AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19504, 12 June 1925, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

'•WHY WORRY?” Dunedin picture patrons who were fortunate enough to see Harold Lloyd in his previous productions will have tile opportunity of enjoying a delightful evening s entertainment if they Witness the screening of "Why Worry?” ‘ which will be shown for the first time at the Empire Theatre to-day. Harold Lloyd, although a comparative newcomer to the screen, has early established a reputation for clever comedy work, and it is not of the “slap-stick anil mud-pie” variety. In “Why Worry?” Lloyd plays the part of Harold Van Pelham, a wealthy young invalid, who is convinced that colloquially “ho is not long for this world.” He eventually makes up his mind to seek health and quietness in the tropics. Ills valet and his nurse accompany him to Paradise a balmy city in South America, which, unknown to the invalid, is a hotbed of revolution. The upheaval is organised by Jim Blake, an American, who seeks to overthrow the (Government and incidentally fill his own coffers. On arrival at Paradiso Harold is speedily arrested and thrust, into a coll, where he finds Colosso, a giant. Harold gains a livelong bod3 T guard by pulling out a tooth which had given the giant excruciating pain. Meanwhile the American is making advances to the nurse, who. in order to avoid him, disguises herself in the native attire of a boy. WTien Harold finds her he scolds her for playing around in boj-’s clothes when she should have been looking after his precious health. Naturally', she is furious. He is in the midst of admiring her beautiful, flashing, brown eyes when Blake enters and recognises the nurse, in spite of her disguise. To the surprise of Lloyd himself, he gives the revolutionist a thrashing, and finds that ho really enjoys protecting the girl. By means of strategy, Harold, the giant, and the nurso rout the revolutionists; and so busy was the erstwhile invalid that ho forgot his heart and his nerves and refused, for the first time, to take his pills. With much satisfaction he diagnosed his own case —ho was in love with his nurse, so a mutual convalcsencc is the result. A strong supporting list will also be screened. 'Hie Kmpire Grand Orchestra will render an appropriate musical programme, as follows: —Entr'acte, novelty song fox trot, “The Place Whore I was Born’’ (slidn song); selections from “The Arcadians" (Monckton and Talbot), “The Country' Girl” (Monckton), “High jinks” (Friml), “Tho Arab’s Dream” (Kendall). “My Little Billiken” (hotter), “Grandpa’s Espngnol” (Glazunov), and the following latest popular numbers;—“Sahara” (Nicholls), “The 'Midnight Waltz” (Kahn and Donaldson), “Felix Kept on Walking” (David), and “Granny’s Song at Twilight” (Stanley and Allen). OCTAGON THEATRE. To-night another vivid story from the pen of Emerson Hough, (lie author of “The Covered Wagon,” will be screened at the Octagon '1 heat re. “North of 36” is something after the style of “'iho Covered Wagon, ’ being a story of tho trials of the cattlemen in the early days. Ernest lorronca and Lois Wilson are included in what might bo termed an all-star east, seeing that Noah Beery and Jack Holt figure prominently in tho narrative. Outside of hirst National’s “Sundown” (re leased in Dunedin some two months ago). North of 06 has more cattle, shown than anv other . picture. Like the latter, the plot has much in common, seeing that a lick of animals constitutes the main idea the opening scene is laid in ’Texas, just alter tho tonmiialiop of the Civil War Owners of cattle find things very hard in thoir own province, seeing that there is practically no market for thoir stock. The heroine (Lois Wilson) of a big holding is one ol those owners who is fooling the pinch Hearing that there is a big market in Kansas, she sots out, in company w.t , her faithful henchmon-and stanneh-to find tho now theri travelling is no easy matter, for there are stampedes to eontend with; again the presence of a villainous gang makes things more unpleasant. The loader is anxious to secure (he heroine’s plans of her land; but in this he is frustrated bv the KansaT het hprS ' i 4 rnv . in '-f successfully in U’, ’ hc P? and heroine marry. The ro m™< Wl - bC SOPn > is fal “diar, hut the In • IS I ! n ? mense - Two .stampedes of -attio, m which many thousands of beasts rush around in wild disorder, are an eve opener in themselves. Lurking Tmliam b ‘Uf r °? W . ,0l " 0, ?