ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19558, 10 February 1927, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MDLLE. FROM ARMENTTERES." An intriguing character has been brought to the screen in "Mademoiselle From Armentieres," which will b$ shown for the first time at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. It has been said that no nama was mere often on the British "Tommy's" tongue and no legendary character had achieved more notoriety and renown than the mysterious "Mademoiselle" of the French villages and hamlets. The film is described as a soldier's story of the war. The war, to the. men in the trenches, was essentially a personal adventure, and it is appropriate that -for the purpose of entertainment with a quality of reminiscence, the film should be a picture of intimate drama and comedy told with convincing realism rather than an effort to convey the whole panorama of a world upheaval in which truth must inevitably be sacrificed to spectacular effect. In commenting on the picture an English reviewer says:— " ' Mademoiselle From Armentieres ' has as much of the spectacle of fighting as is convenient for the unfolding of the story, but its strongest asset is that it is accurate and logical in its details of the fighting and life at the front. The fact that every man engaged in the film, with the sole exception of one man incapacitated by a physical infirmity, saw military service in the war, is an assurance that it is not being offered as a travesty of the conditions under which the bloody combat of 1914-18 was fought, and won." The fact that the film comes from a British studio should be a sufficient guarantee of its superiority. A further claim to eminence is made by the engagement of the new English star, Estelle Brody. Probably the most enthusiastic praise the film has yet received was made by a writer in an English motion-picture magazine:—"No picture yet has been so convincing, so appealing as the war picture under its gay, intriguing title. 'Mademoiselle From Armentieres," ho said, "and yet it can hardly bo called a 'war pifcture.' It paints, or rather reproduces, tho most harrowing scenes of slaughter; it depicts the inferno that was Flanders; and it reveals the glories of war, yet. it seems but a background for tho cheerful good fellowship of the soldier and the touching love story of 'Mademoiselle.' " Commencing to-morrow evening the film will be supported by an appropriate prologue. The orchestra will render as an overture "The Bhoys of Tipperary." Other features will be the Strand Magazine and an Our Gang comedy.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. Two popular stars, Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall, have the leading roles in "Subway Sadie," the First National picture which will commonco to-day at the National and Lyric Thoatres. "The picture is well-named," says an American reviewer, "for Sadie is the type of girl, whose numbers are legion, who travels from her suburban homo to tho Fifth Avcnuo shop where she works, and furthermore the 6tory concerns her romance with a subway guard." Sadie cherishes an ambition to go to Paris and breaks off her engagement with Herb, tho subway guard, when she is mado a Paris buyer for her firm. An accident to him on the day of her departure causes her to give up the trip. To her astonishment sho finds that he is tho son of the proprietor of the subway company and had been acquiring experience as a guard. Stirring - melodrama in the adventurous setting of the oil fields, spectacular effects and sensational rescues aro features of the other picture, "Flaming Waters." It was directed by F. Harmon Weight, who had retained tho touches of pathos and humour which have distinguished his previous productions. The boundless romance and colour of the oil fields has been employed in a sousational story. A blazing river of oil, which sweeps down upon the lives of tho inhabitants'of a district, provides an exciting climax. Particularly thrilling is the rescue by tho hero of his mother and sweetheart when they are trapped on the roof of a house amid a flaming sea of oil. Swimming under water with the burning oil roaring on the surface above his head, he reaches the house with a rope apparatus. The cast includes Malcolm McGregor, Paulino Garon and Mary Carr.

