AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19760, 10 April 1926, Page 21

AMUSEMENTS.

OCTAGON THEATRE. ‘ Wild noise ajusu" is tne headliner of the new pioyrrmnie presented at tile Uiaagou Theatre, it is an action picture irom tlie story of Uiat romanticist /lane Grey. There is no disputing the tact that Taianiount has peiiorinod something above tile average in its spectacular picturisation 01 this melodramatic novel, and it is 01 special interest at the present tune m view of the agitation that has arisen in many American Slates lui tne legal destruction of the thousands ot wild horses that are roaming the plains Mr Grey, m his sloiy, protests against the cruelty and reckless ness which was practised in the olden days by Wild horse hunters, and the picture graphically and thrillingly depicts the hurhaious attempts of a gang of horse thieves and outlaws to tound up several thousand untamed steeds by stampeding them into a barb-wire trap. The story in detail tolls of good-natured Lige Melborne, who runs a stoic in a tittle Western hamlet, but is facing failure when Bent Manerube tells him the idea of using a large quantity of barb-wire, which he has in stock, to fence in a part of a mesa and to trap wild horses. The scheme is to catch and sell them. Soon after they arrive at the location of the wild horses end get the wire in place, Chayne Weymer, a horse buyer, who has been chased by Bud Matheson’s gang, arrives in camp thoroughly exhausted and is mused back to health. He falls in love with Sue Melborne. Chane finally shows Lige the cruelty of the plan of trapping the horses, and the latter decides to abandon the project. Bent Manerube leaves after being thrashed by Chayne and, still angry, joins Bud, who, with his gang has come to rod the Melborne outfit of the few horses they might have caught. They join forces and agree to carry through with the brutal scheme, dividing the spoils between them. They start a stampede of the horses, ami Chane manages to head them off, and then the gang make prisoners of Chane and the Melbornes; but an Indian chief, whose daughter has been wronged by Bud, shoots the leaders of the gang from ambush, ind the party is rescued. Back m the little hamlet Chane and Sue decide to marry. The picture was filmed entirely in the wild horse country of Arizona, and the photo graphy leaves-nothing to be desired. The Octagon Concert Orchestra of I? instrumentalists, under Mr A. F. Neate. pre sents a splendid programme of music. EMPIRE THEATRE. The new programme at the Empire Theatre teatuies Classified,” wnich represents an adaptation from a- magazine story by Edna berber. The loading artist is Corinne Griffith, who takes tae tole ot Uabs Comet, a giri who prides herselt on her skill m getting ‘'lilts’’ in the lines! cats on her way to work every morning. One morning, however, she had to be content to accept an invitation to travel with a grimy-looking young man in a queer sort of homemade car, which he had constructed himself. The young man, whose name is Lloyd Whiting, has advertised his garage for sale, and later in the day Babs, who works in the wanted advertisement department of the Daily Barometer, rings him up on business. Whitmg discovers that the girl is a sister of his pal. Mart Comet, and that evening lie calls at the Comet flat. The Comets live on West 66th street, and it is Babs's ambition to marry money and change the west to "east." She spends her entire salary on clothes, adopts the manners of a young duchess and cultivates the acquaintance of all the moneyed men she conies in contact with. She likes Whiting, but is reluctant about admitting a mere mechanic to her circle of friends. Whiting soon changes iier attitude, and before long they plan to have a dinner at a smart roadhouse one night, and Babs waits for Lloyd to call for her. An hour passes and then the doorbell rings, and downstairs in front of the door stands the shining roadster of young Spencer Clark, millionaire idler. Babs. infuriated at Lloyd, accepts Clark’s invitation. and they speed off together. Thev have scarcely turned the corner when Lloyd drives up in his home-made Mongrel —his white trousers smeared with grease The Mongrel had acted barllv mid delaved him. Lloyd, sorely hurt, decides to wait for her. but as she has not returned at 2 o'clock he sets out in search of her. At the break of dawn Babs. rain soaked and mud bespattered and weary, appears in the doorway of the flat. She is faced by the hostile glances and hot wrath of her family, who are ready to believe the worst of her. Babs, between sobs, tells her story and tries to convince them of her innocence. ■ When Clark had demanded a return for the money he had lavishly spent, on her she had left him and walked to her home in the rain While her father is showering his anger upon her Lloyd returns and he rushes to her defence. The Comets, ashamed of their suspicions, bestow belated sympathy upon the weeping 'i->bs Lined draws her head to bis broad shoulder, and her tears turn to smiles. She is cured of her ambition to marrv a million-’’-" Jack Mnlhnll aMv supports Miss Griffith, and others who lend material assistance are Ward Crane, ■'■’’■is Murrav E'dvthr. Gh-cman, Garrofl Vve, George Sidney. Bernard Randall, and T -irquehne Wells. The Empire orchestra. T-vlpr the baton of Mr G Parnell, renders programme of incidental music. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Fred Thomson is seen in the leading role in “The Fighting Sap,” wfifleh at the Queen’s Theatre yesterday. With Silver King, his horse, Thomson performs some wonderful athletic feats. The story concerns Craig Richmond, son of a mine owner. Craig is a mini-looking young man who is greatly interested in minerology. His father had abandoned the Black Leopard mine some time previously, and had left it in charge of Waltei Stoddart, who sends him news of the opening of new veins yielding good results. Crain is sent to Investigate, and a strong friendship springs up between Marjorie Stoddart’s daughter, and Craig, who finds that the men at the mine are under the leadership of Nebraska, who is planning c escape with a large amount of bullion. How Craig rids the mine of undesirable characters, discovers now leads, and ultimately obtains Marjorie for his bride makes an interesting story. There is an excellent list of supporting films. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. A romantic comedy drama, entitled “In the Name of Love," is the feature 'picture now being screened at Everybody’s TTieatre. It is the story of a peasant girl who turns snob with the acquisition of wealth. The picture is from the book. “The Lady of Lyons,” by Bulwei I.ytton. It is a great story, rich in settings and scen-s. Greta Nisscn, the Norse beauty. leading lady, and is excellently cast as the peasant girl. She wears some beautiful clothes and wears them well. Lillian Leighton is also well cast as the .{tie-hunting mother, and Ricardo Carter looks every bit a hero, while Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton provide the comedy moments. The supporting picture is “The Three Keys.” a Lasky production. PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. The current programme ut the Plaza and Grand Theatres is an exceptional one. both items on the double feature bill being pro ductions ot more than ordinary quality The first is “Outlaw’s Daughter.” in which Joslo Sedgcwick appears with .Edward Hearno in a thrilling storv of outlawry in the West. The storv tells how a man loses faith in both God and man. but has it restored by a hard-riding daughter of the cattle ranches, who turned outlaw to avenge a wrong done to her father The second feature is an amusing product ion, entitled “Oh! Excuse Me,” in which Norm. Shearer is at the head of the cast, being ably sup ported bv Conrad Nagel. Hone Adoree, and Bert Roach. The story contains the plexinp situations which confront a hriflal couple who could not find a minister when he was wanted. Thev succeed in finding the parson in the end, but not until six reels of fun and humour have been shown on the screen The photo olay has been adapted from the stage version of Rupert Hughes's novel- In add it on to the two star features are strong supports in the form of comedy, scenery, and Internationa News gazettes.