AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20432, 12 June 1928, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

OCTAGON THEATRE. Jackie Coogan’s productions generally attract good houses, and “ Buttons,” his latest picture, is no exception, for audiences has approved of Jackie’s romance as a cadet in the merchant marine. In his earlier pictures the boy was always placed in the position of “ the under dog,” but in “ Buttons ” he cultivates the acquaintance of the captain’s page and by interfering in the former’s love affairs creates many humorous situations. Though the film is essentially a romantic one, the value of dramatic incident is not overlooked, and this is introduced by the sinking of a transatlantic liner, with the unfortunate “ Buttons ” confined in disgrace in the ship’s brig, and eventually going down with the captain on the bridge; but tbe audience is not permitted to be disappointed, for a tragedy is averted, and all are saved. Tbe elements that combine to make the story attractive are contained in the intriguing of the villain, a fair lady, and a romantic officer, buttons’ scheming and fighting with his young enemy, and an entertaining number ot people w-ho aid and abet young Jackie in his pranks. Lars Hansen and Gertrude Olmstead are the most prominent of a strong supporting cast. Throughout the picture the interest of the spectators is held by the sophisticated acting of Coogan, and his amazing self possession in the most trying situations In each picture he strives to exhibit a different facet of the manysided crystal that constitutes his character, and in each successive picture he is successful in his aim, presenting at the same time the various characteristics that have made him popular with picture patrons. A good selection of music is provided by the Octagon Orchestra, under the baton of M. de Rose. There is a dramatic fantasia, “ The Bartered Bride ” (Smetana), while the overture is that old favourite —-Nikolai’s “ Merry Wives of Windsor.” REGENT THEATRE. The Regent Theatre programme this week includes two pictures of different types, and both have different locales; but “ Hula ” and “ Honeymoon Hate ” have two attractions in common —beautiful scenery and sparkling comedy. “ Honeymoon Hate ” carries the audience to picturesque Venice with its gondolas and old world castles, and ‘ Hula ” vividly depicts the charm and freedom of life in the Hawaiian Islands. “Hula” is an adaptation from a novel of the same name by Armine von Tempski; and the vivacious Clara Bow has the title role. The picture opens on a scene of gaiety in the Calhouns’ house, and “Hula” for a bet enters the house on horseback. Shortly after, Hula’s birthday is celebrated by a special feast in her honour, and all and sundry attend it. Hula is showered with garlands of flowers after the fashion of the Islands. She has an ardent admirer who, however, has never been able to stir a reciprocal passion in her, but eventually the day arrives when Hula meets a newcomer, an engineer who scores an immediate conquest. The young man (Clive Brooke) is so carried off his feet by the impetuous lovemaking of the girl that he forgets that he is already married, until one day a letter arrives to remind him of the unwelcome fact. He straightway devotes himself to his work, and avoids Hula, who, nevertheless, continues the siege on his affections, and later when she perceives a rival apparently securing an advantage over her, she forces the issue, and the man is again tempted and again succumbs. The situation becomes very delicate when the wife comes to the island and begins to. intrigue with the rival to defeat Hula, and the engineer is divided between duty to his mercenary wife and love for the girl. Hula is not deterred by the wife’s presence, and adopts a clever ruse to win her lover which proves entirely successful. “ Honeymoon Hate ” deesefibes a very entertaining series of incidents that befall a loving but strongwilled pair on the first night of their : honeymoon. The orchestra under Mr Maurice Guttridge, render pleasing numbers throughout the evening, which add in no small degree to the enjoyment of the programme. EMPIRE THEATRE. The principal attraction at the Empire Theatre is “ The Life of Riley,” featuring Charlie Murray and George Sidney, who, as funmakers, have few rivals. It can be described as a small town story of romance and comedy to which there is also added for good measure action in the form of a clash between the Irish and the Dutch. In Elmdale Centre, Riley (Murray) is the chief of the fire brigade and Meyer (Sidney) is chief of police. The two are rivals for a wealthy widow, one Penelope Jones. One day there comes a circus, including in its company Molly O’Rourke, a charming Irish colleen, who very quickly wins the heart of Meyer’s son. A circus man enters the lists against the rival chiefs and takes up his abode in Elmdale Centre to further his suit with the widow. The following night Molly visits the general store, owned by Rilev, and the latter and Meyer, mistaking her for a burglar, begin a long pursuit. which is replete with amusing situations, and finally ends in Molly’s capture. Riley adopts her, and she works with young Meyer in the store. Riley gives a demonstration at bis store of a fire extinguisher that he has patented, hut, unfortunately, some persons with a perverted sense of humour had filled the extinguisher with petrol, with results that can easily be imagined. The following sequence up to the time that one of the rivals wins the widow and the young couple emerge from their difficulties to find happiness in each other, are both interesting and diverting. The film version of “ Gigolo,” from the story of Edna Ferber, is well presented, and Rod La Roque gives an interesting portrayal of “ Gid,” a wealthy American' boy whose mother is possessed of a strong European complex. Louise Dresser capably fills the part of the mother, and the story is concerned with Gid’s disfigurement at the war, and later with his adventures as a “ gigolo,” a professional dancing man. The local features cover the second and third day’s racing at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s winter meeting, the South African War veterans’ memorial parade, and other features of current interest. GRAND AND PLAZA THEATRES. Two of the most outstanding motion picture players of - modern times, Ronold Coleman (of Beau Geste fame) and Lilian Gish, the heroine of many of the best screen romances, have the principal roles in “ The White Sister,” which is attracting large audiences at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. Miss Gish gives a fine study of Angela, the