AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20290, 24 December 1927, Page 20

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. Gilda Gray, famous for her wonderful dances as depicted in her previous screen successes, heads a strung cast in "Cabaret,’’ winch is this weeks principal attraction at the Empire Theatre. She 1= cast in the role of Gloria 'lrask, whom beauty and talent have lifted Irom a squalid New York slum to the position of star in Castigan s night club. Detective Tom Westcott and Sam Roberts, a shady character, are attracted to her, but Gloria despises the latter, as he exercises some mysterious control over her young brother. Andy. Roberts demands from Andy SOOdol, and tho lad, not knowing where he can raise the amount, turns in desperation to his sister, who invites Roberts to her dressing room and promises to pay him on condition that her brother is left alone. As he leaves, he makes a passionate avowal of love for her, and attempts to embrace her. Andy appears and knocks Roberts down, whereupon the latter shoots at him. Andy returns the fire and Roberts falls dead. Distracted, Gloria casts about for a way to get her brother out of tho cabaret, and eventually adopts the expedient of taking his fainting body in her arms and half carrying and half dancing it across the dance-lloor, and so out through the door. Unfortunately a witness to the shooting, Blanche Howard, is jealous of Gloria, and determines to keep to herself the fact that Andy shot in self-defence. In tho meantime tho dancer makes preparations for her brother to leave for .South America, but in tho midst of her plans Westcott arrives looking for tho man who shot Roberts. Gloria’s quick wit saves the situation, and tho body escapes; but Weslcott, to whom Blanche has admitted seeing the shooting, continues his search, and at last captures him. Andy is brought back to Gloria's dressing room under arrest, but she, although almost distracted with fear, determines to keep her engagement, and dunces that night as she has never danced before. Only in the early hours of the morning does she leave the dance-floor, and goes to her room to find the detective and her brother, waiting for her. She begs Westcott to be merciful, and he, torn between her entreaties and a sense of duty, is at a loss to know what to do. He suspects Blanche knows more than she has admitted, and brings her in. She is put under a mild form of “ third degree, and eventually breaks down and confesses that Andy shot Roberts in selfdefence. Westcott then declares hia love, and the story ends happily. In support of tho star are Tom Moore in the leading male role, Chester Conklin as Gloria’s father, Mona Palma as Blanche Howard, Jack Egan, William Harrtgan, Charles Byer and Anna Lavsa.

OCTAGON THEATRE. A strong and attractive Christmas programme was presented by the Octagon Theatre management for the first time yesterday. It could not have been better selected, for the principal picture contains a note of liveliness and happiness in its theme that is in excellent accord with the season, although it succeeds in sustaining a strength of plot and a stability of construction that rouses intense admiration, “ Steel Preferred ” is the title chosen for this First National production, and at the outset, one’s attention is drawn to the unusually strong cast selected for the loading roles. Among the players who are prominent are Vera Reynolds, W illiam Boyd, Charlie Murray, the popular comedian, and the inimitable Bon Turpin. William Boyd will be remembered for his excellent work in “ The Volga Boatman, and Vera Reynolds was the dainty star of ‘‘The Road to Yesterday.” ‘‘Steel Preferred ” contains two outstanding elements. First it is a powerful industrial picture with a plot woven round the great steel industry of America, and scenes taken in tho heart of the big roller mills. Secondly it is a comedy of a most refreshing kind, and includes a number of humorous interludes that appear in pleasant relief o tho dramatic moments. The story tolls of a devil-may-care young man who is employed in a large stool mill and who is working hard on a new process of producing bossemer. He accepts dangerous work, and while ho is engaged upon this a strike is promoted by tho villains of tho piece, and Wally, the hero, becomes embroiled in tho disturbance. Ho is in Joyo with Amy, the daughter of the mill owner and is able to save her from death in the mill following the collapse of a truck containing molten metal, and for this ho is reinstated in tho eyes of his employer, who finally gives consent to Ins marriage to Amy. There are many exciting incidents, including the rescue of a man who is about to bo dropped a cowardly enemy into a pit of fire, and tho climax 'of tho tale is reached when Amy is rescued from a river of molten metal that threatens to engulf her. Charlie Murray and Ben Turpin arc responsible [or most of the delightful humour of tho picture. They appear as an old mill uand and a bartender respectively, and work is productive of uproarious fun. There are excellent supporting films on the Octagon programme, and the orchestra plavs a specially selected programme of appropriate music.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. All those who are fond of excitement, action, the open-air life, and a well-woven plot with a gripping love interest, will welcome Fox Films latest release, ‘ Ihe Broncho Twister,” which is one of the two new attractions at the Queens Theatre One of the most popular—if not the most popular'—of cowboy actors (Tom Mix) plavs the principal part of Tom Morton, The story concerns a marine IMorton), who returns from the war to find his father desperately contending with an outlaw ranchman, who attempts to drive him off the range. Tom, in many exciting sequences, frustrates his purpose, and while doing so falls in love with the ranchman’s stepdaughter, played by Helen Costello. United States marines helped Mix to make scenes aboard the battleship California in this picture, and this is the first production in which Mix has appeared on board a man-o’-war. The film is a colourful romance of adventure, with many nerve tingling situations, and the backgrounds are beautiful, especially those depicting ihe old Spanish style of home in Southern California, and the garments of old Spain worn by the ladies. The second picture. The Imposter, featuring Evelyn Brent, is a drama of the underworld, in which Miss Brent successfully plays the dual role of a society girl and a criminal. The climax is surprising, and will ba found to contain a strong appeal for the romantically inclined.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The first of two new pictures at Everybody's Theatre, shown for the first time yesterday, is “ Rolled Stockings,'' which I it appears relates to a kind of miniature | lifebuoy at the top and of a lady’s stoek--1 ing. It is a kind of bracelet round the 1 leg. ” Rolled Stockings” is described ! in “ Film Facts in Tabloid,” as Para- | mount’s first “youth picture,” and 1 “ Facts ” adds that it was made by, 1 about, and lor youngsters from seven to ; 70.” Be that the case or not, it is a I breezy picture, with an attractiveness all i its own, and without being objectionable. : "Rolled Stockings” is a .swift-moving comedy, centreing round two brothers, ! students at college, who fall for the same ■ girl. In the supporting picture, “ The Hello of Broadway,” Betty Compson, as Marie Duval, is very bright, vivacious, and coquettish, and gives an exceedingly clever representation of the lively young i actress who is the idol of Raids. Her | husband is uesperately jealous of other I men, who resemble “ the moth and the I candle.” There is a count,, who upsets the i happiness of Fabio very badly. Much , harm tomes of the count's persistent attention to Adcle. and very nearly wrecks the happiness of the family of three, for i there is a juvenile Fabio. hut, alter much : distress in later years, all the roughnesses ! ef life disappears, and the ending is a ! perfectly happy one for ihc younger | representatives of the family. “Rolled ; Stockings ’’ is only the name of a very { interesting play, and gives hut a poor : indication of its true nature. Tim other i picture is “ The Belle of Broadway.”