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. Great interest attaches to tho presentation of " Fascinating Youth," which will commence showing to-day at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres. It is the first production in which tho 16 young players known as Paramotint's Junior Stars have appeared. They were selected from the 40,000 entrants in contests conducted throughout the United States and have been trained in motion picture technique at the Paramount picture school The story tells of Teddy Ward, a wealthy society idler, who lalls in love with a sketch artiste, much to his father's annoyance. He accepts a position as manager of a winter resort hotel that has always failed to make money and starts a whirlwind advertising campaign, the main feature of which is an ice-boat race for a largo prizo. His efforts to make his scheme successful after his father has refused to finance him provide plenty of exciting incidents. A host of screen celebrities, including Richard Dix, Adolpho Menjou and Thomas Meighan, are introduced into the picture. An additional attraction at the Tivoli Theatre will bo " The Wall Street Whiz," a thrilling melodrama, in which Richard Talmadge has another typical rob. Masquerading as a butler in a millionaire's mansion he saves his wealthy friend from financial ruin and has fast and exciting adventures in his efforts to defeat tho schemes of unscrupulous financiers. Talmadge has established himself firmly in the film world by his swift-moving, carefully constructed tales of romance, and m his latest picturo he is said to bo seen at even greater advantage. The supporting programme at the Princess Theatre, includes "a number of vaudeville items. De Godfrey and La Busta, who have proved popular at the theatre during the past week, will present an entirely new act. Other artistes will be Regina Rave, classical danseuse, arid Miss Gladys Vincent, violiniste.

E VER YBODY'S THE A IRE, Exciting action is the chief characteristic of the two pictures on the double-feature programme cororaencinsr at Everybody's Theatre to-day. "The Golden Web".'ls the film version of the novel by E. Phillips Oppenhcim, who is a past master of. the art of' constructing ingenious plots and weaving them around unusually interesting characters. The scene is laid in London arid South Africa and the story deals with the circumstances surrounding -the transfer' of a gold mine to a big corporation. The lure of gold changes the characters of many otherwise respectable- . people • and the result is dramatic in the extreme. Huntley. Gordon play# the part, of Stirling Deane, a man Who has risen to great heights of industry and finance by the sole aid of his own dynamic energy, and ability—and not being ovsr-smipelmis. At the very apex of his 'career b@ : &«s rain. How he frees himself from the meshes erf the. golden web: of basiness makes an absorbing, interesting story, a powerful murder ' trial, a spectacular earthquake and a tense" "third degree" scene are outstanding incidents in the film. _ Lillian Rich has the leading feminine role, and others in the cast are .Jay Hunt, Lam-ford Davidson and Boris Karloff i Also showing ss Richard Talmadge'a .latest, picture, ''Wall Street Whiz." Described a» a mehxhamacomedy, it is said to oiler the daring actor endless opportunities lot tie sensational escapades which bate /been so popular in his previous pictures. A charming romance runs through the story. Others in the cast are Marcehne Day, Lillian Long don and li-eli® Be»* neti.

