AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20426, 5 June 1928, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE. The Regent Theatre continues to attract large audiences which are desirous of acquainting themselves with the latest addition to the list of picture theatres m this city. The programme provided is distinctly meritorious, and has a® its main feature “ Madame Pompadour, with Dorothy Gish in the title role and Antonio Moreno in the principal male part. The story concerns the life of a ki.ng s favourite, her rise to fame from a humble origin an/d her fickle relations with her royal lover. She falls in love with a vagabond artist, but her pew-found love is not proof against her passion for wealth and power. “Two Flaming Youths,” an excellent comedy, with Chester Conklin and W. C. Fields in the leading roles, is a supporting picture. A musical trio, “ The Bohemians,” supply a good turn, and' the orchestral accompaniment is of a high order. EMPIRE THEATRE. A programme of unusual merit is now showing at" the Empire Theatre. The main feature of the programme is “ The Noose,” a striking story of the underworld. with Richard Barthelmess in the leading role. The film is a pictlirisa tion of Willard Mack’s sensational play, and is the story of a youth who is led into evil ways by bad companions, but who goes to the defence of his mother’s reputation when it is assailed, thereby nearly losing his life. Lina Basquette is seen as Dot, the cabaret girl, who stands by the boy through thick and thin. Thelma Todd is the society butterfly who deserts him in his hour of need. Montague Love portrays the villain in a striking manner, and there is a strong supporting cast, which includes Alice Joyce, Ed, Brady, Jay Eaton, Robert O’Connor, and Robert Haines. The second feature is entitled “ For Wives Only,” a comedy having Marie Prevost and Victor Varconi in the principal roles. The story deals with a young' man who leaves his bride in the care of his three best friends, who, however, betray his trust. Another budget of the Empire Weekly News is also on the progremme. OCTAGON THEATRE. The feature picture at the Octagon Theatre, which is conspicuous for photography and delineation of varied characters that play the more important parts, is “Quality street.” founded on a play by Sir James Barrie. Too much praise can scarcely be given to the chief actors and actresses in the production. A careful and judicious selection has been made, and the selectors have evidently chosen those, well, fitted to fill the principal roles. Marion Davies and Conrad N&gel take what may be termed the supreme charapters in the play, and the most critical could scarcely find very much fault with the presentations they give. The scene is an English village, many years ago, and the mainspring is the great affection of a young girl for the village doctor. The medico is not indifferent, but the Napoleonic war, of, terrible memory, arises, and the youthful physician has to take his place in the war, and run the risk of being shot. At the end of a period quite long enough to test the strength and honesty of the affection of both, the young doctor returns and, though the absence has extended over 10 years; tries to pick up the thread where it got suddenly frayed. What' the result of his effort in this direction is makes very interesting matter, the details of which need not be gone into. Marion Davies plays Phoebe Throssel, the village maiden, admirably, and the youthful medico. Brown by name, is very well taken by Conrad Nagel. There is an aboundance of support given by other artists and by another picture. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Rivals in love is the basis of the stor> screened at the Queen’s Theatre in the main picture, the title of which is “ High School Hero.” Two young men, who, being at school, might be regarded as rather juvenile for the tender passion in a serious aspect, get madly in love. Their madness in an affectionate' direction, is the mainspring of much that is amusing. The high school heroes provide-an everlasting stream of humour in the methods of their wooing which, while quite up to date, do not seem to make as great an impression upon the young lady as is desired. The supporting picture is “ Paris at Midnight." EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. A very old screen favourite is to be seen in “ Don Q., Son of Zorro,” at Everybody’s Theatre at present, in the person of Douglas Fairbanks. Douglas is a young knight in the play, and passes through many strange adventures, as becomes' a young knight, some of which are of the amorous kind. In “A Woman of Paris” Adolphe Menjou has a part allotted him which he is specially qualified to fill. He assumes the role of a young boulevadier. who is everlastingly becoming entangled in affairs of the heart while he is bn the brink of becoming maefied. This brings about complications, which are decidedly amusing. GRAND AND PLAZA THEATRES. P. C. Wren’s famous novel, “ Beau Geste,” is now appearing in picture form at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. Ronald Colman assumes the title role, and is supported by Neil Hamilton, Ralph Forbes, Alice Joyce, and Mary Brian. The film is a thrilling story of the French Foreign Legion, a story of love, courage, self-sacrifice, and adventure. The supporting picture is “ The Air Patrol.” “ HULA.” Two outstanding attractions are announced for Friday, when J. C. Williamson’s Films will present, first, Clara Bow (the madcap of the screen) in “Hula,” at the Regent Theatre. It is said that this presentation of Miss Bow is one of the very best pictures offered motion picture lovers. As the title suggests, it is a tale of the Hawaiian Islands, with the stratum of society in the limelight. The story itself is an adap-' tation of a popular modern novel which carries the same title, and which comes from the pen of Armine von Temsky. This cross-section of society life in the shadow of Waikiki, tells the adventures of an American girl, Hawaiian born, who loves an English engineer. Not since “It" has Miss Bow had a vehicle so fitted for her versatility. The second attraction, “Honeymoon Hate,” with Florence Vidor, has a Venetian setting, which was constructed for the filming of this Paramount, production. Waters were turned into the streets, and then realism resulted. Shakespeare revealed certain ways of curing a woman of her terrible temper in “ The Taming of the Shrew,” but Prince Dautarini presents some ' very original ideas in “ Honeymoon Hate.”