AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20704, 30 April 1929, Page 17

AMUSEMENTS.

STRAND THEATRE. " The reliable theatre ” is a rather common title, now given to the Strand Theatre, on account of the practically unbroken run of good pictorial matter that has been seen on the screen for a fairly lengthy period.. Norma Talmadge is always attractive, and her impersonation of the leading female part in “The Woman Disputed” must.be included amongst her best efforts. The story may be somewhat grim, but there is a good deal of realism about it, and it is not made too grim to be unpalitable. As Mary Ann Wagner, Miss Talmadge is seen in a great pictorial character. Mary mets with two army officers, and the acquaintance changes the tenor of her whole life. Both Paul and Nika (Austrian and Russian respectively) fall in love with Mary. Then war breaks out, nad Nika gets his m’st blow in by telling the girl he loves her. Unhappily for him he discovers that the Austrian has got in ahead of him, and that Mary loves the Austrian. Naturally the Russian is furious, when he finds he has been beaten in a matter of affection. He, unfortunately, obtains his opportunity when Mary is brought in amongst a number of other prisoners. A terrible torture Is devised, but to save the other prisoners, the girl sacrifices herself. Eventually the lovers are united, and everything is ex T plained away. Though the story is as old as the hills, it is wonderfully portrayed by Miss Talmadge and those associated with her. The supports are very good. ■ EMPIRE THEATRE. In an interesting story in the main picture at the Empire Theatre, Glen Tryon and Patsy Ruth Miller make their characters appeal to the spectator. The title of the picture is “ The Gate Crasher,” which conveys a promise of great things. Serious as the title may sound, the picture production is a comedy, and a clever one. To epitomise the story Dick Henshaw, an amateur detective, gets into touch with a stage star by the name of Mara-di-Leon. and falls in love with her. Being a police officer, he is placed in a position to save the young lady’s jewellery, stolen by her worthless maid servant, and press agent. The hero follows the heroine to the “big city,” where the theft of the jewels is discovered. There is, of course, a big hunt for the jewels, which have again been stolen, and Dick is “pushed” into assuming the burlesqued character of an heroic Roman. In the end he is ejected, but is determined to get the jewels back. Needless to say, he succeeds, and, wins the object of his adoration. The second feature is “The Blitter and. Egg Man,” with Jack _ Mulhall and Greta Nissen in the principal characters. In brief, the story is of a young man from the country, who is induced to invest his money in a theatrical show. The exhibition proves a failure, from a financial point of view. The chief financier buys the failure — really on account of, the ■ leading lady. There are many turns in the story—amusing and serious—apart from the screen Martin MacDnff and Ivy Jermyn add considerably to the entertainment, Mr MacDuff, known in earlier days as Mr Martin Duff, always had a nice tenor voice for a certain class of music, and his singing was always acceptable. Now it has vastly impfoved. The orchestra; which is in .the charge of Mr Charles Aves, plays excellent music. OCTAGON THEATRE. The third programme of "talkies” has only confirmed previous impressions as to their worth. Once more, at the Octagon Theatre, it has been proved that the Fox movietone films are the medium of an exceedingly attractive form of entertainment.- Amongst tire more popular spoken matter is a speech made by King George V, previous to the recent illness that has so much disturbed the public mind. The occasion upon which his Majesty speakers is the opening of a new bridge at New-eastle-on-Tyne. The synchronisation of sight and hearing, so far as those present at the Octagon is concerned, is wonderful. and is a striking example of the strides made in scientific research and knowledge in one direction at least. General Godley also talks from the screen, An incident in the life of Stephen and Foster, who composed, the old American plantation melody, "My Old Kentucky Home,” to say nothing of many other simple, quaint, but beautifully tuneful melodies forms'the basis of-"In a Music Shoppe,” a small light musical play. The feature of the evening is “The Red Dance.” in which ihe chief artist is the beautiful and dainty Dolores del Rio. The music connected with this plays a most important payt in the undoubted success it achieves. Charles Farrell takes the leading male part, and the Russian Revolution is the source of the plot. Tasia (Miss del Rio) is left alone in the world and vows vengeance against the persecutors of her father and mother. There is a Grand Duke introduced into tlie picture, whose sympathies are with the people. Then comes a romance between Tasia and the Duke. The singing of the Roxy Male Choir adds to the effectiveness of the picture. • REGENT THEATRE. A double-feature programme is, being screened at the Regent Theatre, and cannot fail to • please, “ Shadows , of the Night” is one of the'attractions, in which "Flash,” a remarkably clever dog, is the star. The story is of a dog and a newspaper man who. set out on the trail of an unscrupulous set of characters. Feagan is the head of this'gang of ruffians, and getting news of -the capture of one of the gang, the newspaper man (Jimmy Sherwood) scents a possible “story.” There is a plan by Feagan to kill Sergeant O’Flaherty, and a dancing girl is used as a decoy to lure the sergeant to destruction However, the plan fails, and instead of the sergeant, a constable is killed by mistake. Incidentally Jimmy, who goes to tire rescue, is “knocked out.” Then “ Flash ’’ comes on the scene. Jimmy recovers, and in due course meets Molly, with whom he falls in love. Much more follows of an interesting and exciting nature, but Jimmy, with the assistance of “Flash,” wins through, and there is a very happy scene at the end. The other feature is ,“Midnight Madness,” an inkling of the nature of which may he obtained from its name. "FOUR WALLS.” ■“Four Walls,” the big attraction coming to the Regent Theatre on Friday, is said to be a thrilling drama of underworld life and rejuvenation—one of the most poignant human documents ever brought to_ the screen—the . first cofltarnng vehicle of John .Gilbert and Joan Crawford._ “ Four Walls ” offers John Gilbert his strongest role since he appeared in “The Big Parade.” As leader of an underworld gang, his life a vortex of conflicting elements from defiance of the law to abiding romance and lurid drama, he again finds scope for expressing the full extent of his genius. One minute finds his fury, unleashed in dealing with merciless foes without—the next, he is struggling poignantly with himself, striving -o build up a new life clear of the “Four Walls” of hie previous existence. Joan Crawford, it -is said, has never been seen in such an alluring role, in which she blends striking beauty with amazing talent. Franklin Pangborn will be remembered for his work in "The Girl .the Pullman ” an d “Blonde for Choice, when his inimitable, idiotic characterisations . proved him to be a comedian of outstanding merit. - In “ My Friend frtm India,” which will be shown next week in addition to “ Four Walls,” Pangborn is starred in a strong cast, which includes Jeanette Loff. one of the screen’s most beautiful younger artists He plays the part of “the -friend,” a pseudo, Hindu prince, and everyone is taken in by hitu until two other princes arrive on the scene. "My Friend from indit i s claimed to be one of the richest farces ever screened. GRAND AND PLAZA THEATRES. The well-earned merit of the pictures recently screened at the Grand and Plaza Theatres is not by any means threatened by the most. recent addition to the lists A Lunatic at Large ” is a clever adaptation, with Dorothy Mackail] in the lead ing female role. The lunatic is tricked into a private asylum, established for wealthy men-of feeble mind. He escapes but not without adventure and misadventure,, and finally confronts a quartet Cf guards. He makes a very picturesque and dramatic escape over a stone wall and lands in a gravel pit. There he is picked up by an automatically worked steam shovel; and deposited,. more dead than, alive, on a huge pile of debris. On another occasion the lunatic makes an hazardous jump from a balloon. The •thcr attraction is “-The- "Woman-’in