"VARIETY." Judging by English press comment "Variety," the new Exhibitors' Alliance attraction which will ho released at the New Regent Theatre to-morrow for the first time in Australia and New Zealand, should experience a most successful season. The Westminster Gazette said: "Masterly expositions of film acting—technically the picture is amazing;" Tho Yorkshire Post stated: "A ftlm above the ordinary, because of its distinctly • fino technique." Other papers were! no less enthusiastic in their tributes to 3'-mil .Tannings, who has the leading role. This film actor has been described as the - greatest make-up artist in the world and is said to even outrival Lou Chanev in this respect. An American reviewer, in describing Jannings' ability to alter his appearance at will, says: " 'Variety* opens on a scene in which Jannings is shown as an. old man, discouraged with life. He has been a prisoner for 20 years and is now about to be freed. It does not require much imagination to describe the way he looks. Then, as ho tells his story to the warder, the scene changes and .Tannings is seen as a young man—Boss, the world's greatest acrobat.. On seeing the transformation, it is hard to believe that both are the same man. But then when one remembers his appearance in such films as 'The Last Laugh,' 'Passion' and 'Quo Vadis.' it seems more probable." The principal feminine role is filled by Lya do Putti, who was once the premiere danseuso at the Berlin Winter Gardens. The winter garden is the scene of her screen triumph in "Variety," and is said to be one of the most, magnificent ever filmed- . Mr. Eddie Horton will again exploit the wonders of the new Wurlitzer organ. Commencing to-morrow his contributions will include "Novelty Humoreske," introducing simultaneously the original theme, and the refrains of "Swanee River" and "Annie Laurie." A further week has been arranged for "The Aerial Smiths," who will again present their celebrated act, "Wonders of the Air." The musical section of the programme is in the capable hands of Mr. Maurice Guttridge and his orchestra.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Ono of the outstanding features of " Paris," the Metro-Gold wvn-Maver production, which will shown at the Majestic Theatre for the first time to-morrow, is said to be tho impressive manner in which the life and atmosphere of the French capital have been recreated for the screen. The theme is a feature, being typically Parisian in its outlook on the problems of love. The story is essentially of the Apache quarters, two of its principal characters being of those colourful folk, although the glitter of. tho upper strains of Parisian life ftuds its place in the picture. It. touches the very heart of the Gay City, and shows that the Parisian will dare anything for love. A sullen-faced, brutal Apache leader and his girl, slim, graceful and lovely, and a young millionaire "doing Paris are the main characters, and between them they carry on tho story in sensational fashion. " As tho American, Charles Ray excels anything ho has done before, and Douglas Gilmour is tho Apache leader to the very life," says a reviewer. "Joan Crawford dominates every scene in which sho appears, and gives a performance that, entitles her to rank among, the few really great, screen artistes." Also showing will bo tho Majestic News, a scenic showing historic Qlamis Castlo in Scotland, a Patho Review and a bright comedy,' "Fair Warning."-Tho musical section of tho programme will bo of exceptional merit. Rene and Renard will present, their banjo novelties and tho All Soloists' Orchestra will render tho selections "Romeo and Juliet (Bellini) and " Barcarolle 11 from Offenbach's "Tales of Hofiman.".

THE SCREEN CONTEST. The opportunity of an engagement at Hollywood offered by the First National Pictures Corporation attracted 582 entrants. The 30 selected at the first elimination by the casting director of the corporation were, after nightly appearances at the First National and Lyric Theatres, to bo further reduced to seven last evening by a special committee of judges, but the judges found it necessary to nominato eijrht. The semi-finalists, from whom one will he chosen next week to eompeto in Auckland with the finalists from each of the three other centres, are: Miss Queenie Graham, Miss Anita Sutherland, Mdlle. L. Musseler, Miss M. Jeffries, Miss W. Andreassen, Miss M. Bagnall, Miss K. Skeels and Miss M. Dick. Th« test is not for beauty alone, but for deportment, qualities of tho mind and personality as well. Tho semi-finalists began last night at tho Tornquist Studio a series of cinematograph tests, arid stage tests will ho mado at the National and Lyric Theatres until next Thursday. The successful Now Zealand girl will compete with the successful Australian girl for tho honour of the Hollywood engagement. The management of the contest speaks in terms of high praise concerning the good feeling between the 30 girls who faced the judges last evening. Tlioy wcro all entertained at a private dance in tho Click Clack Cabaret,

GRAND THEATRE. " flic Better 'Olc," which is proving so popular at tho Majestic Theatre, will ho transferred to the Grand Theatre tomorrow. Throughout tho wenk it has attracted large audiences and. those who have not yet. seen it will appreciate the extension of its Auckland season. Originating as a cartoon by Rnicfl Bairmsfather, "The Better '01«" was produced as a play and later adapted to the screen. Sydney Chaplin appears wt "Old Bill" and his work has received high pram* from Bairnsfather, who says: "It is pnr"licularly fitting that Sydney Chaplin, who is an Englishman, should fdav 'Old Bill.' He has instinctively the British swao of humour and is the only man" in pictnm who could make th« character live. T think 'Old Bill' is Chaplin's greatest interpretation to date. He understands Bill as well as I do and I think that is why the portrayal is so excellent. He has brought to life in a vivid manner all the eccentricities of the British Tommy and made him exactly what he i*-~» human, simple, lovable son!.**