AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE theatre. The change of programme at the Empire Theatre to-night will include the United Artists Corporation’s famous film, “The Night of Hove,” which has been adapted to the screen from the story by the same name, written by Leonore Coffee. The production has been handled on a most lavish scale, and the best players have been entrusted with the leading roles. Ronald Colman takes the principal male part, and is ably supported by the beautiful and talented Hungarian actress, Vilma Banky. Neither of these players is a stranger to Dunedin audiences, so that there should be a great many people who will welcome their reappearance in this latest production, which has had a phenomenal run in those countries where it has already been exhibited. Other notable members of the cast are Montague Love, Natalie Kingston, Hasba Winter, Solly Rand, and John George. The locale of the film is Spain of many years ago, and the story opens with a marvellously beautiful gipsy wedding sequence wherein Ronald Colman, as a a gipsy prince, returned from wanderings in far countries, is about to take unto himself a bride of his people. The ceremony is most impressive, and the denouement when the duke kidnaps the little bride has the audience fairly trembling with emotion. Miss Laska Winter is beautiful as the gipsy bride, giving true pathos to the scenes where she kills herself rather than return to her own people an outraged woman. Hardened and obsessed by a desire for vengeance, Colman turns bandit, and with a heart of hate harries the duke. Years later, on the wedding night of the duke to the beautiful Princess Marie (Vilma Banky), he comes again to the fore and, with his outlaw crew, storms the duke’s castle and kidnaps the duke and duchess. The scenes where Colman, in the bandit stronghold, forces the bride and bridegroom to dine with him, are especially effective, as are also the scenes where the duchess throws herself over the cliff, and is rescued by the bandit lord. Scarred and branded by the bandit, the duke returns to his castle, leaving his bride behind him at the mercy of the bandit, who finds himself unable to complete his vengeance as he slowly learns to love the woman he has stolen. The love scenes in the bandit stronghold and on the return to the castle which follow are the best that this famous pair of lovers has ever given to a screen audience. _ Passion and romance are interwoven in a sequence of tears and laughter, which will live long after the more gorgeous scenes are forgotten. Marion Morgan and her dancers stage a Moorish bacchanalian orgy which is especially worthy of mention. Miss Morgan’s dancers are modestly called the most beautiful group of girls in the world, and' it is easy to believe that their charms are not overstated. The dance itself, with the dancers dodging to and fro to escape the biting lash of a bull whip yielded by a giant Moor, is especially colourful and fantastic. A special attraction also to be staged this week is the appearance of Colin and John Campbell, whoso concertinas have charmed hundreds of audiences. OCTAGON THEATRE. The new picture at the Octagon Theatre to-night will be "The Road to Yesterday,” a dramatic production lately released by the Producers’ Distributing Corporation. The direction of the film was in the hands of that veteran producer, Cecil B. De Mille. “The Road to Yesterday” is an intriguing picture, the story being devoted to revelations of a bride’s fears, hopes, and disillusionments on her wedding day. The production should appeal to men and women patrons alike. In this production Dunedin audiences will be provided with another opportunity to witness the remarkable ability of the talented Joseph Schildkrault, who will be remembered as one of the outstanding figures in " His Own People.” The principal players are Jetta Goudal, Vera Reynolds, William Boyd, and Julia, each of whom proves of great assistance to the principal. A feature of the film is a sensational and remarkably reproduced railway accident in which the chief players are involved. The principal characters are travelling in a Pullman coach, and at night suddenly comes a crash, the hiss of escaping steam, dense smoke, shrieks of terror, and as this chaotic scene fades away it is replaced by the ; peaceful quiet of an old English tavern of the early seventeenth century on “ The Road to Yesterday.” Reincarnation is the theme of the story, which is based on the play by Beulah Marie Dixe and E. G. Sutherland, and it has been handled by Mr De Mille with all the subtle artistry for which he is famous. For tne train wreck scene a special track was built, and as retakes were