AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19496, 3 June 1925, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

OCTAGON THEATRE. “Husbands and Lovers” is drawing largo attendances to the Octagon Theatre this week. The picture is a well-acted comedydrama centring around the pathetic figure, of a beautiful young wife whose love her husband takes i'or granted. 'J’he wife, id ling to awaken the old liras of love within her husband, decides to make a changein the cron tenor of the home by devoting attention to herself in future instead ol waiting on her husband Hand and foot. The result is surprising in more ways than one. The wife blossoms forth into beauty, bringing more criticism from her husband, but awakening love in the heart of her husband’s friend. A divorce is arranged, and a new marriage is about to take place, when the husband realises just what ho has lost. His affection is rekindled, apparently too late. However, fate is kind, and husband and wife are reunited in an interesting and highly amusing climax. EMPIRE THEATRE. •‘The Wag cis of Virtue.” a powerful stow dealing with the French Foreign Region in Algiers, is proving a good draw' at the Empire Theatre this week. The leading role is in the capable hands of Gloria Swanson, ami she gives a fine portrayal of the part of a young Italian girl who is in lore with a member of the famous Foreign Legion. The story gives a fine insight into the life and methods of the Foreign Legion. Comedies, gazettes, and travelogues are also screened, and the Empire Grand Orchestra renders a choice musical programme. QUEEN’S THEATRE. ‘ ‘The Mask of Lopez,” and “Loyal Lives” are proving a strong attraction at the Queen’s Theatre this week. The first picture features Fred Thomson, ‘Tom Mix’s only rival,” and his clever horse Silver King, and the second production deals with exciting experiences in a letter carrier’s life. Gazettes and comedies are also provided. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. “Captain Blood,” the screen version of Rafael Sabatini’s stirring tale of piracy and battle on the high seas, is drawing large audiences to Everybody’s Theatre this week. Humour, romance, drama, and pathos are well mingled in this great tale, the climax of which is reached when Captain Blood—one time doctor, slave, pirate, and captain of the King’s Navy—marries the daughter of his former master at the penal settlement, and becomes the governor of the province. A strong list of supports adds variety to the programme. ■ “OJT, DOGUAir" Of “Oh Doctor!" the chief attraction in Friday’s change of programme at the Empire Theatre, the New York Herald-Tribune said: “Harry. Pollard has long boon our favourite comedy director. Mr Pollard has made Harry Leon Wilson’s “Oh, Doctor!” for Carl Laemmle, and if you think it isn’t funny ask any one of the 10,000 persons who crowded in Lee Ochs’s theatre last night. The picture lacks the subtlety of the novel, but wo have no quarrel wdth the producer, fotr we are quite sure that any other version never would enjoy the popularity which the present version will have. ; Reginald Denny, that handsome hero and inimitable comedian, plays Rufus Billups, the hypochondriac; Mary Aastor is Dolores Hick.-, the beautiful but empty-headed nurse, and Otis Harlan, William Mong, and Tom Ricketts are the ihieo plungers who insure the Ufo of Rufus, Every one ought to see “Oh, Doctor!” for every oile will love it whether he lias read the story or not. If one is familiar with Mr Wilson’s classic he will, himself, add the passages which have been deleted. If ho does not know the original he never will miss it, for the picture is perfect entertainment, as it stands. No attempt at character delineation has been made, but instead there is considerable mild slapstick which is, strange to say, hilariously funny. It is our idea that “Oh. Doctor!” should bo need over again, for there is plenty of material still in the possession of Mr Laemmle to nake another picture. But wo want Mr Pollard to direct it. Lucille Ward is cast as Aunt Beulah, and Mike Donlin is Buzz Titus, who teaches Rufus to drive his oar. The name of the blonde young woman who plays the maid is not on the programme, but; she gives a good performance. Do nob miss “Oh. Doctor!” The Empire Orchestra, under Mr C. Parnell, will contribute a programme c-f chosen music to accompany this attraction. Usual prices will bo charged, and reserved seats may be had at the Bristol'Piano ..Company or arranged for at the theatre. “GERALD CRANSTON’S LADY.” The diligencp and acumen with which William Fox searches to procure high-class material tor his screen productions could not be better exemplified than by the announcement of the Octagon Theatre that it has booked for a. six-day run. beginning Friday next, “Gerald Cranston’s Lady,” an adaptation from the current season’s popular best seller of the. same name, by Gilbert Frankau, the oulabrated English novelist. Neither is k necessary to wait years for the best modern literary works to he brought to us on (he silver sheet. Authors those days do not die unknown. No sooner have they completed a good story than their name, through the medium of the motion picture adaptation, is known wherever people, have eyes that. gee. .lames Kirkwood plays tho part of Gerald Cranston, self-made money king, who marries for social prestige, in the screen version of Frankau’s noted story. Alma Rubens has the role of Lady Hermoine, the “purchased woman.” Playing tho parts of the sacrificed lovers of those two are Walter M‘Grail and Marguerite De La Motto. Others in tho cast include J, Farrell MacDonald, Lucien Littlefield, Spottiswood Aitkin, Templar Saxe, Richard Headrick, Eric Mayne, and Lydia Knott, ihe \story of “Gerald Cranston’s Lady”' deals with a master of finance who “buys” a titled wife for tho business prestige lie will gain from his position in society. When the wheels of fate crush him and his fortune he finds love —a thing- he once believed only fit for fools.