AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20320, 31 January 1928, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. The principal offering at the Empir# Theatre this week is ‘‘ The Cat and the Canary,” a thrilling mystery story with a rich leavening of comedy and even of love. it is a Universal production, directed by Paul Leni. The cast is headed by Laura La Plante, who is strongly' supported. 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 oia man who stipulates that his last will 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 as the will has been read. Among the musical numbers contributed by the Empire Orchestra are ” The Sneak ” and ‘‘ Sunshine and Showers,” while there is appropriate incidental music. OCTAGON THEATRE. Some rem-vkably clever effects are contained in tlie Warner Brothers’ picture, “ Wolf’s Clothing,” which is this week's principal attraction at the Octagon Theatre. The hero of the tale is Barry Maline, a blustering guard on New York’s subway. By some mischance, he arrives at a society dance, and whilst there, he falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy family, who has escaped front her chaperone and is anxious to find out what New York’s night life is really like. Then comes a clever scene, when the two, very much in love with one another, walk the clouds in tile midst of a throng of reyelleis in Broadway on New Year's Eve. Eventually, after many difficulties, they are married, and the story comes to a happy conclusion. Patsy Ruth Miller play's the leading female role, and Monte Blue is seen as Barry Maline. The Octagon Orchestra, under the b*ton of Mr L. D. Austin, is responsible for the incidental music. QUEEN’S THEATRE. “ Damaged Goods,” which is being screened at the Queen’s Theatre this week, bids fair to break the attendance record for that theatre. This picture version of Eugene Brieux’s notable play was produced by the American Film Company, Its appeal is largely to the “young to young men especially—and it conveys a graphic warning of the grim toll that is exacted as the result of loose living and falling into temptation. The subject is handled with the gloves off, so to speas, and through it runs a story—the story cf a man’s downfall through debauchery and licentiousness. And vet it shows that for the stricken there is some hope, if the trouble is combated in time, and if life subsequently is well regulated according to medical advice. But there is no evading the tragedy that arises thronga neglect, as ” Damaged Goods ” eloquently shows. EYERY r BODY’S THEATRE. “Foreign Devils,” a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, heads the bill at Everybody’s Theatre this week. .It is the story of a young army officer attached to one of the Peking legations who mee't and falls in love with a beautiful voung aristocrat. flow he rescues her from a bloodthirsty mob of Boxers, and eventually. when captured, decides to take her life rather than let her fall into the hands of the enemy makes a thrilling picture. “ Framed,” featuring Milton Sills, is tha second picture. ’ PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. Tom Mix, the popular cow-body actor, is to be seen in “ The Outlaws of Red River,” which is being screened at the Pliza and Grand Theatres this week. It is a story of the Texas Rangers. Their most daring member is known as the Falcon, and Tim Mix is seen at his best in the role. The Falcon makes it .the object of his life to search for his fostersister, who has been abducted by bandits when a child, after her parents were killed in a raid upon an emigrant train. Tony, the almost human horse, has, of course, an important part to play-. Richard Talmadge is the featured player in “ The Isle of Hone.” a romance of the sea, which is coupled with the other feature.