I PLAZA AND GRAXO THEATRES. Amnii-' ;i!l serein r-.n;.-'I;,-;]].--, HaroM Lloyd probably holds pride of place in ponubirity wit!) pieturo-.: oers, and at I ho i'llw.a. and Grand Theatres this week he L'ive.s one of his best characterisations. lie is seen in an entirely novel purl- — that of a bashful small town boy, who is ' apprenticed l ri hi* untie, a tailor. He makes a secret tlioii-di not very accurate : .ti:dy of L r ir!s. and the more he studies ;hom, the more he fe.irs thorn. }le <U"ides to write a book, and aft; r many weary ni'-rhts the manuscript is completed end taken to a publisher. On his wa.y liome the inevitable jrirl appears, and • luring the short journey she does what no one else has ever been able to do—make him forget hie ali/ness. Confidences

are exchanged, and then follow days of dreaming of the time when be will be successful and rich, but his hopes are crushed when word comes that the novel has not been accepted. He then tells the girl that he was only experimenting with her, and she, out of pique, becomes engaged to another man. Eventually, however, his book, with numerous alterations, is published, and he is to do b p nleases. How a reconciliation with the girl of his heart is effected makes an amusing and exciting climax to a thoroughly good picture. The cast supporting Lloyd includes such well-known screen artists as Jobyna Ralston, Richard Daniels, and Carlton Griffiths. The second featured picture is “ The Land Beyond the Law,” a First National picture, which tells of the entry of New Mexico into the union of the United States of America, with its_ attendant disputes with the owners of high grazing runs and troubles with the bandits who flourished in those exciting times. The story, which is by Marion Jackson, is based on real historical happenings, and is probably one of the truest portrayals of life in the early days of the Wild W est ever screened. Ken Maynard is featured in the leading role, and has supporting him Dorothy Dwan.Tom Santschi, Noah Young, and Billy Butts.

KING EDWARD THEATRE. Tom Mix and hie inseparable horse Tony are the foremost characters in “ The Broncho Twister,” which, with “ The Imposter,” forms the new programme at the King Edward Theatre. In the Tom Mix production is unfolded a story of the Western ranges that is absorbingly interesting on account of its romantic flavour, characterisation, and well-sustained plot. Added to this arc excellent scenic backgrounds and a strong cast of supporting player. l . “The Imposter ” is a Laskv Film production, with Evelyn Brent in ' the leading dual roles of a young society woman and an underworld" character. A leaven of comedy is introduced into this swift-moving drama, and the result is a picture that attracts and holds the attention from start to finish.