-i renegades. and all those wid ist’of'i al -- wi, ° tin* MUD Most of America some 60 years ago are reincarnated in this highly absorbing picture. A spccin musical programme w.H bo rendered hv (he Paramount Octagon Orchestra, under the direction of Hr Arthur Nonte. QUEEN’S THE Ah RE. To-day "Being Respectable" m- ill have pride of place on the now programme which will bo screened for one week at the Queen s Theatre. "Being Respectable” is a highly entertaining treatment of a little social problem M;hieh touches every man. unman, and child in every community under the sun. It challenges the “1-don’t-care-M'hut-pooplo-think-of.ino” mood in which all of us find ourselves at times, and shoMs conclusively fhal, whether wo will if or not, mo are all tightly Ixxind by (lie bonds of convention—and that those bonds of convention are constantly saving us many a heart-ache. Monte Blue and Marie Provost, those favourite screen artists who have been appealing together in leading roles so frequently of late, are prominent in the cast. The story deals with a family, rich and respectable, grown up M'ith thoir city from pioneer beginnings. Through this group of outwardly conventional people the story on Ihe screen tells, with revealing seriousness and humour of the passion and searching beneath (ho commonplace, (ho bewilderment that under, lies Iho lives of men and women in their search for individual happiness.' A fine story because it is interesting—perhaps a great, picture because it. is so true.. Gazettes and comedies will laso be scroonod. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. Tho principal feature of the programme which will make its initial appearance at Everybody’s Theatre to-night is “Desire,” a dramatic Metro picture, featuring John Bowers, Marguerite do la Motto, and” Estelle Taylor. Tho story involves Madalyn Harlan and Bob Elkins, who want to break off thoir engagement until they are walking down the flower-strewn path of their open-air wedding. They decide they cannot see it through, and Madalyn flees to the man she really loves. lie is Jerry Ryan, tho Harlan chauffeur, and Madalyn gets secretly married to him. Bob turns for consolation to Ruth Cassell, a girl who lives M-ith her grandfather, a violinJeaclmr. Bob shoM’s her the city night life, and she responds to his passionate love-making by giving him her first kiss in a private room at the Casa Diablo. She considers this proof of their engagement, and is huA M'hcn Boh treats tho matter a s a joke. Jerry is discharged, and Madalyn is forbidden to see him again. However, she makes a clandestine visit to his homo, and there she finds that her social background raises an almost insuperable hairier between her and (he Ryans. Back at home, however, she realises that her desire for Jerry is more powerful than her caste instinct, and, tossing away wealth, social position,, and the affection of her parents, she goes to Jerry’s home, Mrs Ryan! not knowing of (he secret marriage, says her son Jerry does not want anything more to do M'ith her. Madalyn takes poison in a cafe, and the manager, thinking her in a stupor of intoxication, carries her lo a taxi-cab, with orders to tho chauffeur to drive her to a hotel for the night Tho chauffeur is Jerry, and it is not until ho lifts Madalyn from the taxi-cab that he disebvers she is his M'ife. She is dead A remarkable climax develons, hut every*, thing ends up satisfactorily from, the point of vie.M' of Bob and Until. EX-PUPILS’ ASSOCIATION. Members of (he North-East Valiev ExPupils’ Association held a social in Millar Street Hall last evening, and, despite the unfavourable M-oather, there M'as a fairly large attendance. Mr H. Hogg (president) M’as chairman, and, in a brie? speech, said he hoped the members of (he school committee, I heir wives, and the teachers present would spend a pleasant evening. The evening was devoted to various games' dancing, and musical items. Mr J. Elliott! a, member of the school committee, (hanked the association for (lie enjoyable evening, and said it Mas hoped to be the fore! runner of many such hapnv gatherings It was announced that the association i would hold a fancy dress carnival next week for the younger members.