AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20191, 31 August 1927, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. One o£ the series of Potash and Perlmutter pictures, “ Partners Again,” is proving an excellent draw at tne Empire Theatre. George Sidney and Alexander Carr appear in this picture, which is an entirely new production, with new adventures and new humour, and renewed ability, 'the careers of Potash and Pcrlmutter Pave been followed on the screen by a great many picturegoers, but they will find in this latest production a host of now dilemmas and quandaries, incidents and humour, and will make the careers of these favourites even more chequered than they were before this story was released. In the new piece, they enter the automobile business, handling the world’s worst automobile, the Schonckmann Six. At first glance one would scarcely realise the amount of wholesome comedy which may be derived from this lino of commercial pursuit. Not alone as auto merchants, but as amateur aviators, do they regale their audiences, It becomes necessary to escape the highly indignant purchasers of automobiles and stock in a worthless motor which has been distributed by the partnership, to take a hurried trip across the national boundary via the air. And_ the scenes where tho delirious Abe, clad in nightshirt only, clutching a hot water bottle and cavorting obout the flimsy wings of the plane in mid-air, finally dangles by a shred of his shirt to the wing of the plane will live long in the memory. It is by far the most ludicrous and laughable of the adventures of this pair of worthies as yet to reach the screen. What will no doubt be regarded by a large proportion of the spectators as the most attractive part of the programme is Mr Jack Lumsdaino’s return. He is known, as “ The Whispering Baritone,” and on this occasion he sings now songs that have already delighted his audiences, and which nvo sure to please fiuturc visitors to tho theatre. OCTAGON THEATRE. A remarkable production telling the love story of Don Juan is being shown at the Octagon Theatre. John Barrymore as Don Juan has tho best rolo of his career, and supporting him is Mary Astor. The original story of “ Don Juan ” was written by a Spanish monk, Gabriel Taller (15701648), whose secular works were presented to tho world under tho pen name of “Tirso do Molina.” As conceived by de Molina, the story was intended to point a moral in favour of the spiritual life. Don Juan, at the ago of five, i 9 accustomed to tho visits of his mother’s lover. Ho remembers his father’s unexpected return ; and tho exile of his mother, the consignment of her lover to the long tortures of the dungeon. He, at 10, knows the succession of beautiful courtesans who take his mother’s place. He remembers tho one of them that stabbed his father. He can never forget his father’s dying cry: “Destroy women or they will destroy you.” This conception of womanhood is indelibly fixed in his mind. Next he is seen at tho age of 20—an Adonis .living ir lavish splendour, sought by all tho famous beauties of tho day, _ among them the ruthless Lucrotia Borgia, sister ot Ccsaro Borgia. The one pure love, blossoming like a white flower in this poisonous garden, the jealousies, the mtngtles, the Bacchanalian mirth, the fighting the suffering, and the final reformation of the gorgeous sinner, _ make tho story of tremendous dramatic force. QUEEN’S THEATRE. In “ Wild Justice,” which is this week’s principal feature at the Queens theatre, the wonderful canine actor, Peter t e Groat, plays the leading role, that of Arno, tho giant police dog. Left alone through his master’s mukler, he is claimed by Bob Blake, an unscrupulous settler of tho lonely north country. Dr Dave Wright rcscuies him from a life of misery and takes him to his home. It is discovered that Blake was the slayer. The latter, warned by a spy, summons tho Vigilantes and convinces them the doctor himself is guilty. Eventually, however, he is brought to book by tho dog Arno, and tho story comes to a thrilling conclusion. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “New York” is a Paramount picture with Ricardo Cortez, Lois Wilson, and Estelle Taylor in the principal roles. It is a story of gangsters and got-nch-quick folk, of the Bowery and Park Avenue, ot a jazz band drummer and o society girl, and of despair and happiness. It is the story of a man who climbs out of the squalid environment where birth has placed him. Around the love story of a poor but firmly ambitious inunigrant youth and a millionaire's beautiful daughter ebbs and flows the whole intensely gripping tide of life of tho metropolis. “The Perfect Sap is another supporting picture of equal merit, “ SORROWS OF SATAN.” A cast that assures excellent entertainment is seen in “ Sorrows of Satan, which will bo shown at the Empire Theatre on Friday. Adolphe Menjou, suave, sophisticated. heralded by trick camera effect of a huge shadow which gradually dissolves into tho figure of the debonair, fur-collared, silk hatted player, plays, as is usual, excellently. Ricardo Cortez exceeds any of his previous efforts and his characterisation rises to rare heights. Good also is the dramatic emotional work of Carol Dempster. This part marks her as one Of tho outstanding actresses of tho screen. In a part that calls for little sympathy, yet withal excellently portrayed, is that of Lya do Putti, the celebrated Continental star. It is a modernised version of Mane Corelli’s novel. Geoffrey Tempest denounoes God and declares himself willing to sell his soul to the devil for worldly possessions. His wish is granted, After a time of reckless extravagance he finds that there is something still lacking in life. When his benefactor reveals nimself in his true light, he knows of his folly and returns to his previous life.