsible for his misfortunes. Barrymore's portrayal of the character is said to be wonderfully impressive, and to be well worthy of his high reputation. "Next in importance to Barrymore," says a critic, " comes Dolores Costello as Esther. Here is a young actress whose star is just bursting on the screen horizon, who has beauty, personality and charm, together with dramatic and emotional ability of a high order. Her performance as Esther is truly wonderful and she does not suffer by having to play opposite Barrymore. In the scene where she first sees the hero wearing the crude wooden stump, and, rushing to him, embraces this poor substitute for his severed leg, the love, pity and tremendous emotion that shine through her face will cause a tug at the heart; and she repeats this effect when they are finally reunited. The entire cast does wonderful work. George O'Hara scores in the thankless role of .Derek, and Vadin Uranoff is remarkably fine as the halfwitted cabin boy. Striking, too, is the portrayal of Sojin as the Chinese piratemagician friend of Captain Al ab, which adds a wierd and uncanny note to the dramatic atmosphere of the whaling ship. Millard Webb's direction of this story is excellent. He has concentrated on the virile, vigorous drama, and in making this an epic of the rough,, hard seamen who comprised the whaling crews he has emphasised these angles, so much so that some of the situations are gruesome." Excellent supporting pictures will be shown. The overture will be " The E'lyiag Dutchman." —~ ijj PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. "A luxuriously-mounted comedy-drama" is a description of Gloria Swanson's latest picture, " The Untamed Lady," now showing at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres. The story centres around Miss Van Tassel, a young society girl with an uncurbed temper and manner who has been engaged more times tha? she dare think of. Her uncle is almost tired of giving engagement dinners by the time she announces another fiance in Larry Gastlen. Shortly after this Larry has to go on a business trip on his yacht and Gloria insists on going also. He is stern in his refusal and when the yacht is out to sea he finds she has persuaded the captain to let her aboard. He turns the ship about and sets out to take her to New York. In anger and devilment she watches the man at the wheel and stands near the compass. At first the man is blamed for not keeping to the course, but at last they see that the compass is not behaving. A hasty search reveals a large and powerful magnet in Gloria's pocket. Her action causes the ship to run into a storm during which many of the crew are injured. After the storm Gloria is forced into service in the engine room to make up for the injured men Before the voyage is over it seems as if her will is broken.' But at the dock she runs away. Larry follows and another battle of wills take place at her hunting lodge, but she manages an escape. Larry goes after her, but his horse fails to negotiate a jump and he is injured. In hospital Gloria realises that she loves him and at last finds her spirit broken. An interesting record of the DempseyTunney fight for the world's heavy-weight boxing championship is given in the official film of the contest, which forms the second attraction on the programme. Owing to speed the eye could not follow much of the action, but in the slow-motion picture complete details are shown. RIALTO AND REGENT. The Paramount production, " Let's Get Married," featuring Richard Dix and Lois Wilson, is the chief attraction on the programmes now showing at the Rialto and Regent Theatres. It is a joyous comedy of a wild college youth who tries to steady down and win the love of a girl. Dix, as the youth, decides to abandon his erratic ways and make good. His father sends him to sell hymn books to J. W. Smith, who proves to be a woman. Instead of taking her to a recital he accompanies her to a cabaret from which he bad re- i cently been evicted. She causes trouble and they are both thrown out of the pre- , mises. Dix is sentenced to 30 days' im- j prisonment by his father's arrangement with_ the Judge and tells his sweetheart he is going to Cuba. He unwittingly escapes on the last day and faces additional imprisonment. " Let's Get Married," he tells the /girl, and they make hurried preparations. A sheriff' breaks up the wedding with pardon papers and a happy ending follows. An additional attraction at the Rialto only will be Hoot Gibson in the Universal production, " The Phantom Bullet."

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A story of mother love is told in "Over the Hill,' the William Fox special, which has been reissued, and is now showing at Everybody's Theatre. Endeavouring to guide her children m the paths of righteousness, Mrs. Benton (Mary Carr) is handicapped by tho careless attitude ol her husband, who, rather than work, obtains his money through crime. Finally, the children grow up and begin life's occupations. The two sisters marry. Isaac becomes a prosperous business man, and only John, the "black sheep," is left alone with his mother, although he, too, has a sweetheart. The father, careless, lazy, and good-for-nothing, is accused of horsestealing and circumstances are such that to protect his father from going to prison John takes upon himself the burden of the crime. It almost breaks the iaeart of his mother and of his pretty sweetheart when he is sent to prison for a crime he did not commit, but the weak father, hesitating, to confess the truth, permits the sacrifice. Three years pass, John is released from prison and comes back home to find his father dead, his mother has been neglected by all the other children. and that Isaac has even appropriated to his own use the money that should have gone to support her. She has even been evicted from her own home and sent fcr> the poorhouse How John comes to the rescue, saves his mother from poverty, panishes his hypocritical brother, is told in vivid and dramatic scenes. STRAND THEATRE. The various incidents in the life of a young orphan girl, Mary Rider (Bessie Love) are told in "Lovey Mary," the principal picture on the programme com mencing at the Strand Theatre to-day Miss Love's artistic and sincere portrayal of the lonely orphan girl, who lavished all her pent-up affections upon a baby waif, is a splendid characterisation. In addition, she gams the most from the humorous possibilities of the picture, and her contributions to the fun that sparkles right through, are delightful. William Efaines, in the leading male role, is cast as a homely milk carter, and adds still further to his list of successes. His romance with Mary is one of the bright features of an excellent picture, and he fills an exacting part with marked ability Others in the cast are Eileen Percy, Mary Alden, Vivin Ogden. Martha Mattox and Russell Simpson. "The Lost Chord," based on the well-known song by Sir Arthur Sullivan, which will also be shown, is a tender story exquisitely told. True to the lofty sentiment of the music, the action is genuine and the story noble and sweet. The setting, too, is in full keeping with the theme—many of the scenes taking place in a beautiful little country church. The Strand Magazine and a comedy, "One P.M.," will also be shown. The overture will b® "Merry England."

