AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20832, 26 September 1929, Page 17

AMUSEMENTS

STRAND THEATRE. Oa the verge of being a problem picture. This Marriage Bond,” which had its initial screening at the Strand Theatre yesterday, is lightened by the saving touch of humour, and offers really delightful entertainment. The picture deals with a class' of society in which the conventions of marriage are treated with an airy nonchalance, but it is impossible ? u y objection to the way in which the subject is presented, and one is made to feel that, frivolous though the characters may at first appear, there is a good deal of human clay in their composition, and they are, after all, very likeable people. The acting is of a particularly high standard, and each of the four principal characters presents a very convincing representation of a type. Sally Eilera is _ seen as Connie, a beautiful young society girl, who has had the not altogether uncommon experience of being engaged 13 times. At a party she meets Ur Thorland Ware, a young surgeon, whose, disapproval of her, immediately attracts and antagonises her. Her interest increases, and fiance number 13 finds himsell in the same position as his dozen predecessors. Connie and the doctor are married, making a mutual agreement that er .be unhappy after six months of marriage they should part. Everything seems to go smoothly, but life as the wife of a rtusy doctor enforces many lonely evenings upon her. One night -the last night i„ ,7 months—feeling particularly S wiPl ß by herself to a charity bazaar at the home of one of her former nances, and is persuaded to dance in a sideshow to;compensate for the failure oi pa , ,r . , hired entertainers. Her husband returns to find the ™ us e Verted, and following her , e bezaar, he finds her dancing a la JEe crowd of men. Furious nfW 8 !?^ 6 £ k°uld make such a display W + ru shes home and packs his bag, telling her that as the six months has expired he is leaving her for ever. Connie, repentant and broken-hearted, watches him go, and then returns to her mother, who takes her to Paris to forges.' While in Pans she obtains her divorce,’ And subsequently meets her number Id fiance. The pair are married and after _ a long stay in Paris, return to America to find Dr Ware married to Lonnie s cousin. The four young people meet, and it soon becomes apparent that neither couple is well suited. As the two families are next-door neighbours, the situation becomes complicated, until finally the inevitable happens and the denouement is a startling profusion of confessions divorces, and re-marriages. Undoubtedly the oustanding player in the picture is Sally Filers, who adorns- the part of Connie with a gracious charm and lovely manner. The picture, innocent enough in itself, teaches a moral which it delivers in a very subtle way. The supporting programme ia a strong one. First there is an interesting news reel, of considerable length and of a wide range of subjects. This is followed by a dialogue comedy. “Wanted a Man.” which features Daphne Pollard, the famous English comedienne. A very entertaining and instructive film deals with the life of two types of dogs, the -foxhound and the setter. The various stages of the dog’s growth are shown, from lumbering, charming puppyhood to the high degree of in-% telligent activity of the adult dog. The photography is excellent and some novel mews are shown. The last item is a Van Bibber comedy, entitled “The Motor Boat Detnfin,” which produces many hearty laughs, and is a delightful piece of fun and foolery. 1 , EMPIRE THEATRE. To-night will be the last opportunity’ for seeing, the First National production. The Divine Lady,” which wifi finish its Dunedin season at the Empire Theatre. The picture deals with some of the most Picturesque and stirring eras in British history, and/revolves round Lord Nelson, one of the most celebrated figures of those The name part is played by Combo Griffith in the role of the famous Lady Hamilton.. In addition to the excellent scenic photography introduced into the film, the great battles of the Nile and Trafalgar are faithfully depicted, and the sqund synchronisation adds greatly to the realism of the film. The supporting programme contains a number of sound shorts, of excellent variety, and there is also an interesting news reel. Mr , Leslie Harvey provides an attractive musical programme. REGENT THEATRE. The season at the Regent Theatre of The Broadway Melody," one of the most colourful screen presentations 'yet seen in Dunedin, will be brought to a close this evening. “ The -Broadway Melody ” is a delightful piece of musical comedy mingled with a strong human interest, and there are in it features which give promise of being developed in the near future into a style of film presentation which will stagger audiences here just as it has carried picture patrons by storm in America. “The Wedding of the Painted Doll,” the popular music of which was composed primarily for the film, is depicted “upon a specially extended screen, thus giving to the'display a realism and effectiveness which was quite impossible on the old narrow-gauge screen. The whole picture constitutes a revue of great brilliance and splendid action, and is well worth the attention of those who have not alreadyseen it. There’is an interesting and varied selection of short subjects on the supporting programme. “THE PAGAN.” Tropic scenes of well-known beauty, a battle .under water with a deep sea shark, and other vivid details of life in the tropics, are typical of “ The Pagan,” Ramon Novarro’s latest S Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, which wity be commenced at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. This is a sound synchronised film with singing sequences which introduce Novarro’s tenor voice to the motion picture public. 'He gives several renderings of “ Pagan Love Song,” theme song of the production. The cast includes Renee Adoree, Donald Crisp, Dorothy Janis, and others of note, and the picture was made in its entirety in the islands. Novarro plays a young halfcaste islander, the heir to a fortune, and practically chief of a tribe, who is pitted against an itinerant trader in a struggle for the love of a native sweetheart. She, in turn, is the rival of a white adventuress on the isjand for the love of the youth. The white woman, “ Madge,” is played by Miss Adoree, while Miss Janis plays the native charmer. There is also a supporting programme of vaudeville items, including the Keller Sisters and Lynch in a singing -and dancing act; Gordon and Squires, patter comedians; Cliff Edwards, tha Ziegfeld Follies, Von and ochenck, Irish American comedians, and the Pathe Bound News. OCTAGON THEATRE. The chief attraction at. the Octagon Theatre this evening is “ Four Devils,” a thrilling and absorbing story of circus me. ihe chief parts are taken by Janet Gaynor. Nancy Drexel. Charles Morton, and Barry Norton. Comedy and pathos have their parts in the film, and there ar ® thrills galore. An absorbing story is unfolded four children who grow up together in the atmosphere of the circus, and emerge eventually as the Four Devils, a group of acrobats of marvellous darine. Their subsequent adventures form the basis of an extraordinary story .which can be classed in the forefront of the year’s screen offerings. There is also an excellent supporting programme. “ SPEAKEASY.” The all-talking production “Speakeasy ” will commence a season to-morrow at the Octagon Theatre. It is a story of New York, filmed in New York, acted by i cast of competent stage players. One sees and hears a crowd of 20,000 boxing enthusiasts in the famous Madison Square Gardens, and watching and hearing New York's subway trains in action. While all these attractions tend to create enthusiasm, the story is said to be no less interesting. Paul Page, Lola Lane, Henry B. va althall, Sheron Lynn, Helen Ware and others are included in the cast. GRAND AND PLAZA THEATRES. The chief picture at the Grand and 1 laza Theatres this evening is a British film, entitled “The Joker" which deals ivith_ the adventures of an unscrupulous solicitor who stoops to blackmail. “It Can be Done ” is the supporting film. “THE GALLANT HUSSAR.” It is not often that two'special pictures appear on the one programme, but it is the policy of the management of the