AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20701, 26 April 1929, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

STRAND THEATRE. The management of the Strand Theatre will offer to-day, for a short season, the United Artists’ film production, “ The Woman Disputed,” which, stars the screen’s greatest emotional actress, Norma Talraadgc. This theatre always attentive to the tastes of discriminating audiences, presents “ The Woman Disputed” with the sense of security and confidence that attends all really great pictures. This is a picture claimed to bo entirely different from any photoplay ever seen in Dunedin. Hero is wonderful acting, such sympathetic direction, and such a tender, passionate theme, that the finished product, the film “ The Woman Disputed,” is said to come <fs near to real perfection as any human art can make it, This was the picture chosen from hundreds to open the new Tivoli Theatre in London. After the premiere screening a leading London critic wrote: “ ‘ The Woman Disputed’ is the most brilliant and enthralling drama seen in London for a long time. Marvellous in its. spectacular sweep, narrative, glamour, and especially in the extraordinary exhibition of sustained emotional acting of Miss Norma Talmadge, Her performance must come near to being the most sensational in the history of the kincma, Tim beauty of the story, its action, its poignant climax, and its vibrant atmosphere can never be equalled—that is ‘ The Woman Disputed ’ —a picture that will be remembered when many of the so-called wonder pictures are forgotten,” Included iu ’the players appearing in support of Miss Talmadge are Gilbert Roland, Arnold Kent, and other members. of the company total several thousand actors. REGENT THEATRE. “ Shadows of the Night,” a sensational story of newspaper life, will be screened at the Regent Theatre to-day. The . story follows a newspaper man and his dog as they brave the perils of the gangster world to trail a bandit chief to bis lair. Sergeant O’Flabcrty is out to round up the notorious Feagan gang which has caused terror in his district, and Feagan, head of the gunmen, is out to get him. Jimmy Sherwood and his dog, Flash, are working on the story of the “ clean up ” for a metropolitan newspaper, and arc present when Feagan, mistaking a patrolman for O’Flaherty, kills him. Jimmy grabs the killer, but is knocked unconscious while Flash gives chase after the killer makes his getaway, ripping one of the license plates from the car. From the license plate Jimmy learns • that Feagan frequents a cafe, where Jimmy gets a job. Here he meets Molly, who is trying to break away from the gang and go straight, but Feagan’s brutal treatment prevents this. Jimmy offers to help her. Feagan plans to-get O’Flaherty again and throw the blame on. Jimmy. Molly conveys this information to Jimmy, who sends a note to O’Flaherty by Flash, for Feagan and his gang are watching Jimmy and Molly. Tlie dog reaches the Sergeant just as he is ringing in and O’Flaherty calls for the flying squadron, going to the cafe to hold the gang. Before the police arrive, Feagan shoots O’Flaherty, the lights are turned out and the gang escapes. The city is combed for Feagan, but no trace is found until Flash, taking the _ trail, leads Jimmy to where Feagan is hiding out and planning to escape, in a coffin, the police ring which surrounds the district. The funeral cortege, with Feagan gangsters as the pallbearers and mourners, starts through the city, Flash following. Jimmy, having escaped after being tied up and thrown iu a closet by the gang before they left, warns two officers that Feagan is in the hearse, and they give chase. Hearing the sirens of the police-car, the funeral cortege splits up. Flash folio is the hearse, finally overtaking it, and jumps on the driver’s seat. A fight ensues between the driver and Flash, the hearse tearing down the street at breakneck speed, just missing street cars, trucks and other automobiles, Jimmy and the police giving chase. . Flash manages to win the fight vith the driver, and the hearse crashes into an elevated support, turning over, killing the driver and pinning Flash underneath. Feagan, injured, crawls from the coffin and weakly starts to make his getaway. Flash works his way free and goes after the gangster, holding him until the police come. When Jimmy and the police arrive they find Feagan, who had said he would never be taken alive, dead. Jimmy and Molly are brought together, and wit’ Flash eventually find happiness. Lawrence Gray plays the reporter, and Louise Lorraine the heroine, and the dog is played by “Flash,” the Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer “ wonder dog,” which recently made his debut in “ Under the Black Eagle.” ' Jacquiline Logan was chosen to enact the leading role iu “ Midnight Madness,” which is the supporting feature on the programme. There is action, it is said, iu every foot of this thrilling story of a man’s fight to gain his wife’s love. Moving swiftly from a modern business office to the jungles of Africa, the story has not a dull moment. Clive Brook, the famous English actor, plays the part of the husband. OCTAGON THEATRE. The third Fox Movietone programme will be screened at the Octagon Theatre to-night. “Talkie Short Subjects" is the latest Movietone achievement, the recording of the voice of King George V in his last public speech prior to his serious illness—the official opening of the now Tyne bridge at Newcastle. The King’s voice is said- to record perfectly, and there is clarity iu every syllable. Of interest to all New Zealanders, therefore, comes tliis Fox Movietone sound subject, an indication of what the new wonder entertainments have accomplished and will in future achieve. “ The Red Dance,” the principal dramatic attraction, comes to Dunedin after p recordbreaking run in