AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. A picture of outstanding merit was screened lor the first time at the Empire Theatre yesterday. It attracted big attendances, and received flattering comment. “Tme Vanishing Race,” such as its title, is concerned with the gradual decay of the Red Indians. It is an epic of a dying race, a drama depicting what it once was and how it has steadily gone down until it has nearly reached the vanishing point. In ‘‘The Vanishing Race" Zaue Grey has written a story that is full of interest, and that story has been well and faithfully transferred to the moving picture screen, and remarkably well played. The opening passages of the picture deal with the earliest known history of the Red Indians, the people of the various periods up to the time of the invasion of the white men arc shown. At the time the actual story begins the Indians had been given their own reservations, and an American agent had been appointed to look after their welfare. The theft ol a horse from the natives originates an unrest that quickly grows and assumes prodigious proportions. It is out of the hurly-burly that follows that the story takes definite form, t he s; enc is shifted to France, where many exciting episodes occur. The principals in the drama return to America, and the Indians, becoming enraged at the unfairness practised, declare war on the white man. A big tight takes place between the red and the white man, and in the melee the Indian hero is shot by a stray bullet. The principal male part is extremely well presented by Richard Dix, who receives a full measure of support from Lois Wilson, Noah Beery, and Malcolm M'Gregor. The music is selected specially to suit the character of the picture play. OCTAGON THEATRE. It would be a difficult task indeed to s-igle out the most dramatic incident in “Old Loves and New,” First National’s latest release, which was opened yesterday at the Octagon . Theatre. Among the many tense scenes, however, one of the most compelling is the one wherein a drunken, jealous husband actually horsewhips his beautiful young wife for an imaginary trivial offence. The real thrill comes when the whip is wrenched away from him by Lewis Stone, who in turn takes a hand at the thrashing—and does the job most thoroughly. “Old Loves and New” was adapted from the novel —“The Desert Healer” —from the pen of E. M. Hull, whose previous effort, "The Sheik,” created such a sensation when screened some few years ago. “The Desert Healer” calls for some most exciting episodes, and Stone’s dashing gallop over the sandy waste to the bandits’ camp is particularly thrilling. His wild ride i» rewarded, though, for the panting horse lands him in the nick of time to rescue the beautiful Marny from the Arabs, The role of Marny is portrayed by Barbara Bedford, who was chosen for this exceedingly emotional part from an array of stars whose claims remained under consideration tor many weeks before the final decision was announced. Lewis Stone and Barbara Bedford assume the leading roles, and Katherine M'Donald, Walter Pidgeon, Tully Marshall, and Ann Rork have important roles in the picture. Katherine M'Donald, as the faithless wife, makes a most welcome reappearance. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Wolf, a wonderfully clever dog, has an important role in “Baree. Son ot Kazan,” which began at the Queen’s Theatre yesterday. Anita Stewart has the principal female part. Baree’s father, the story runs, was Kazan, a dog,and his mother was Gray Wolf. He was born far from human habitations, and was half grown when ho saw a man for the first time. This was Jim Carvel, who, having shot a men for attacking his father, was hiding in the forests of north-western Canada. When Jim ran across the frightened Baree he wanted to make friends with him, but in reaching for the dog he fell from a bank and broke one of his legs. Pierrot, a trapper, and his young daughter, Nepeese, a beautiful Frcnch-Indian girl, came upon Carvel, unconscious, and took him to their cabin. When Carvel had recovered he left, to the sorrow of the innocent maid. Father and daughter accompanied him a short distance and saw, as they thought, a wolf cub. Pierrot fired, but missed, and 'the terrified animal escaped. It was Baree. To trade his furs, Pierrot went to the post at La Bain, Nepeese accompanying him. M‘Taggart, the factor, an unscrupulous man, mith an for every pretty girl, was smitten with Napeese and offered himself to Pierrot as a future son-in-law. The trapper, shocked, but hesitating to antagonise the factor, played for time, and Napeese told her father that in due time she would answer for herself. The story, from the pen of James Oliver Gurwood, goes on to tell of some unusual ad--1 ventures, working up to an equally original climax. There are also supporting films. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. Heading a double feature nrogramme at Everybody’s Theatre is ‘‘Miss Brewster’s Millions,’’ from the well-known stage play. Bebo Daniels and Warner Baxter nave the leading roles. Polly Brewster, the story tells, is a penniless Hollywood girl who finds herself heiress to 1,000,000 dollars on the condition that she invests it. Ned Brewster arrives and offers her a larger sum if she spends the first million in three months. She ultimately succeeds in ridding herself of the money. Tom Hancock, her lateuncle’s lawyer, tells her that she has nothing left. Instead of finding her sad, he is surprised that she welcomes the nows. When she finds Uncle Ned, however, she finds that his fortune has been wiped out on the stock exchange, and thus she has lost all. In despair, :he goes back to the motion picture studio for a job as extra girl. It is then that Tom arrives with the news that all has not been lost, and there is enough left for them to start on together. “Manhattan Madness,'’ the cast of which is headed by Jack Dempsey and Estelle Taylor (Mrs Dempsey) is shown in support. The story tells how a Westerner, Steve O’Dare, prepares to go to New York. Ho writes some friends that the town lacks power to make excitement for him and so will only stay n day or so. His friends proceed to gtvc him the most exciting time of his life. PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. Art Acord, the famous ride r of the ranges and one time champion of many round-ups, has the starring role in “Sky High Corral,'' the Universal Blue Streak Western picture now being screened at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. The story tolls how Bill Hayden, a rancher in the mountain country, and his daughter, Shasta, are about to evicted from their ranch by the Government’s agents, following the declaring of the tract as nart of a game preserve. Jack M'Cabe. a forest ranger, comes along and falls in love with the girl Hayden, a quick-tempered man, swears he will kill any ranger who tries to put him off. An enemy, Whitey Durk, overhears his threat and plans to trick the father into murder and abduct the daughter. To do this he steals iOO of Hayden’s cattle and tells Hayden that the rangers have started putting him off the territory. Jack, However, saves Hayden several times, and ends by fighting, single-handed, Durk’s four underlings. Everything is cleared up and the criminals are captured when Durk’s pealous wife Kills him and Jack tells Hayden that Congress has repealed the new law setting aside the game preserve and has returned the territory to the original owners. With love growing since she met M Cabe, the girl capitulates in the end. KINO EDWARD THEATRE. “Baree, the Son of Kazan,” is the title of this week's principal offering at the King Edward Theatre. It is the story of a wonderful clop with the blood of his wolf forefathers running in his veins. The story is woven round the adventures of Baree and his ma'ster, and many thrilling incidents are depicted. Anita Stewart assumes the leading female role. “COLLEGE DAYS.” In “College Days,” which is coming to the Octagon Theatre on Friday next, as in that comedy classic, "Grandma’s Boy,” Harold Llovd has taken a very serious idea, and, without belittling the subject, has pot a tremendous lot of fun out of it; and, without preaching, has taught a lesson. “College Days ' introduces the psychology of being yourself in a story of a first-year student at college whose sole ambition is to bo the pride of his college and the idol of his fellow-students. But instead of achieving this worthy pinnacle by himself, he imitates others who have been popular. Instead of expressing his own personality, he is a reflection of everyone’s pranks and tricks, because ot _ a willingness to do everything asked of him —all in the hope of becoming a good fellow. Harold Lamb, as the character is named, is a pathetic figure, so that, even while you huigh at him, you are filled with sympathy for him, and when he finally triumphs you want to join the whole college in cheering him. The lead-

ing roles are played by Hazel Keener as the college belle, Brooks Benedict as its biggest bully, and James Anderson as its most popular student. Jobyna Ralston is the heroine. Others in the cast are Pat Hannon as the football coach and Joe Harrington as a fidgety tailor. KAIKORAI BAND CONCERT. The final concert of the series the Kaikorai Band has been giving in His Majesty’s Theatre will be held to-morrow evening. A special selection of items has been made, and the performance promises to be the best the band has given during the series. The hymn will be “Abide With Me,” and the overture “The Magic Flute’f (Mozart) will follow. Bandsman D. Boyd will render a trombone solo, "The Deathless Aymy” (Trotcre). One of the principal items will be a xylophone solo, “Adantino” (LemareJ, by Bandsman E. Andrews, with band accompaniment, and the inarch will be "The Vanished Army,” one of Bandmaster Ricketts’s works. The assisting artists will be Miss Alice Wilkinson, Miss Anita Winkel, the Misses Phillips, and Mr W. Mills. Miss E. M'Dowcll will act as accompanist. ORIENTAL CARNIVAL. Tho oriental carnival in aid of tho West Harbour brass band and tho Ravons'pourno lawn tennis courts was continued in the Coronation Hall, Ravensbourne, last night. Excellent business was done by tho stallholders, and the various sideshows wore eagerly patronised. During the evening the West Harbour Band played several selections attractively, and a number of competitions was held. Tho carnival will bo concluded this evening. ORPHANAGE CONCERT. A concert, given by the children from Glendining and Nisbet Homes, assisted by the Kaikorai Presbyterian Cnurch choir, will bo held in Burns Hall to-night. The second part of the programme will bo contributed by well-known Dunedin artists. A special performance will bo a physical display by the members of the Kaikorai Girls’ Club. DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY. The Dunedin Choral Society will give in His Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday next the third concert of its 19z7 season. The work chosen for this concert is “King Olaf,” and the story is taken from Longfellow’s “Tales of a Wayside Inn.” Tho verses have been set to music by Sir Edward Elgar, one of the most eminent of British composers. His “Dream of Gerontius” is well-known, and while “King Olaf” is not so difficult a work, still it is of such a nature as to require a body of competent vocalists to do it justice. The soloists for tho forthcoming concert will be Madam Winnie Fraser, soprano, an artist who is a great favourite with Dunedin audiences. Mr Harold Prescott, tenor, who sang so successfully in “Judas Maccabseus” la August last. The bass solos will be again undertaken by Mr G. Stuart Thomson, who is well known to patrons of tho Dunedin Choral Society. Tho reserved scat plan opens at tho Bristol on Monday morning. MISS LORIMER’S RECITAL. One of the most enjoyable musical events of tho year will undoubtedly be the operatic recital to be given in His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday, November 30, by Miss Gladys Lorimer, the brilliant young Christchurch soprano, who is said to be one of tho finest of Now Zealand-born singers. JVliss Lorimor has specialised in operatic singing, ano will leave shortly for Europe, where she will embark on an operatic career. The programme for her recital is an unusually attractive one and will include tho following numbers: —The Mad Scene from “Lucia di Lammermoor” (Donizetti); “Villanella” (Sibella); “Una voce poco fa,” from''“The Barber of Seville” (Rossini); “Lo’ here tho gentle Lark” (Bishop); “Caro Nome,” from ‘Rigoletto” s (Verdi); ‘Pierrot” (Homer Samuelp); “The Rose enslaves the Nightingale” (Rimsky-Korsakov); “Villanelio” (Dell’Acqa); ‘Brahma gran Dio,” from “The Pearl Fishers” (Bizet); “Echo Song” (Bishop). Seats may be reserved at tho Bristol on Thursday next. CONCERT AT MOSGIEL. The Mosgiel Borough Council, being desirous of installing a good concert piano on the stage of tho Coronation Hall for up. Co-date concerts, decided to run a concert in aid of this object, and the response last night was very satisfactory. An attractive programme was contributed by tho following visitors from Dunedin : —Commercial Travellers’ Choir (conductor, Mr Scott); Mrs Macartney, Miss Winnie M'Peak, Messrs Romeril and E. G. Sharp (songs). Miss Stella Bayloy (violin solos). Miss Madge Yates (recitations); Messrs A. Clapp and Goo. Mearns (humorous songs); Mr A. Holmo (musical monologue); Misses A. Bayley and Messrs A. George and J. Himber" (instrumental trio), Mr J. Himburg (horn solo). Miss Alice Georn-o and Mr A. L. Burk played tho accompaniments. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Walls) presided, and introduced the performers to the audience. He also explained the object of the entertainment and thanked all who had helped. An enjoyable dance followed tho concert. GREEN ISLAND SCHOOL SOCIAL. At tho invitation of the head master and staff of the Green 'lsland School, a large number of parents and friends attended a social given in the gymnasium last night in honour of the school football team, the winners this year of the B Grade football cup. Mr Tomkins, chairman bf the school committee, presided, and Mr Williams, president of .the Schools Sports Association. presented the run to the captain of the team. During the evening a musical programme was rendered by some of the visitors, and supper was handed round by the senior girls, after which games were indulged in by those present.