Pawn, in which one man receives another man’s wife in pawn. Strong situations arise, and the climax is a very powerful one. "THE LUCK OF THE NAVY.” The high quality of the new British Dominion Film releases in Dunedin has been the subject of most favourable comment.. On Friday next the Grand and Plaza Theatres will screen the British special, "The Luck of tihe Navy, w which is generally reckoned to be that company’s most outstanding film production to date. tv A® , a melodrama and a big British testimony to the “Silent Service. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. At Everybody’s Theatre a strong programme is being screened. “ Golf mclows in the main feature and relates to the adventures of an insurance salesman, always ready to issue policies, however risky. He has two special customers who insure themselves against the elements, amongst many other things, which could scarcely be altogether carried through in actuality. But “ Golf Widows” is a picture The two men even insure themselves against losing their wives and their homes, and even a misdirected ball at golf practice. infatuation lot golt leads to home disunion. It is a story of one set of people being neglected tor a game, and of complications arising that might easily have been avoided. The other picture is “The Plastic Age.’’ an American college story. The story has been written with the definite object of depicting a moral, and shows, in sparkling form, much that may happen “ when tlie heart is young.” KING EDWARD THEATRE, jkgain to-night the King Edward theatre will present a new -icture programme which is composed of two fine picture^—Peter B. Kyne’s “Valiev of Giants, featuring Milton Sills and Doris Kenyon, being the main attraction, and the supporting feature being “The Plastic Age, featuring Clara Bow. The tormer book is so well known and widely read tnat *k is not necessary to cive a synopsis of the story. Shortly after the publication of The Plastic Ago,” Percy Marks aensationa l novel of college life, the book had readied the best seller class, ihe him version is said to be equally