impossible Mr De Mille stationed a battery of cameramen strategically so that when the spectacular tragedy occurred it was filmed from every angle. Not a worth-while feature of the sequence was eliminated. It is interesting to note that William Boyd and Julia Faye, who appear in this picture, were the stars of that fine production “The Volga Boatman.” QUEEN’S THEATRE. There will be two featured pictures on the new programme at the Queen’s Theatre to-night. “ The Frontiersman,” featuring Claire Windsor and Tim M'Coy, a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, has pride of place on the programme, and should keep the most critical audience interested. Tim M'Coy has a host of admirers who will enjoy his latest picture, which ia a romance of the early pioneering days in the West. _ Other wellknown players in the piece are Tom O’Brien, Russell Simpson, Lillian Leighton, Chief Big Tree, John Peters, and Frank Hagney. The second feature is a comedy entitled “The Sap,” in which the featured players arc ienneth Harlan, Mary M'Allister, Dave Butler, and Heine Conklin. Kenneth Harlan plays the part of a simple “war hero,” whom everyone is always anxious to take down. The story is full of interest and humour. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. An exceptional double-feature programme will be offered at Everybody’s Theatre to-night, when the change-over takes place. “My Lady of Whims,” featuring Clara Bow, will be the first picture. Clara Bow takes the roll of Prudence Severn, a little daughter of the rich, whose pranks and escapades make up an excellent story. This actress has won a great number of friends wi'h her viviacious beauty and undoubted ability. Her chief male support is Donald Keith, a young player whose screen career, though only just begun, is full of promise. He fits well_ into the somewhat difficult task of keeping in step with Clara Bow, in whose pictures. there are always plenty of incident and excitement. The second feature will be “Wedding Bells,” in whjeh the chief attraction is that pantomimic genius, Raymond Griffith. The picture tells of the humorous foibles of a whimsical bachelor who is much in demand at weddings as a best man. A vamp and a valuable necklace which has a habit of keep him busy, but the climax comes wncn he falls in love. PLAZA AND GRAND. One of the most beautiful and valuable, horses In America will be seen on the screen in the new bill at the Plaza and Grand Theatres In “ Chasing Trouble,” the Blue Streak Western-Lariat production starring Pete Morrison. He Is the Justly celebrated horse, “ Lightning,” Morrison’s favourite mount. The horse appears with the popular Western star in every production, and has been trained by his owner for several years. “ Lightning,” besides being a valuable motion picture horse, capable of doing every sort of stunt demanded in film work, is a thoroughbred as well, and recently won first prize in his division at the annual Beverly Hills Horse Show, a yearly event staged in the exclusive film colony. “Lightning” is the favourite of Morrison’s large stable of valuable animals, which he keeps at his beautiful ranch home near Hollywood, More than a dozen mounts, all of which . have been trained for special stunts before the camera, and is estimated that the entire stable would bring a conservative price of 30,000 dollars. “ Chasing Trouble,” Morrison's latest, and easily one of his best pictures, was made by Lariat Productions for release by Universal Pictures Corporation. lone Reed plays the feminine lead opposite the star, and the large supporting east includes Tom London, Roy Watson. Frances Friel, Milton Fahrney, Joe Bennett, Elmer Reed, and others. "THE MESSIAH.” Great interest is being evinced in (ho performance of “The Messiah” (pandel), which is to be given by the Dunedin Choral Society, augmented for the occasion by members of the Royal Male Choir, Civic Choir, and Leech’s Lyric Choir. A chorus of nearly three hundred will render

those wonderful choruses which have ma Am “ The Messiah ” known throughout the civilised world. The soloists for to-mor-row evening are Miss Eva Scott (soprano). Miss Mabglle Esqullant (contralto), Mr Leg Dally (tenor), and Mr W. Watters (bass). No doubt many of the visitors to. town for to-morrow’s races will welcome the opportunity of hearing " The Messiah ” rendered by the augmented choir and such outstanding soloists. “ The Messiah ” will also be rendered on Monday evening. KING EDWARD THEATRE. At the King Edward Theatre “ The Winning of Barbara Worth” was shown for the last time last night, along with “ Drums of the Deserts," both being good entertainment. “ The Collegians ” was a strong supporting picture.