AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20319, 30 January 1928, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. “ The Cat and the Canary,” which is now being shown at the Empire Theatre, is a picture of mystery and of tragedy, with a sprinkling of comedy. It is a Universal production, directed by Paul Leni. The cast is headed by Laura La Plante, who is strongly support d. As Annabelle West, the sole legatee of the estate of an eccentric old recluse, Miss La Plante gives one of the best screen performances of her career. The opening of the story concerns an old man who stipulates that his lasi w-1 and testament must be read in an abandoned country mansion. Six persons are concerned. and they gather in the house at midnight. Mysterious happenings take place as soon ns the will has been read. The players supporting Laura La Plante are Creighton Hale, who has the leading male role, Arthur Carew, Forrest Stanley, Tully Marshall, Martha Mattose, Lucien Littlefield, George Siegmann, Flora Finch, and Gertrude Astor. Among the musical lumbers contributed by the Empire Orchestra are “ The Sneak ” and “ Sunshine and Showers,” while there is appropriate incidental music. OCTAGON THEATRE. “Wolf’s Clothing,” the Warner Brothers’ production now being screened at the Octogan Theatre, with Monte Blue and Patsy Ruth Miller in the leading roles, contains some remarkable and decidedly clever effects. One of "he most remarkable of these is the sequence in which the hero and heroine walk the clouds in the midst M a swirling crowd of revellers, on New Year’s Em , along the Great White Way. The brauty of the scene suggests the Arabian Nights. It is open sesame to O. Henry’s Bagdad-on-the-Subway. The hero m the talc, the ranting, roaring Barry Maline (played by Monte Blue) is_ a subway guard. He arrived at the high-hat ball by way of a madman, a hurtling car, humour, nerve, and some other things. And it is there that he meets fate, in the person of the pretty and preposterously magnificent Minnie Humphrey, a society girl who has escaped her chaperon and is seeking night club thrills. Each falls in love at first sight. But what wicked genii are to be met along the way—-before the cross-grained old crook captain marries them at the point of a revolver. It is on the event of the couple's first stroll in raucous, riotous Broauway, when they metaphorically “ walk on air,” that Del Ruth’s brilliant technique makes their mental state so beautifully and amusingly tangible. The Octagon Orchestra under Mr L. D. Austin, contributes an entertaining selection from “Carmen” (Bizet), a grand organ accompaniment by Mr G. A. Martin. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. 1 Foreign Devils,” a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production leads the current programme at Everybody’s Theatre. Tim M’Coy is the leading player. He takes the part of Captain Kelly, attached to one of the Peking Legations. He meets Lady Patricia Rutledge (played by Cla-ue Windsor), and falls in love with her. Shortly afterwards the Boxer Rebellion breaks out, and in the midst of the riots M’Coy goes to the rescue of Lady Patricia. This event is the commencement of theii romance. In one of the sequences ol the picture soldiers, civilians, and their women folk are seen fighting shoulder io shoulder in an attempt to keep the invaders outside the barricades. When the Boxers deliver a united charge Captain Kelly decides to take the life of Lady Patricia rather than let her fall into the hands of his enemies. Milton Sills is the principal actor in “ Framed,” the second feature picture. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Eugene Brieux’s sensational play, " Damaged Goods,” is proving a strong attraction at the Queen’s Theatre, which is drawing full houses. It is not merely a picture of sensational happenings, as may be supposed, but an artistic treatment of a vital subject that does not permit of any dramatic or literary Hcense. The novel was banned in New Zealand some years back by the authorities, but it is quite safe to assume that, with the experience that the war has brought, the novel would now be gladly received, not only by the medical faculty, but bv those broad-visioned workers who have come out in the open and insisted upon the scourge being attacked and stemmed. It is suggested that parents especially should see the film, so that they may he armed with a weapon, so to speak, to protect their children by inculcating in them when opportunity offers that knowledge that will arm them against the evils of debauchery. By order of the New Zealand film censor mixed audiences are prohibited, and it has therefore been decided that women only will be admitted to the dress circle and men only to the stalls. No individual under the age of 16 years will he admitted. PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. ‘ The Outlaws of Red River,” with the cowboy actor, Tom Mix, in the principal role, is the chief attraction at the Plaza and Grand Theatres this week. Ihe picture is a screen version of Gerald Beaumont’s magazine story. It is a colourful story of the Texas Rangers. Their most daring member is known as the Falcon, and Tom Mix is seen at his best in the role. The story tells how the Falcon has made it the object of his life to search for his foster-sister, who had been abducted by bandits when ’ child, after her parents had been killed in a raid upon an emigrant train. The Falcon’s success and a love story form the basis of the picture. He is well supported by Marjorie Daw, who is seen in the leading feminine role, Arthur Clayton, W. Conkin, and others, while the horse Tony has an important role. Hichard Talmadge is the featured player in ‘‘The Isle of Hope,” which is an adventurous production of the sea.