Wellington. Dolores Dd Rio, Charles Farrell, and Ivan Linow, a giant Russian, are cast in the principal roles. The story of this latest box feature deals with the Russia of the revolution, and shows the turbulent scenes of the times in logical story. Dolores Del Rio, as the peasant girl Tasia, "’ho becomes a leader of the revolutionists, and the famous “ Red Dancer ” of Moscow, is seen in probably the most colourful role of her career. diaries Farrell, as the Grand Duke Eugene, again scores as he did in "Seventh Heaven” and “Street Angel.” Ivan Linow, a burly giant, plays his part of tlie peasant who becomes a general with humour as well as a certain ferocity. There are plenty of thrills, a fine romance, and scenes of unusual historical interest in this production. The Czar and his family, Rasputin, the black monk, Tortsky, and other famous characters of the revolution, play their parts and help round a perfect entertainment. There is a delightful musical score played by the orchestra from the Koxy Theatre. A feature of the music is the theme song, “.Somewhere Someday Ue’ll Meet Again,” which is played throughout the film, and which is eun«at the end by the Roxy Theatre Male Chom EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. Another excellent double-feature programme will commence its week’s season at Theatre to-day headed 6y “ Golf Widows,” , an hilarious farce comedy. “ Golf Widows ” relates the adventures of au insurance salesman, who is ready to write policies on every possible risk. He has two clients, who prove exceptionally profitable. They insure their games against rain; themselves against losing their wives, and their homes against damage from a mis-

guided ball in practice matches. The insurance agent learns that his profession is' at times dangerous, and frequently leads to embarrassing complications, which endanger his own love affair. The two golf enthusiasts find that infatuation for the game is a sure cause of domestic troubles and a highly expensive pastime. The wives realise that it doesn’t pay to go hunting for adventures if one >a married to a golfer, plenty of them will come to one without looking. The supporting picture is “The Plastic Age,” featuring Clara Bow. It is ■£ story of youth in ail of ita fast-moving phases, but it holds just as much interest for the adults. It has a definite moral to depict, which necessitates the showing a bit of life that youth is apt to follow wheu it Imaks away from the family hearth for the first time. The story is logical and gripping, and it has a dash that is most refreshing. Also it has Clara Bow, that enticing little . actress, whose exploits are worth while in any picture in which she appears. Donald Keith has a fine part in the role of Hugh Carver, the hero of the Marks novel. KING EDWARD THEATRE. Again the King Edward Theatre provides a double feature programme which is made up of two fine pictures. The main feature is the western story “ Kit Carson,” featuring Fred Thomson and Silver King. Spectacular backgrounds, mass movements of whites and Indians, struggles between trappers and red men, with Fred Thomson and his white horse Silver King at their best, combine to make “ Kit • Carson ” one of the outstanding pictures of the season. Two pleasing love stories are threaded into the drama—one with a pretty Indian girl, and the other with a Spanish woman. This latter role is played by Nora Lane. The Indian girl, a newcomer, is Dorothy Janis. The second picture is the light farce, “ Golf Widows,” featuring Vera Reynolds and Harrison Ford. “ Gold Widows ” is a novelty of the links in which galavanting golfers and wandering wives become entangled in a web of hilarious complications. It is overflowing with unusual situations, spontaneous humour, and beautiful photographic backgrounds. GRAND AND PLAZA THEATRES. An, exceptional double feature programme is announced for screening at the Grand and Plaza Theatres this afternoon. Heading the bill is the British Dominions Films latest release, “A Woman iu Pawn,” which is said to be a tremendously gripping and thrilling melodrama of a London business man’s combat with a financial rival. Two British stars are featured in John Stuart and Gladys Finnings, who give a polished and skilful, display. Exploiting the theme that money is the root of evil, the play revolves around an unscrupulous financier who measures feminine reputations in cash terms. Adhering to this theory lie precipitates a double domestic crisis, and is murdered. The murder further ■ complicates the crisis, which affects two homes, and the reactions of widely divergent types to the circumstances provide enthralling study and' entertainment. The second attraction is “A Lunatic at Large,” and features two popular players in Leon Errol and Dorothy Mackaill. It should delight any audience. The latest British News will also be screened, and a new series of comedies entitled “ Walter the Sleuth.” FLOOD RELIEF ENTERTAINMENT. “ Ups and Downs,” at Burns Hall on Saturday and Monday next, should add considerably to the Flood Relief Fund. The entertainment consists of short plays ranging from the newest low comedy hits to a scene from Euripides’s “Hypilytus,” beautifully staged and dressed. The name of Miss G. Helen Gard’uer as producer should assure patrons of an artistic performance, while among the cast are many of Dunedin’s leading amateurs. • ' 1 UNIVERSITY CONCERT.-* A new type of concert, , the first of a series organised by Dr Galway, the University lecturer in music, will be given in Allen Hall on Saturday evening. ' In addition to songs by Handel, Scarlatti, Verdi, Schubert, and Strauss, sung by Mr David Blair, there will be a Bach concerto (solo pianist, Mr Max Scherek), a violin concerto (soloist,. Miss Isobel Langlands), and Tchaikovsky’s B flat major concerto (solo pianist, Miss Maisie M'Donald).