ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Gloria Swanson is said to give the greatest performance of her successful career in "The Love of Sunya," her first ; self-produced feature, which opens at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. The story is unusual. It tells, briefly, of a Yogi, one of an Indian sect, who goes out into the world to right a wrong he committed in his incarnation of centuries ago and the struggle of a girl to decide between love, ambition and duty. After yeiirs of search, the Yogi finds in Sunya, who is played by Miss Swanson, the incarnation of the girl he wronged. In recompense, the Yogi offers to draw aside the veil of the future and within a crystal show Sunya what would happen if she followed her ambition to become an opera singer, if she married Robert Goring, the millionaire, or if she remained at home in an attempt to support her family. Faced with the danger of losing her lover, Paul Judson, Sunya, seizes the opportunity, and the resulting revelations prove most interesting. A reviewer says:—"lt is hard to say which of Miss Swanson s characterisations is the greatest, for in each of them she displays her full talents as an incomparable actress. Not to forget the hundreds ot women who follow the styles set by Miss Swanson, it must be recorded here "that she wears numerous dazzling creations in several of the characterisations. Miss Swanson is supported by a competent cast which includes several faces new to picture-goers. These lend a delightful freshness and interest to the film. John Boies, the lover; Flobelle Fairbanks, a niece of the famous Douglas, in the role of Sunya's sister; Hugh Miller, the Yogi; Raymond Hackett, Sunya's brother; and Andres de Segurola, former Metropolitan opera star, the impresario, are the new players, and each gives a worthy performance." A good supporting programme will be featured. Ihe short pictures include a Majestic News, s review, and a comedy, "Time Flies." Jack Lumsdaine, the popular baritone, will make his final appearance, giving numbers which have been requested. There will also be screen tests in the "Miss New Zealand, 19Z7" competition. The musical programme will include an overture, "Maritana," and a selection from "Lucia di Lammermoor." PRINCESS AND TIVOLI. A fine double-feature programme commences showing at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres to-day. First is "The Whole Town's Talking," a bright comedy with an amusing plot and a good cast. Edward Everett Horton, the leading man, portrays Chester Binney, a wounded war veteran, who is discharged in Los Angeles and returns to his home. I He is welcomed by his employer, George Simmons,, who hopes to arrange a match between his daughter, Ethel, and Binney. However, the plans fall through, chiefly because of Binney's uninteresting past. To overcome this difficulty, the father concocts a story about Binney, in which a screen star, Rita Raldi, is involved. When the star herself makes a personal appearance in the town, Simmons is called upon to make an explanation, which lie does with great difficulty. Virginia Lee Corbin plays the role of' Ethel Simmons, Otis Harlan is cast as her father, Dolores del Rio is the film actress, Rita Raldi, and Trixie Friganza, Robert Ober and Aileen Manning have other prominent roles. Jack Holt has the leading part in "The Man of the Forest," which will also be shown. The film is an adaptation of the well-known book by Zane Grey, and has been brought to the screen for Paramount by John Waters. Georgia Hale plays opposite Holt. Warner Oland and Guy Oliver have important roles, while such comedy creators as El Brendel and Tom Kennedy interpret the lighter phases of the story. Warner Oland is sinister Clint Beasley," who attempts to heroine of her love and a ranch. Kennedy is the sheriff in Beasley's power, . find Brendel is the comic Horace PippBruce Gordon, who plaved opposite Jack Holt in "Born to the West," has a part as an outlaw. GRAND THEATRE. Transferred from a successful season at the Majestic and Strand Theatres, the Fox production, "What Price Glory ?" will be shown at the Grand Thea'tre for a week commencing tomorrow. Except for introductory sequences in China and the Philippines, which indelibly establish the characters of Flagg and Quirt, two happy-go-lucky soldiers, the entire action takes place in France during the Great War. Although the war scenes form no small part of the picture and are as fine as any ever screened, "What Price Glor)' ?." is a story of soldiers rather than war, the drama and the comedy of the lives and hates of these two men to whom "soldiering was a profession." Cropping up continually through the humorous aspects is the deep-set admiration of each for the other as a soldier, and hatred because of their rivalry over women. So intense is this that every time Flagg and Quirt come together there is an electric thrill in the atmosphere and great suspense. Dolores del Rio takes the part of Charmaine, "the sweetheart" of both Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt. The roles of the captain and the sergeant are held by Victor McLaglen and Edmund Lowe, while others in the cast include Phyllis Haver, Leslie _ Fenton, Elena Jurado and August Tollaire. A second feature, "Paris," will also be shown. . EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. I The Paramount production, "Stranded in Paris," is the first picture on a '< double-feature programme which will 1 commence showing at Everybody's Theatre to-day. The film is a bright farce comedy, chief honours for the many i amusing situations falling to Bebe Daniels, who has appeared successfully 1 in numerous roles of the type she has i to portray in "Stranded in Paris." As Julie McFadden, a timid little_ shopgirl, the heroine wins a free trip from an American town to Paris and becomes ' stranded there. She obtains a position in a modiste shop, and is asked to deliver some gowns at Deauville. Accidentally she is given tickets belonging to a countess, and is faced with having 1 to carry out her "bluff." Very amusing situations arise, and nit until Julie has been in and out of innumerable scrapes 1 does the story come to a satisfactory ending. The second featured film is ' "Lady Robin Hood," starring Evelyn Brent. The foot of the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, one of the most beautnut scenic wonders of the world, provides the background of the picture. The atmosphere is typicallyi Spanish. The role of a fiery little leader of brave "Carlionari," who have revolted against unjust rule, is of a type entirely different from any previously filled by Miss Brent, and is "described by critics as a fine piece of dramatic-fading. STRAND THEATRE. A mystery story of high order is contained "in "The Mail Upstairs," which will be the chief attraction at the Strand Theatre for the week commencing tomorrow. Monte Blue, the popular film star, appears as Geoffrey West, alone in London and in search of romance. Dorothy Devore plays the part of Marian Larnard, in search of adventure. Through the medium of the "agony" or "personal" column of the daily newspaper, the two young people become acquainted. To gratify her love of excitement, West sends her a series of letters describing a mysterious murder which is purely imaginary. She decides to turn the joke on hin\«tnd gives his letters to the police, arjfhe is sent to prison for a murder which took place only in his imagination. When Marian decides that he has had enough thrills out of prison, she reveals the plot and ho is freed to begin his romance with her. E. T. Lowe, junr., adapted- the story to the screen and iloy Del Ruth directed. The cast includes Heinie Conklin, John Roche, Helen Dunbar and Arthur Thalaso. The supports will include a Fox production, "Daughters Who Play," a Strand Magazine and an Aesop fable picture. The orchestra will play "Cavatina" (Ilaff), in addition to other selections.

