AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20380, 11 April 1928, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. A rather famous drama, entitled “ Three Faces East,” founded upon incidents connected with the secret service during the war period, is the latest production at the Empire Theatre, and has already won its way to public favour, and deservedly so. It is a screen adaptation of a stage story, and Jetta Goudai is seen in two different characters at her very best. Miss Goudal’s first impersonation is that of Miss Hawtree, a supposed German spy, who is in the confidence of rival powers and is represented as giving valuable information to both sides. This intriguing young woman falls in love with a German spy by the name of Valdar, who, •at a critical point in the story, is just going to let an air raid loose on London when the lady covers him with her revolver, and will not let him send the message. There is a revolver duel, and the German is mortally wounded. This is by no means an isolated instance of a highly exciting kind. Finally, the true identity of Miss Hawtree is revealed, the revelation being a rather extraordinary and startling one. The cast is very strongly filled with wellknown picture artists, and the whole drama is remarkably well screened. In addition to “ Three Faces East,” patrons have the chance of seeing an interesting budget of the “ Empire Local News,” in which is presented a number of pictures of local sports and games. As usual, the orchestral music is quite a feature of the evening. OCTAGON THEATRE. The many admirers of Ramon Novarro have an opportunity of seeing him on the screen of the Octagon Theatre at the present time in “ The Road to Romance, ’ a title that bids fair to cover an attractive story, which it certainly does. “ The Road to Romance ” is founded upon the novel “Romance”; the joint production of Joseph Conrad and F. M. Hueffer, and is an exciting account of wild doings in the Caribbean Sea, in the old piratical days of long ago. The pirates’ lair is in the island of Reigo, off the coast of Cuba, and left on the island are the bed-ridden Don Carlos and his beautiful sister Serafina. A crafty Spaniard, one Don Balthasar, keeps them there, and is conspiring with the pirates. Their tyrant designs to marry the lovely Serafina, who is not too fond of the Don. His matrimonial venture rather miscarries all through. Then arrives on the island of Reigo, in the guise of a ragged sea rover, a Captain Jose Amando, who has been despatched by the King of Spain to help old Don Carlos out of his difficulties, and it is this ragged gentleman who upsets all Don Balthasar’s plans and schemes, and rescues and captivates the charming Serafina, who is by no means reluctant to give herself to a gallant who is consumed with love. Before a proper understanding is, however, reached much happens, and all is on the most romantic of romantic lines. There is an abundance of excitement in the picture play, which is over on the increase. QUEEN’S THEATRE. The main feature now showing at the Queen’s Theatre, the film of the HceneySharkey fight, is a picture in which boxing enthusiasts will find great interest. Heeney is now qualified to meet the world’s champion, Gene Tunney, and his rise to fame has been so keenly followed by bis admirers that the fight which gave him the right to meet the champion is fraught with especial interest. The two men are seen in 12 rounds of scientific boxing, and as the actual photography is of the best, a first-class picture of its nature is to be seen. The second feature is a Western film, “Galloping Fury,’ with Hoot Gibson in the leading role. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “ Charley’s Aunt,” the screen version of the popular stage comedy of the same name, with Sid Chaplin in the featured role, is one of the two pictures of exceptional merit now showing at Everybody's Theatre. As the film adheres closely to the plot of the play, the result is one of the most amusing pictures ever screened. The other picture is the “ Cowboy Cop, in which Tom Tyler takes the leading part. Tom first makes his appearance in the familiar cowbity,role associated with bis name, but almost immediately the audience is whisked into the underworld intrigue of the “ Big Town,” where I om, as a mounted policeman, displays with good effect his knowledge of guns and horses. PLAZA AND GRAND THEATRES. Tom Mix, always a favourite with the large section of the public to whom W estern pictures have a strong appeal, is featured in his latest film, “Tumbling River,” appearing at the Plaza and Grand Theatres this week. Tom takes the role of a ranch owner, whose well-bred horses are the envy of the country. Tony and Buster, his two prize mounts, he values far beyond his other worldly possessions, and when Buster is stolon by rustlers, the excitement commences in earnest. In his pursuit of the horse thieves Tom finds an opportunity to display his magnificent horsemanship, and in the final scenes, when he outwi’ the rustlers and recovers his horse, the action is fast and exciting. A delightful thread of romance runs throughout the picture, and, needless to say, the ending is entirely satisfactory. The second feature on the programme is “ What Every Girl Should Know,” with Patsy Ruth Miller in the leading role. BROADWAY DANCE CLUB. The Broadway Dance Club is holding a carnival night at its weekly dance tomorrow night, when the attractions will include balloons, spot lights, and carnival ribbons. Will Smith’s Dance Band will supply the music for the dance, and a competition, with a liberal number of prizes, should prove an attraction to patrons who attend. “HIS LADY.” Even without its absorbing story and thrilling action, Warner Bros.’ production of “ His Lady,” featuring John Barrymore, would bo a first-class picture, because of its sheer pictorial beauty. Besides its many-sided appeal to the imagination it is an ever-changing delight to the eye. No expense was spared in the erection of the settings, complete and realistic in every detail. The costumes, of a naturally colourful and decorative period, are striking and full of variety. The photography of these by the man who filmed “Tho Sea Beast” and “Don Juan” accentuates them and suffuses them with a romantic gamour which enchants the mind and gives tho spectator the illusion of reality. “His Lady,” which will have its initial screening at the Empire Theatre on Friday, has as its setting the gay and dissolute Paris of Louis XV, when love and the chases were the chief occupations of the few and dire poverty the lot of the many. Dolores Costello, the adorable heroine of “The Sea Beast,” has arisen to even greater dramatic heights in this production. The rest of the cast includes Sam De Grasse, Holmes Herbert, Warner Oland, Marceile Corday, Charles Clary, Templar Saxe, Eugenie Bresseser, Bertram Grasby, Noble Johnson, Stuart Holmes, Tom Santschi, Tom Wilson, ami others. Alan Crosland directed “His Lady,” which is a Master Picture. “THE GAY RETREAT.” “ The Gay Retreat,” something new in the way of war comedies, produced for Fox Films under the direction of Ben Stoloff, will come to tho Octagon Theatre on Friday night. It is a hilarious picturisation of some of the many funny situations the boys found themselves in when they took leave without asking permission during the late war. Unlike the majority of war comedies, there is a definite plot having to do with the sleepwalking activities of the son of a certain millionaire and the faithful watch kept over him by his two trusty bodyguards, sent to Franco with his father with instructions never to leave their young master out of their sight. Gene Cameron, an extremely popular young comedian, plays the leading role. Sammy Cohen and Ted M'Nainara, who played in “ What Price Glory.” are his attendants, and Holmes Herbert, well-known character actor, is his father. The feminine end of the picture is held up by Judy King | and Betty Francisco, Judy playing a I French girl and Betty the lovely driver [ of an ambulance whom Gene leaves behind for liia father to take care of. Ben Stoloff, who served his apprenticeship as a director making two reel comedies for Fox, directed the production, which was I adapted from an original story by William Conselman and Edward Marshall.