AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20875, 15 November 1929, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. 11 The Four Feathers,” successor to “ Chang ” and “ Beau Gestc,” will come to the Empire Theatre to-day. The film boasts of several of the most striking scenes of animal life that a camera has recorded. How they were photographed is the biggest mystery of all, and it is attributable, probably, only to the magic and daring pair of adventurers who first gave us “ Chang,” and then went to Africa to do this one. The effect is as curdling as anything that has been shown since the elephants stampeded “Chang” into a box office success. Another effect which is shown on the enlarged screen is a battle between British soldiers and thousands of brushy-haired natives who glide on droves of white camels to meet a formidable battle square. So skilfully is it handled, so beautifully is it photographed—partly on African ’ soil and partly on Californian deserts —that it is said to be n more than satisfactory climax. The scenes in England, both exterior and interior, are glcamingly photographed, as are the later African scenes. The outline is well guided and holds the interest. “The Four Feathers” is a successful feat in silent adventure stuff. The loading roles in the film are taken by Richard Arlen, Clive Brooks, William,Powell, Fay Wray, George.Fawcett, Theodore Von. . Eltz, and Noah. Beery. Leather Mendes,. the. . German director,, has handled the Hollywood 'inserts in the.story in a fine fashion, and the synchronised scores, the big. screen, and the animals did more than their, bit. OCTAGON THEATRE. The call for .all dialogue feature pictures' has been answered by the management of the Octagon Theatre, which will screen the Fox Movietone special alltalking production, “ Pleasure Crazed,” to-day. The film has been' reported in the leading newspapers of New Zealand as a feast of entertainment. It is a finely constructed story, tastefully and sumptuously set, - with a tangle of hearts and’A jewel robbery to make even more intense ah absorbing’’story. ’ The’story’ of’“Pleasure Crazed” commences with the arrival of’ the husband and wife at a luxurious Californian mansion away from the usual haunts of the rich. From the very outset various complications arise, which make the picture full of interest. Marguerite Churchill, Dorothy Burgess, and Kenpa Campbell Gallon (a newcomer to the screen from England) hate’ the- leading roles. “ Pleasure Crazed ” is the screen version of Moncktdn Hoffe’s successful play, “The Scent of Sweet Almonds.” The well-varied supports include ad . amazing comedy, “ Music Fiends,” featuring the popular vaudeville pair, Clark and M'Gulldck. Fox Movietone News will be shown, giving the news of the world in sight and sound. The Kentucky Jubilee Singers, will be heard in musical numbers which have made them famous the world over.; REGENT, THEATRE. After witnessing a private showing of “ Dawn,” the sensational film-depicting the adventurous life and tragic death of Edith Caveli, which is coming to the Regent Theatre to-day, Bernard Shaw was enthusiastic over the production.’ In commenting • upon the great screen achievement* he said;: “ Are'you to commemorate Edith-,Cavell -in stone, and not in pictures? The only- question rCquir- ■ ing consideration is whether rthe film is a work of art and worthy of her. You may. take ray word for it that it is. The story has been-planned'and told by a young film poet (Herbert Wilcox), who has been entirely faithful to his great theme. He has not betrayed her by a single stroke -of bitterness or rancour, much less by any triviality or idle fiction. The film can go to Germany as' •an English film without provoking any German to remind us that people who Jive in glass houses - should not throw stones, . It .rebukes;, us all impartially, and .will edify us impartially. I hope it will take .its lesson ■to the ends’of. the earth. ’ Shaw’s vyords were prophetic. The ’.film,, which was banned by the British. Board of Censors, was licensed. It was shown in every city and hamlet of any size in Great Britain and Europe, and created a furore.. It was acclaimed e r ina ny, won.the stamp of approval Glcmenceau,.’the- French war Premier, and. has been enthusiastically P re , 33 and public in America, bybil Thorndike, one pf London’s most popular emotional actresses, has the role of Edith’ Caveli. ' STRAND THEATRE. ' ■ Vilma Banky comes 'to her public -for the-firat time as a modern girl in everyday situations in “ This is Heaven ” the attraction at the Strand Theatre to-day, I fc , , 1S ’ M iss Banky’a second starring vehicle in her own right for Samuel' Goldwyn. “This is Heaven” adds a new comedy note to Vilma Banky’s acting which was only hinted kt in her enormously successful starring picture, The Awakening.” In this new picture she plays the role of a Hungarian girl immigrant tossed into the maelstrom .of modern New York and finding love : and.happiness. Supporting ; her in “ This -i®, Heaven', are. Fritz Ridgeway, who will - always be remembered for her appearance’ with Theodore Roberts in * “ The Old Homestead,” and Lucien Littlefield, with James Hall, one of the most prominent leading men in Hollywood, as her leading man. All the characteristic features of New York life have been either photographed in New York itself or meticulously reproduced in the Goldwyn studios in Hollywood. The “This is Heaven” company’ spent three weeks in New York last autumn photographing the exterior scenes on- Ellis Island, in subway sta,tidns,.on Fifth avenue, and in the Bronx. . .KING EDWARD THEATRE. Loretta Young, brunette and beautiful, a sister of Sally Blane, Paramount contract player, has an important role in Florence Vidor’s new starring produeMon, “The Magnificent Flirt,” at the King Edward Theatre, commencing tonight, Miss Young plays the role of Denise La Verne, Miss Vidor’s daughter, in love with a youth whose uncle believes the star to be of a too flirtatious nature. It is the biggest part that Miss Young has ever had in pictures since she started her career two years ago. Her most recent role was in ,f Laugh, Clown. Laugh.” Rod La Rocque and Marceline Day enact the leading roles in “The One Woman Idea,” the second picture. It promises stirring screen drama. The cast also includes Ivan Lehedeff, Joseph W. Girard, Arnold Lucy, Douglas Gilmore, Sharon Lynn, and Sally Phipps, under Berthold Viertel’s direction. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. For the first time during her career in motion pictures, Marceline Day, one of the screen’s host known actresses, is portraying a dual role. She enacts two characters in “The One Woman Idea,” which will bo commenced at Everybody’s Theatre to-day. Miss Day appears as Alicia, the wife of Lord Douglas, and as Alizar, a half-caste dancer, in. the palace of Prince Ahmed of Persia. Rod La Roque plays the prince. Miss Day, one of the really charming women of the screen and one of the outstanding emotional actresses in motion pictures, had decided on stenography as a means of livelihood. She studied with that end in view;, never dreaming .of . a screen career, in her early teens. But fate stepped in and upset her plans. Before being assigned to enact the leading feminine role in “ The One Woman Idea.” Miss Day portrayed the central character in “ Trent’s Last Case,” also a Fox film. Aside from Miss Day and La Rocque, the cast presenting “The One Woman Idea ” includes an impressive arrays of -screen names—lvan Lebedeff,

Douglas Gilmorc, Joseph' W. Girard, Arnold Lucy, Frances Rosay, Gino Corrado, Sharon Lynn, Sally Phipps, and Shirley Dorman. Florence Vidor is again given the opportunity to display her talents as a comedienne in her latest Paramount starring vehicle, "The Magnificent Flirt," which is the other feature.