AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS.

, OCTAGON THEATRE. The Octagon Theatre has to be acknowledged as the local home of the “ talkies,” otherwise the rnovieione picture. .The “talkies” are only ushering in a new era in the moving picture world. A great feature of the- Octagon Theatre programme is a speech by the King. The speech was delivered by his Majesty prior to his recent illness, on the occasion, of the opening of a new bridge at New: castle-on-Tyne. General Godley also speaks. A musical playlet, “In a Music Shoppe,” deals with the life of Stephen Poster; who wrote an old plantation melody, “ My Old Kentucky Home.” The feature of the evening is “ The Red Dance,”-in which the : chief artist, is the beautiful and dainty Dolores del Rio; The music connected with this plays a most important part 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 thfe 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. EMPIRE THEATRE. Very few opportunities remain to witness the programme now being screened at the Empire Theatre. The feature is “The Gate Crasher,” and Glen Tyron and Patsy Ruth Miller are the mainstays of a good picture, wonderful in many directions. “ The Gate Crasher ” is a comedy, and in the course of the story vividly portrayed on the screen. Dick Henshaw, an amateur detective, gets into touch with a stage star—namely, Mara-di-Leon—-and falls in love with her. As a policeman, he is, more ■ or less compelled to save the young lady’s-jewels, stolen by her maidservant, and a press agent. The hunt for the jewels takes the hero to the city, where he is forced to assume the burlesque character of an heroic Roman. After many failures to obtain the jewels, he finally, succeeds, and also wins the girl. “The Butter and Egg Man” is the supporting attraction, and has Jack Mulhall and Greta Niseen in the leading roles The story in brief concerns a young man from the country who is induced to invest his money in a theatrical show. , MrMartin Mac Duff , and Miss Ivy Jermyn add considerably to the evening’s enjoyment. Mr Mac Duff, known in earlier days as Mr Martin Duff, has a fine tenor voice, while Miss Jermyn is an able and accomplished violinist. The Empire Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Charles Aves, plays some attractive music. “THREE WEEK-ENDS.” . The chief film feature at the Empire Theatre to-morrow will be “ Three Weekends,” in which the principal role is taken by the fascinating and popular Clara Bow. The story is by Elinor Glyn, and the leading male role is taken by Neil Hamilton, with another star, Harrison Ford, in a lesser role. It is a colourful tale, full of fun and clean, wholesome humour, and it should find ready acceptance with all classes of audiences. The talented actress is noted for the personality and idashing; originality which she displays in all her productions, and for that reason all her pictures are eagerly awaited. “Three Week-ends” should prove no less successful or popular than such films as “ Wings,” “Red Hair,” "It,” and “The Fleet’s In”’ The all-star cast with which she is supported should provide all the excellence that an audience could. want in the way of entertainment. The setting of the second picture, "Eve’s Leaves,” is said to be by far the most colourful in which Leatric Joy has ever been seen. First, she appears on the deck of a .big three-masted trader rplying in Chinese waters. Later, a quaint Chinese village is used for the background, with bamboo houses, coolies, and other picturesque features. The climax takes place in the stronghold of the Chinese bandit—-a magnificent castle, high, in the hills. The picture abounds in laughable situations, yet has a nroper proportion of pathos. Included in the local gazette will be pictures of Saturday's football, Alhambra v. University A, the laying of the foundation stone of Selwyn College, 1 etc. A special ■ musical programme ■■ has been selected by Mr Aves for tbe Empire,'orchestra. REGENT THEATRE. The chief feature on the current bill at the Regent Theatre is “ Shadows , of the Night, in which the well-known canine star, Flash, is the principal artist. The story tells how Jimmy Sherwood, a newspaper man. is Flash’s master. Together thev discover that there is a war between the .police and a gang headed by -a man named. Feagau. ■ The latter plans to kill Sergeant. O’Flaherty, who has captured some members of his gang, and lie forces a dancing girl-from a cafe to'act as a decoy. By error, a constable is killed, and, though none of the men can do anything in time, Flash goes after the murderer, and gets the number plate off bis'car. The two friends, soon with the girl Molly to help them, set out on a campaign to' bring the gang to justice, and after many stirring adventures, mainly through the unerring instinct of the dog, Feagau is captured as he tries to escape from hie hiding place in a coftin. This is the climax of the story, which is full of thrills. Mqlly and Jimmy, of course, fall in love in the, early part of the tale, and s it is their happiness that makes the happy ending. “Midnight Madness”, is .the. story of a girl who married for money in a big city, and found love in the wilderness. It is a British production. The Regent Orchestra is again heard in an excellent programme of music. “FOUR WALLS.” “ Four Walls,” the big attraction coming to the Regent Theatre to-morrow, .is said to be a thrilling drama of. underworld life and rejuvenation—one of the most poignant human documents ever brought ‘o the screen —the first costarring vehicle of John