AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20291, 27 December 1927, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. Gilda Gray, a famous stage dancer, has tbo principal role in “ Cabaret,” the attraction at the Empire Theatre, and in support are such well known players as Tom Moore and Chester Conklin. They story tells how beauty and talent hav<sS lifted Gloria Trask from a squalid Eastfl Side environment to the position of star in' Costigan’s night club. Detective Tom Westcott and Sam Roberts, a shady character, are attached to her. Gloria despises the latter as he exercised some mysterious control over her brother, Andy. Threatened by the gang, Andy finds it necessary to secure SOOdol. Gloria in an effort to save her brother from trouble, invites Roberts to her dressing room. Blanche Howard, jealous of the dancer, hides herself in a corridor when Roberts goes *lO keep his appointment. Gloria agrees to pay the money on condition that Andy is left alone. At the door Roberts attempts to embraeo her, but Andy appears on the scene and after some shooting Roberts is killed. Gloria manages to get Andy out of the building and arranges to send him away to South America. Westcott begins to, make investigations, but Blanche has hidden Roberts’s revolver and states that it was a case of nothing less than murder. But Westcott proves that her statements are false, and the story ends happily. OCTAGON THEATRE. Something frch in motion pictures is provided in “ Steel Preferred,” the principal attraction at the Octagon Theatre. In the most important roles are Vera Reynolds, William Boyd and Charlie Murray. The story deals with Wally Gay, a young and ambitious steel worker, who falls in lov© with Amy Creoth, daughter of the mill owner. Waldron, who is Wally’s superior, also loves Amy, 1 and, jealous of Wally, ho gives him the most menial and dangerous job in the mill—the handling of the ladle tuain. One night when Waldron is showing Amy round the plant, the ladle train is wrecked, and Amy is trapped. Waldron, who is a coward, leaves her to her fate, but she is rescued by Wally. Her father is grateful and listens to Wallys plans for new furnaces. They are adopted, and Waldron foments a strike, which is frus trated by Wally after a desperate battle with the strike leader. The romance of Wally and Amy culminates in their engagement. It is a bright story, well played, and it is lent additional charm by the music provided by the Octagon Orchestra. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Among “ Western ” actors Tom Mix has no surperior, and though the pictures in which ho has appeared are matjy, he is not i losing any of his skill. In ‘The Broncho j Twister.” his latest effort, now showing at I the Queen’s Theatre, ho is seen at his best, and he performs more of the feats of daring which have made him so popular. “The Broncho Twister” is the storv of a marine who returns from the war to find his father desperately contending with an outlaw ranchman. How the invader is driven off makes an interesting story. Mix has the support of Helen Costello. The second picture is ‘‘The Imposter,” featuring Evelyn Brent. Miss Brent plav= the dual role of a society girl and criminal. EVER i IODY’S THEATRE. In the cast of “ Rolled Stockings,” which ha s pride of place on the programme of Everybody’s Theatre, are such well known players as Richard Arlen, David Torrance James Hall, Louise Brookes, and El Brendel. The story concerns two brothers who go to college to fall in love with the same girl A peculiar change takes place. The serious youth becomes a philanderer while his “ Jazzy ” brother gradually discovers that his life has been a series of errors, and he determines to change his ways. Naturally there are some startling developments. It is a bright picture with a distinctly modern theme. Hardly less attractive is ‘‘The Bello of Broadway,” in which the inimitable Betty Compson is featured. PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. Few screen players have enjoyed the popularity that Harold Lloyd has earned. The bespectacled comedian is always introducing something new and fresh with his productions, and wherever his pictures are being shown one can expect to find large audiences. Thai has been borne out since “Girl Shy” was given its first screening at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. In “ Girl Shy ” Lloyd is seen at the top of bis form, and ho has the capable support of Jobyna Ralston. Llovd has tbo part of a bashful town boy apprenticed to his uncle, a tailor. He makes a secret study of girls and as a result ho writes a book. Finally a girl comes dong who makes him forget his shyness and from then on the fun never ceases. The “ TLand Boyoiul the Law a breezy Western picture, is nho screened.