AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20330, 11 February 1928, Page 22

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE AND OCTAGON THEATRES. Proof of the outstanding success oi ” Ren Hur” is the fact that aUbougb it is in its second week in Dunedin it is si ill attracting full houses at both the Empire and Octagon Theatres. With amazing beauty and immensity the mmortal story is presented on the screen. Vivid indeed is the brief but romancecharged meeting of Ben Hur and Esther, the daughter of Simonides, bond slave of the royal Hur family. Then comes the tragedy of Ben Hur’s wrongful arrest at the hands of Messala, the Roman, and his former friend, his sentence to spend his lifetime at the oars of a Roman gallsy, ami the imprisonment of his mother rnd sister. Aweinspiringly presented is the sea battle in which Ben Hur saves the life of Arrius, ,his commander, who shows his gratitude by making the young man his foster son. Risen to power and fame, Ben Hur searches ceaselessly for his lost ones, and again meets Esther, whose father has become rich by carefully gua. iing the riches of the House of Hur. At last Ben Hur meets Messala his enemy, face to face in the Circus Maximus at Antioch, and contemptuously challenges him to a contest to the death in he chariot races in which both have enterji. In the most marvellous scenes ever caught by the camera, 12 four-horse chariots career madly around the huge ' arena. Nearing the end of a desperari struggle Ben Hur locks Ids chariot wheel with that of Messala, and hurls him into the dust amid a welter of splintered wreckage and lashing steeds. Then news is brought ro Ben Hur that One has come who will save his people from the Roman invader. Pledging his wealth—now restored >o him by Simonides—his sword, and his life to the cause, Ben Hur hurries forth to raise an army, after pouring out his love to Esther. A force stronger than ne sheathes his sword, however, and disbands his followers; but his mother and sister are miraculously restored to freedom, health, and to him. Throwing his arms around them and around Esther, who risked her life to find them, he exclaims: “ 0 blessed day that has given me back mother, sister, and thee.” The title role is played by -Ramon Novarro, while May M'Evoy interp As the role of Esther. ' Other starts are Francis X. Bushman as Messala, Carmel Myers as Iras, Nigel De Brulier ->s Simonides, Kathleen Key as Tirzah, Claire M'Dowell as the mother of Ben Hur, and Betty Bronson as the Madonna. A fine prologue introduces the story proper, Mr Les Dailey at the Empire and Mr | Reg. Richards at the Octagon singing the “ Star of Bethlehem,” and during *ne march to Cavalry, when the Man of Sorrows performs His last miracles, a hidden choir sings "Abide With Me.” QUEEN’S THEATRE. *At the head of the new programme at the Queen’s Theatre is " The Valley of Hell,” a rather startling title it is true, but not one to cause alarm. It is a thrilling action-crammed story of love and adventure under desert skies; nothing more. The plot takes surprising twis s, and all emergencies are very capably unit by brands M‘Donald and Edna Murpny, who are the promiment figures in the pic tare. There is an outlaw element in 1 tie story, and the hero {Creighton Steele) s compelled to " take up arms against a sea of troubles ” in order to protect his dead father’s interests. Mary Campbell conus “ West ” in quest of her brother, a drunken weakling who has fallen und :r the evil influence of one Jimy Brady, che head of the band of outlaws.’ Of coarse the pair meet under most exciting circumstances. is a great man in i “ m ess-up,” an ardent lover, a great she'., and ever so many more things that „.e essential to make a hero. After many startling experiences, much fighting, <,nd not a little wooing, the end comes, md it is quite in accordance with the jest traditions of the up-to-date novelist. The supporting picture is “ Silence,” which gets its name from the fact that a man prefers execution for a murder he did not commit rather than that the womui who did commit it should suffer the consequences. He, however, makes a wonderful escape. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. Corinne Griffith enjoys a popularity which it is the lot of few screen players to enjoy, and her appearance in a picture may .usually be accepted as a guarantee of its excellence. I n “Into Her Kingdom, which is one of the main pictures at Everybody’s Theatre, she has a role to which she is well suited. The story centres round the fact that according to ’ early Bolshevist rule every unmarried Russian woman was common property. Through no fault of his own Stephen, a Russian peasant, is sent to Siberia for an 1 alleged insult upon the Grand Duchess 1 Tatiana, a very young girl. Upon his re- ' lease, seven years later, he join s the 80l- 1 shevists, who are preparing to execute I the Imperial family. He is ready to re- ‘ venge himself upon Tatiana, now a beau- 1 tiful young woman, but finally he is per- ' suaded to escape to America with the ' girl. Although at first reluctant the . beauty of- Tatiana at last persuades him, 4 and he marries her. What follows makes < a story of unusual power and interest. The j second picture is “ Bobbed Hair,” the cast ! of which includes such well-known players as Marie Prevost, Kenneth Harlan, ajjd - Louise Fazenda. Marie Prevost has the \

role of a young woman who has to decide between her suitors, by th© question of bobbing her hair. She becomes involved in a series of adventures, which bring her a new suitor and a solution of her problem. PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. The change of programme at the Plaza and Grand Theatres comprises two very good pictures, which are remarkably well put on the screen. Both will have their spocial admirers, the object in making the selection evidently being to meet the taste of all. Renee Adoree is to be complimented upon her portrayal of the heroine in “ Back to God’s Country,” adapted for the screen from a novel by James Oliver Curwood. The play is full of stir, and in the midst of it all Miss Adoree appears as a girl of the vast wind-swept regions of the North who has mothered many animals, amongst them being a bear, an owl, a wolf, a pocupine, 15 Alaskan dogs, and a baby reindeer—quite a menagerie. The actress is said to have become so attached to the last-named animal that she purchased it at the conclusion of th© production. Both the wolf, Wapi, and the bear, Dinah, play important parts in the play. The story is an intensely interesting one, and i$ exceedingly well told by a strong company of artists, the principal male part being filled by Robert Frazer. The other picture is “ Slaves of Beauty,” a mixture of pathos and comedy. The story is by Nina Wilcox Putnam, and those filling the filmed roles are Holmes Herbert and Olive Tell. The trend of the story may be easily guessed from the title.' It is by no mean's difficult to pick the “ beauties ” and the “ slaves,” and imagine what invariably happens when they come in contact.

KING EDWARD THEATRE. A programme of unusual strength is now being screened at the King Edward Theatre. 'First on the list is “ The Valley of Hell,” an unusual Western drama, that delighted audiences at its initial screening last evening, while second only in interest and excitement is K Robbed Hair,” a delightful story of romance and adventure, starring Marie Prevost. The third attraction is episode 5 of “ The Silent Flyer ’’—quite the best and most thrilling of this splendid series. ENTERTAINMENT AT CARISBEOOK. An entertainment of a really novel kind is to be presented at Cansbrook this evening, w»en the Kaikorai, St. Kilda, Tramways, and Mosgiel Brass Bands and the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band will give a quickstep display. The marches and other items which these bands will play at the band contest in Christchurch will also be played, and an attractive musical programme is assured. The programme also includes cycling races, 100yds flat races, 3COyds, and mile flat