Gilbert and Joan Crawford. Benny (John Gilbert), gang leader, shoots a rival because of Frieda, Benny e girl, portrayed by Joan Crawford. Sullivan, a detective, has him sent to prison for four years, during whicn time he resolves to reform.. However; on his release, Frieda fights to win him back, though his mother wants him to marry Bertha.'a l quiet homely girl who has lived with hia mother and brought her consolation throughout the term of Benny’s imprisonment. However, ’in a cabaret fight in which Benny is unwittingly embroiled, Frieda risks her life to save his. and after the police prove their innocence the couple find happiness at last. The picture gives John Gilbert his strongest role since he appeared- in “ The Big Parade.” As leader of mi underworld gang,- his life a vortex of conflicting_ elements from defiance of tbe law to abiding romance and lurid drama, lie again finds scope for expressing toe 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 to build up a new life clear of the “ Four Walls of his previous existence; Joan Crawford, it is said, has never been seen in such an' alluring role, in which | she bends striking beauty with amazing I talent. Franklin Pangborn will be remembered for hia work in “ The Girl in the Pullman ” and “ blonde for Choice” when his inimitable, idiotic characterisations' proved him to be a comedian of outstanding ■ merit. _ In “ My Friend from .India,” which will be shown next week in addition to “ Four Walls.” Pangborn is starred in a strong cast which includes Jeanette Loll, one of the screen’s most beautiful voungw- artists i He plays the part of “the friend,” a | pseudo Hindu prince! and everyone is taken in by him until two other princes arrive on the scene. “ My Friend from India ” ie claimed to he one of the richest farces ever screened. STB AND THEATRE. Norma Talmadge is ■ the star in “ The Woman Disputed,” which is now being screened at the Strand Theatre. The story is a somewhat grim one, and has been described as a chapter from the bonk of life As Mary Ann Wagner, Miss Talmadge is seen in a great pictorial character. Mary meets 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, and Nika gets his first blow in by telling the girl he loves her. Unhappily for him’, he discovers that the Austrian lias got in ahead of him, and that Alary loves the Austrian. Naturally, the Russian is furious when he finds he has been beaten

in a matter of affection. Ho, 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 explained away. Though the' story is as old as the bills, it is wonderfully'portrayed :by Miss Talmadge and those associated with her. The Strand orchestra, under the baton of M r L. D. Austin, is responsible for an excellent programme of incidental music. GRAND AND PLAZA THEATRES There are two.excellent pictures on this week s programme at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. The first of these features Leon Errol in “The Lunatic at Large,” and the other picture, which is a British; Films Service .production, is “The Woman in Pawn. “A Lunatic at Large” is a dever adaptation, with Dorothy Maclmill in the leading 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 of 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. In “The Woman in "Pawn,” one man receives another man’s w'ife in pawn.- Strong situations arise, and the climax is a very powerful, one. “ THE LUCK OF THE NAVY.” _ The management of the Grand and Plaza Theatres announces the, screening in Dunedin of the British special production, “ The Luck of, the Navy,” commencing tomorrow. The high quality of the ew British releases in Dunedin 1 has been the subject of favourable comment, and since “The Luck of the Navyis generally reckoned to be its producer’s most outstanding film production, entertainment of a high class is sure to be offered Miss Evelyn Laye, a well-known English actress, beads the cast, together with Henry Victor, who is said to make an admirable co-star in the part of Lieutenant Clive Stanton, a breezy, devil-inay-care, romantic figure. The story in brief tells how a girl and a naval officer meet with a dangerous gang ■of spies. A few of the “highlights” are the hand-to-hand fights, the-mobilisation of- the fleet, and the romance of the story. , ; EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. Patrons are very soon going to lose the entertaining programme now being screened at Everybody’s Theatre. “ Golf Widows” is the feature of the programme, and a rich vein of-comedy runs all through the story'. ' The’ story is of an insurance salesman who is always ready,to issue poli6ies, 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. Two men insure themselves against losing their wives, and even against the,- effects of a misdirected golf hall. Their infatuation for golf leads, to home disunion.' It is a story of one set- of people being neglected for a game, and of complications arising that might easily have been; avoided. The other picture ■is “ The Plastic Age,” an American college story, written with the definite object of depicting a moral, and shows, in sparkling form, much that may happen “when the heart is young.” ; - • ! KING EDWARD THEATRE. . “TOie Valley of the Giants,” the film version of Peter ■ B; Kyne’s well-known book, is the principal, attraction at the King Edward Theatre! at present.. Milton Sills-, and - Doris Kenyon- have the leading roles in this picture of-, the great. outdoors. - It is a story of the lumber trade in the north-west of The .other feature is “The Plastic Age,” featuring Clara Bow. .