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. The instructive is well combined with the entertaining in the current programme at the National and Lyric Theatres. Two principal features are shown, "The Epic of Everest" and "The Amateur Gentleman." Each contains the qualities of excellence in production which distinguish the "worth-while" from the commonplace. Both being of a standard which would ensure a good reception if shown separately, it follows that a combination of the two proves doubly attractive. "The Epic of Everest" rightly has pride of place. As the official record of the last expedition to attempt the conquest of Mount Everest it is something more than a mere survey of the ground accomplished. The spirit and courage which inspired the intrepid party to feats of outstanding endurance seems to have been captured and transferred to the screen. In spite of the many difficulties a really wonderful pictorial record has been produced. Some interesting glimpses of the life oi the Tibetan people are shown. Several scenes of rock, snow and ice are beautiful, and the views of the mighty moun- ; tain itself are magnificent. who have read the novels of Jeffrey Barnol will .find delight in "The Amateur Gentleman," which is a fine adaption from one of his best-known works. The majority of Farnol's books deal with life in the "good old days" and in M The Amateur Gentleman," using the Regency period as a back-ground, he has constructed a highly adventurous story recording the life of Barnabas Beverly Barty. The screen version is excellent and is well calculated to keep the interest sustained. As those were the times which produced "beau" Brummel, it is not surprising tht glimpses are given of the ways of the young gentlemen "bloods. Indeed, in one case Barty (Richard Barthelmiss) surprises his colleagues by appearing in a pair of trousers somewhat resembling the modern "Oxfords." PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. As Henrv Baxter, a bashful clerk in the advertising department of a newspaper office, Matt Moore has another humorous role in "How Baxter Butted In," now showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. As a method to increase the popularity of the publication he suggested that Monthly Hero Awards should be made to the residents of the community who did the daring, and unselfish things. ' Since Henry was shy i and retiring to the point of absurdity, it was little wonder that the credit for his suggestion was stolen by his superior in the department —who, incidentally, was bending every effort to steal Henry's girl, the beautiful stenographer in the office, who had sensed that Henry loved her and that he had a manliness unusual in these modern times. The second attraction, "Modern Marriage," is a story which concerns a butterfly wife. Beverly Bayne and Francis Bushman have the leading roles. The' official film of the recent Royal Show will also be shown. MUNICIPAL RECITAL. The principal works selected for the organ recital to be given by Mr. J. Maughan Barnett, city organist, in the Town Flail on Sunday evening include Bach's "Toccata" in D minor, Guilmant's " Funeral March and Hymn of Seraphs," and transcriptions of Bendel's "Wild Rose" and Paderewski's "Minuet." MUNICIPAL CONCERT. A concert will be given by the Municipal Band in the Town Hall to-morrow evening. Some works by world-famous composers that should receive excellent interpretation from the band will be Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Weber's "Oberon" overture and Dvorak's Slavonic Dances, Nos. 7 and 8. There will also be a grand selection from Mozart's works. Vocal items will be contributed by Miss Nellie Lingard, with Mr. Leo Whittaker at the piano. The box plans are at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd. STODDART-TOWSEY RECITAL. The second recital of chamber music by Margaret Stoddart and Cyril Towsey will be given in the Unity Hall, Upper Queen Street, to-morrow evening. Two sonatas, Beethoven in F major and Cesar Franck in A major, will be played. The recitalists will have the assistance of Miss Lettie Walls, Miss Amy Stevsnson and Miss Lalla Hemus in the great piano quintee b Schumann, and Mrs. (Cyril Towsey will sing songs by Sibelius, Schubert, Arensky and Kennedy-Fraser. MISS KNIGHT'S RECITAL. . The annual dance recital of Miss Daphne Knight's pupils will be held in Scots Hall to-morrow. In addition to the evening performance there will be a special children's matinee in the afternoon. An interesting and spectacular programme has been t arranged. Box plans are at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd.