AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19965, 6 December 1926, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

OCTAGON THEATRE. An exceptional film is at present being screened at the Octagon Theatre in the form of “The Volga Boatman," and crowded houses have been the rule since the initial screening on Friday afternoon. The picture deals with Russia in revolution and before. The story has to do with a humble Volga boatman, who ia in love with a nussian princess. She hears him sing, and falls in love with him. He spurns her, for he cannot comprehend. The revolution comes, and in an attack on the palace of the princess’s father a revolutionist is killed. Feodor, tho boatman, demands the life of tho princess in return for that ot the dead man. He agrees to kill her. but when he is alone with her lie finds himself powerless to commit the deed. He pretends to kill her, and carries her to an inn. where he introduces her as his wile. For this the prince, commander of* the White army, orders Feodor to be shot. The princess takes her place by his side, determined to die with him, but before the firing squad can act Feodor is rescued by tho revolutionists. Feodor is commanded to fix the punishment of tho aristrocratio captives, and he orders them to be harnessed like the Volga boatmen and drag the boat. Later Feodor, tho princess, and prince are tried by the tribunal, and the two former are acquitted, while tho prince voluntarily quits Russia an exile. The boatman and Vera find happiness. Elinor Fair plays the girl and William Boyd the man who nulls in the harness of the Volga boats. The time is laid during tho period of struggle between the Red and White armies, and the whole drama is underlaid with gripping interest concerned with the reversal of position when servant became master and master servant. EMPIRE THEATRE. “Tho Devil’s Circus." a highly dramatic story of circus life, and slightly reminiscent of “Ho Who Gets Slapped,” is now being screened at the Empire Theatre. Norma Shearer playa the role of Mary, a country girl who gets stranded in a great city. She wins tho love of a gangster who is arrested, and later she joins a circus, and is desired by the Honor tamer. Through jzealousy Mary is severely injured and forced to leave the circus and earn her living street selling. She is eventually rescued by the gangster, and retribution falls on the heads of those who injured her. The picture is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. It is the greatness of simplicity that is the explanation for its great appeal to all classes. There is no complicated plot, and the few characters are readily grasped. In no way does this detract from its merit, as it has been clothed in a degree of realism to which few screen stories attain. Directed by Benjamin Christianson, who was also the author of the story, tho picture has in the cast Charles Emmett Mack and Carmel Myers, whose ability invests the film with a powerful individuality. Miss Shearer rises to tho heights under this skilful Danish director. The Empire Orchestra, under Mr C. Parnell, plays the following programme: Overture, “King Rose” (Barnard; entr’acte Aria from “Pagliacci" (Leoncavallo); incidental: Serenade (Rubinstein), La Mattinata (Leoncavallo), incidental music- from “Moiisier Boaucaire” (Rosse), “La Fontaine’ ’(Lysberg. op. 31), “The Harlequin” (Cobb), “Chant Sans Paroles” (Leigh). QUEEN’S THEATRE. “Her Second Chance” is the first picture at the Queen’s Theatre this week. The story deals with a mountain girl’s struggle against fate and her eventual improvement for defending her own rights. Wild surroundings had steeled her to almost any task, and she becomes resigned to her fate, the while-nursing a passion for revenge. Swiftly the picture changes to scenes of revelry, the erstwhile mountain girl mixing with a set wherein the man she pursues is lionised. Garbed in the height of fashion, and living under an assumed name, she soon wins his admiration* and eventually his love. The climax arrives when the girl decides to reveal her real identity, and redeem her vow of revenge. The second picture, “His Majesty Bunker Pean,” concerns a timid Wall street secretary, who becomes transformed into a confident, masterful man by two fake clairvoyants, who convince him that he is the reincarnation of Napoleon

and of an Egyptian king. Blinded by the illusion of majesty, he becomes the pivot of absurdly funny incidents that are nevertheless so true to life that they carry with them the pathetic heart-tug that hits hom, everywhere where grown men “just > pretend.” PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. The double-feature programme at the I'laz.i and Grand Theatres this week includes two excellent photoplays. The first is “The Demon,” in which the principal star is Jack Hoxie. It is unusual in that, though it has an appealing love story, the hero does not have to save the heroine. Hoxie is “The Demon,” and he rides and fights like one throughout the entire icture. The supporting cast includes some of Univei-al’s best players. Lola Todd is in the leading feminine role, while othei’s in the cast are William Welsh, Jere Austin, Ai Jennings, and Georgia Grandee. Cliff Smith was the director. The second feature is a MetroGoldwyn picture entitled “Dance Madness,” in which the star plavers are Claire Windsor, Conrad Nagel, Douglas Gilmour, and Mario Carillo. The supporting programme is a good one. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. Everybody’s Theatre offers an extra inducement to the public this week in a double-feature programme. The first picture is “A Social Celebrity” featuring Adolphe Menjou, who is also supported by Chester Conklin and Louise Brooks. Menjou plays the seemingly unromantic role ?f , a . barber. He is the head attendant in his father s shop, located on the main street of a small mid-western town. He is infatuated with a pretty little manicurist;. When the audience meet him later ,n . Jhe big -ity he is very much in love with a charming young heiress. Chester Conklin is seen as the star’s ather. Louise Brooks, the second featured player, appears as his first love, and j_isie Lawson is the heiress. The cast also includes Freeman Wood, and Josephine Drake. Monte Katterjohn wrote the original story, which was adapted for screen use by I 1 lerre Collings. The other picture is KipFaffed ” m ° US St ° ry ’ “ The Light that KING EDWARD THEATRE, uu nn ?, Q* Nilsson P* a ys tho leading role in ,{~ e L.? eco s l t * Chance,’ the main picture at the King Edward Theatre this week. Miss Nilsson in this picture is cast as a Kentucky girl. Treated harshly by the law. the heroine of the story redeems a vow of revenge, and pays the penalty behind prison bars. On her release, the girl decides to take another name, mix with society, and thereby move in the same circle as the man she had sworn to break. The story unwinds to a big and thrilling climax, and the spectator is afforded many intimate glimpses into the lavish lives of the wealthy. Some particularly exciting episodes are enacted on the racecourse. Other important roles are taken by Huntly Gordon and Charles Murray. “DEAR BRUTUS.” There was a large attendance in Burns Hall on Saturday night to witness tho presentation of Sir Janies Barrie’s three-act fantasy “Dear Brutus,” by tho Dunedin Training College Dramatic Club. The on tainmont was well staged and an admirable presentation of tho various characters in the quaint little story was given. As Lady Caroline, Miss J. Campbell did very well, and no less successful wore Miss M. Corson’s interpretation of Mrs Dearth and Miss L. Williamson’s portrayal of Joanna Trout. Mr O. Gumming, as Lob, gave a good character sketch, and as the drink-sodden Dearth, Mr A. R. Dreaver added tho lighter touches very effectively. The others who contributed to the success of the performance were Miss M. Lankowsky (Mrs Coade), Miss W. Smith (Mrs Purdie), Miss I. Duff (Caroline), Mr G. Porter (Coade), Mr D. Kaye (Purdie), and K. Munro (Matey). The story tells of Lob (who is, in reality, Puck) who has invited to his bouse a party, the members ot which all have something in common. That something, as it eventually transpires, is a longing for another chance in life. There is Matey, tho butler, who wants a chance to turn over a new leaf. Dearth, the artist, and his wife, from whom his drunken habits have estranged him, both have a longing to start afresh, as have Coade (a ne’er-do-well) and his wife, and Mr and Mrs Purdie, who have also drifted apart. All these gather at Lob’s house on midsummer eve, and are sent by him to an enchanted wood, where, legend has it, everyone has the chance to turn back the hands of time and make the most of neglected opportunities. The spell

of the wood works its miracle, and reconciliations all round are effected, with the result that everything ends happily. The college orchestra played several selections during the intervals. RED CROSS FETE. The beautiful grounds of the Montcciilo Reel Cross home looked at their best on 1 Saturday afternoon, when the annual sale of articles made by the soldier inmates was held. The quality and design of the goods offered for sale came up to the high standard to be expected from “the boys ‘ ut Montecillo, and, needless to say, found eager buyers. The Mayor, Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P., C.M.G., in performing the opening ceremony, expressed his great pleasure at being present and .referred to the noble services rendered by the “digger" inmates in the great WoiiJ War. He felt convinced that it was because the public recognised that the men were still suffering from the effects of active service on their behalf that they nad assembled in such large numbers. Apart from the debt all owed to the soldiers the articles made by them were of so excellent a quality that he felt sure they would demand a ready sale. Mr Tapley then went on to express the deep gratitude the citizens owed to the Red Cross Executive, under its president, the Rev. V. G. Bryan King, ior the care it took of the wounded soldiers, not only in the home, but in the hospitals and sanatoria and -wherever their lot was cast. He also paid a glowing tribute to the matron. Miss M’Millan, and nursing staff for the great care taken of the inmates and the sympathetic attention given to them. He concluded by wishing them all every happiness in the coming festive season, and declared the fete open. The various stalls and afternoon tea tent were then besieged by those present, and such good business was done that everyone, buyers and sellers, was well satisfied with the result of the 1926 soldiers’ fete. During the afternoon the First Batallion Band_ played a largo number of popular selections, and the excellent renderings given helped in a large measure towards the success of the undertaking. Before the ( band left, the Rev, Bryan King expressed | sincere thanks to the members of the band I for their great kindness in having given up | their half-holiday for the purpose of assist- I ing their soldier comrades. '