heroine of the novel, who found the hand of fate against her when she came to love the dashing captain of engineers. The fact of the picture being filmed in the actual settings of the novel —Italy and Northern Africa and charm to the production. An impressive climax is provided by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which, belching forth fire and lava, pounds a reservoir to pieces and floods a sleeping village. A subsidiary cast of picked Italian players lends reality to the picture, which must certainly be ranked among Miss Gish’s best. “The Thirteenth Juror” is an exciting mystery story featuring Anna Q. Nilsson and Francis X. Bushman. It is a thrilling melodrama, which is, however, relieved with the proper amount of mystciy. QUEEN'S THEATRE. A double film, consisting of “ The Eagle ” and “ Down to the Sea in Ship*,” is being presented to patrons of the Queen's Theatre this week. Rudolph Valentino and Yilma Banky are seen in the leading parts in this production, which is now showing at the Queen’s Theatre. The locale of the picture is set in Russia, and it describes the heart adventures of the Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin. Valentino appears in three guises—first as a Cossack lieutenant, then as an adventurous bandit, and while in masquerade as a French tutor. In each he gives an excellent portrayal of the character he represents. The alluring Yilma Banky plays the part of the daughter of the Eagle’s enemy, and gives an excellent characterisation of her part. “ Down to the Sea in Ships ” is a thrilling tale, in which a young couple overcome apparently insurmountable obstacles for the sake of a great love, and gives the audience a good idea of the perils and romande associated with the “ golden days of whaling.” EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. A Metropolitan production. “ Meet the Prince.” featuring Joseph Schildkraut, is one of the two attractions now being featured at Everybody's Theatre. Marguerite de la Motte, Vera Steadman, and Julia Faye also have prominent roles. -• Meet the Prince,” is a screen representation ol the old and new Russian

Court. The story centres around a prince and his sister, who are impoverished by the revolution, and emigrate to America, where the prince obtains a position as butler to a millionaire. The princess, his sister, meets and falls in love with an American whom she eventually marries, and' the prince goes one better by wedding the daughter of an American revolutionist. After going through many experiences, and learning many lessons, the prince found that a noble without a castle is similar to the average American —a dependable and resourceful fellow. “Come to My House,” starring Antonio Moreno and Olive Bor-den, is a picture of rival merit. KING EDWARD THEATRE. “Meet the Prince,” with Joseph Schildkraut in the royal role, is the chief attraction at the King Edward Theatre this week. It is the story of a Russian prince and his sister who, to escape from Soviet Russia, emigrate to America. The story is a happy one, and is of high entertainment value. The second feature is “ Come to My House,” with Antonio Moreno and Olive Borden in the chief parts. “ GETTING GERTIE’S GARTER.” A pretty maid,, a jealous fiance, a jewelled garter, and a broken eng igement are the combination that makes “ Getting Gertie’s Garter,” which will come to the Empire Theatre on Friday next, a most entertaining farce-comedy. Added to thees essential concomitants is the vivacious and sparkling personality of Marie Prevost, the star, and the result is a hilarious comedy. It is the story of the trouble that is caused by a young man’s jealousy. “ Gertie ” is one of Mane Prevost’s best roles, and Charles Ray gives her excellent support. Coney Island, the playground of New York’s 5,000,000 people, plays an important part in “ The Big Noise,’ the second picture. All the glamour and colour of the famous carnival of fun is brought to the screen and presents a vivid contrast to the scenes showing New York’s lower East Side, where much of the action in the picture takes place. “ The Big Noise ” was written for First National Pictures by Ben Hecht, and centres around the power of the sensational American newspaper in making and breaking reputations over night. Chester Conklin plays the featured role in the production, which was directed by Allan Dwan. The supporting cast includes Alice White. Sam Hardy, David Torrance, Bodil Rosing, Jack Egan, and many others. SCHUBERT CENTENARY FESTIVAL. Music lovers the whole world over are this year, honouring Franz Schubert by special performances of his works, and this end of the world will not be behindhand, in adding its tokens of recognition. Such is the greatness and beauty of Schubert’s compositions that to-day, 100 years after his death, they live with a mighty youth and freshness. This year thousands of musical pilgrims will stand bareheaded at his tomb in grateful remembrance of one who has give’, to the world music of such wholesome sweetness and charm. So all embracing is his appeal that kings and peasants will unite in doing him honour. For the festival to be given under the direction of Mr G. W. Johnstone on Tuesday next, an excellent programme has been prepared, consisting of string quartet, piano solos, violin solos, and a number of glorious songs, which have never been equalled in the literature of music. Arrangements for booking arc advertised. “SHE’S A SHEIK.” Vivacious Bebe Daniels and the popular hero, Richard Dix, will both appear on the one bill at the Regent Theatre on Friday next in one of the biggest double-feature programmes yet presented. Miss Daniels’s latest production is “ She’s a Sheik,” an hilarious comedy-drama, with a Foreign Legion setting. As Zaida, bewitching granddaughter of Sheik Yusiff ben Hamad, the star is given a, chance to indulge in all the action and laugh situations that Director Clarence Badger could devise. She fights a duel with the man she hates, kidnaps the man she loves, tries to tame him, and change his hate into love, saves the Foreign Legion troops when they are surrounded by Arabs, prevents a shooting squad from killing her fiance, and performs a hundred other feats. In “ Shanghai Bound,” Richard Dix has unquestionably the finest role of his career. The story, that of a secret service officer’s adventures on the Yang-tsze, is the first to be based on'the tempestuous Chinese revolution, and it holds the interest of the audience from beginning to end. Mary Brian, of “ Peter Pan ” fame, supports the star. A new musical programme will be played by the Regent Operatic Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Maurice Guttridge.