NATIONAL AND LYRIC. : , Having gained wide popularity as a novel, "The Reckless Lady," written by Sir Philip Gibbs, has been adapted to the screen and will commence its Auckland season at the National and Lyric Theatres" to-day. The cast is exceptionally strong and the plot is worked out chiefly in Monte Carlo, the "playground of the world," where millions change hands rapidly over . the gaming-tables. Tho story is that of an estranged wife and mother, known as "Tho Reckless Lady." who ekes out a precarious but substantial living for herself and her daughter by playing at tho gaming tables of Monte Carlo. The crisis of the stary deals with the tremendous sacrifice made by the mother in her daughter's behalf. Belle Bennett and Lois Moran, the two actresses who have been accorded such acclaim in "Stella Dallas," are seen in the respective roles of tho mother and daughter,. Ben Lyon has the leading male role and James Kirkwood and Lowell Sherman', two popular actors in the films and on the speaking stage, fill the other featured parts. The comedy of the picture is in the capable hands of Charlie Murray and Marcia Harris. Thomas " Holding, Edwin August, Julia Hurley and Louise Beaudet fill small but important parts. The second film on the programme will be "Without Mercy," a Metropolitan production, in which Vera Reynolds, Dorothy Phillips, Robert Ames, and Rockliffe Fellows have the leading roles. The story centres round a mother and her daughter, with the daughter in love with two men. One man, an unscrupulous schemer, has the girl infatuated with him even as he had the mother in the days of her youth. Tho mother, knowing this, tries to direct the girl's affections to the other man who really loves her. The combination of events that lead up to the unmasking of the villain abounds in action and thrills, and keeps interest at a high pitch. The latest gazettes and a comedy will be shown in support. REGENT THEATRE. D. W. Griffith, the famous producer is said to have built a powerful story of love, temptation and regeneration in "The Sorrows of Satan," which opens at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. The story was adapted from Marie Corelli's book of the same name and the central figure, Prince Luci© de Rimanez, is played by Adolphe Menjou. Ia the book Marie Corelli gave Satan a new description. She decided that to be effective, temptation must be attractive. So she made Satan a tall, powerful, graceful, polished man of the world. Unlimited wealth was at his disposal—Prince Lucio de Rimanez, a prince with a mysterious realm somewhere, who knew everybody worth knowing, but about whom little was known. He moved in the highest social circles, and Paris, London, Berlin, Moscow were all familiar to him. It is this part which Menjou has transferred to the screen. Aided by a trick camera effect which shows a huge shadow gradually dissolving into the figure of the debonair furcoated, silk-hatted player, he is able to give a strong representation. The supporting cast includes some well-known artists. Ricardo Cortez- appears as a struggling young author Geoffrey Tempest, and Carol Dempster has the part of Mavis Claire, his first love. Lya de Putti excellently portrays the part of Princess Olga, whom Tempest marries only to find that she is false. The entertainer Donald Stnart will display several new conjuring tricks. This will be his second week's appearance and judging from the reception given to him last week, his performance should prove one of the bright spots on the programme. On the musical side, there will be new numbers by Eddie Horton on the Wurlitzer organ and a programme of appropriate music will be fiven_ by the operatic orchestra under laurice Guttridge. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The great romance, " Monsieur - Beaucaire," starring Rudolph Valentino, is on the current programme at the . Queen's Theatre. Described -by critics as "the greatest lover- of the screen," Valentino as Monsieur Beaucaire has a role admirably suited to him. Bebe Daniels is another member of a strong cast, as are alscr Lois Wilson, Doris Kenyon and Lowell Sherman, A reviewer says "Vakatino presents a most vivid and impressive performance. His magnetic personality, his fire and energy place him conspicuously in a rank by himself. The sfory by Booth Tarkington. from which Forrest Halsey made the screen adaptation, is well known, but it has never been so well portrayed as in this picture." EDENDALE PICTURESAn excellent programme of pictures is at present being shown at the Edendale Theatre. The chief feature, "The Desert's Toll," starring Francis McDonald, is a thrilling story of the days of the gold rush in San Francisco. Mrs. Wallace Reid and Percy Marmont' are starred in the second picture, "Broken Laws," adapted from the famous stage play. There will also be a comedy and a Pathe news film. CAPITOL THEATRE. The final screening of two entertaining pictures, "The Waltz Dream" and "Whispering Wires" will be made at the Capitol Theatre, Dominion Road, this evening. ; The former is a story of Austria in the gay days of the capital, Vienna. Anita Stewart, is the principal player in the [ latter picture. There will be a good supporting programme.