AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17062, 21 September 1929, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

THE PALACE Lon Chaney in one of tho greatest roles of his career in “West of Zanzibar,” and Evelyn Brent, in “Lady Robinhood” will he the outstanding features screening to-night at the Palace. Lon Chaney, his head shaven and wearing one of the weirdest disguises of his many outstanding adventures in thfy sphere of screen makeup, while be enacts “Dead Legs Flint,” a sinister, semi-paralysed voodoo ruler.of a tribe of savage develworshippers, is the magnet in Ins latest ■mystery thriller, “West of Zanzibar,” a 'Metro-Goldwyii-Maver production. The play is a grim story of a terrible revenge, laid in the primitive wilds of an African .jungle. Chaney is a dominating figure in the crippled ex-magician who, by bis terrible determination, and aided by the tricks and illusions with which he holds his sway over the savage horde, trails his enemy relentlessly through many terrors to final destruction. Lionel Barrymore plays “Crane,” the ivory trader, whom Chaney relentlessly follows into the wilds, and Mary Nolan plays the “Voodoo’s” daughter, while Warner Baxter is dramatic as the renegade physician who finds regeneration in his love for the girl. Thirsting for adventure, but bored with life and the weight of his millions, Hugh Winthrop, a young American millionaire who has never been dragged by adversity out of accustomed pleasant tolerance towards life, suddenly finds himself kidnapped bv the carbineers of a pretty girl and taken from liis yacht into the fastness of the Pyrenees mountains. And from this rapid-fire introduction right on through 'the picture, “Lady Robinhood,” Evelyn Brent’s latest production for Paramount release, provides thrilling entertainment. Cast as a Spanish Joan of Arc, Miss Brent was never before seen to such advantage. “Lady Robinhood” cannot but add materially to her fame. It is a delightful story of adventure and romance, with an aura of old world color. MAJESTIC THEATRE With all the simplicity of Warwick •Dceping’s novel, "Sorrell and Son," the film of the Deeping novel ".Kitty' should prove of more than ordinary interest. aL the Majestic Theatre to-night. A tale of devotion and perseverance, of war time, anxieties, and of the crumbling of rigid prejudice, "Kitty," as a film, bears all the. truths of the hook. ‘‘Kitty’’ may he taken as illustrative of the re-birth of tho British film industry in work stumped with artistry. It is well played, excellently told, conveying all the Deeping meaning, and, further, has views of delightful English countryside. As Kitty, Estell Brody gives an unusually genuine performance. Slio is all that Deeping intended lo represent. John Stuart acts cleverly in the role of Alex St. George, and Dorothy Cummings, as the mother, undoubtedly too human in her inhumanity, carries out a difficult part efficiently. Colleen Moore’s latest picture, "Why Bo Good,” is the second attraction. "Why Be Good" is tho story of a beautiful sales girl who is gay but good, and whose gaiety frequently leads to doubts as to her goodness. After a day in the. department store the girl, Pert Kelly, visits a popular hall, where she enjoys the reputation of being the "hottest” dancer. Here a romance develops with the sou of the store owner, whose suggestions as to the sales girl’s character arc almost the cause of a quarrel between the young people. In the end Pert’s "goodness” is proved. Colleen Moore makes Pert Kelly a very fast-stepping, sophisticated and loveable little person. The beautiful flocking is a feature of the film. Seldom has Colleen Moore appeared in a greater variety of beautiful dance frocks. With her are seen Neil Hamilton, who makes an admirable leading man, and Edward Martindel, very bland and .mischief-mak-ing as the old, experienced father. An English Gazette and the latest Pa the Pictorial also will be shown. On Monday, Dominion Day, a special matinee will lie held, commencing at 2 p.m. “THE BELLE OF NEW YORK” The popularity of Kerker’s line musical work, "The Belle of New York, which is being produced by the local Operatic Society during Show Week, will never wane, and each revival of this famous musical comedy adds fresh laurels. So popular was the work during its early life that it formed the basis of all manner of advertising, and many were the uses the title of the “Belle” were put to. During the, early run of the piece there were in operation many small dramatic companies which struggled along their precarious way in the small towns. One small company with more faith than finance used to use the title of the' "Belle” as a code between the advance agent and the company, inasmuch that when the agent needed financial assistance he was to telegraph to the company; "Play ‘The Belle of New York’,” such message meaning that cash was needed urgently. The agent arrived in New Plymouth and found his cash inadequate to meet the needs, and duly dispatched his telegram (collect): "Play ‘The Bello of New York’,” but the company hud experienced a bad time, and dreams of further business were shattered when the agent received a- telegram ; "Can’t, have lost tho script.” Messrs. Cnrdston and Baxter, the producers,, have now settled down to work witli principals and chorus, and they are enthusiastic both as regards the ladies and gentlemen cast as principals, and also as regards those comprising the chorus. Messrs. Cardston and Baxter consider the chorus to be one of the finest they have yet heard in connection with an amateur organisation, and the high standard attained reflects the greatest credit upon the musical director, Mr. Mainland Poster. It is stated that there is no doubt that the forthcoming production of "The Bello of New York” is going to he the finest thing the Gisborne Amateur Operatic Society has attempted, and patrons can depend upon having a splendid entertainment provided for them during "The Belle’s” stay in Show Week. Subscribing members ( should note that the demand for membership is growing rapidly, and no time should be lost in enrolling. Subscribing members have not only the advantage of a reduction in the price per seat, but also have priority of booking at the ballot. A musical treat, is promised in the Botanical Gardens to-morrow afternoon when the City Band will give tho first of the new season’s outdoor municipal concerts and a collection will ho

taken up in aid of tho hand’s funds. It is the intention of the band to give a series of outdoor concerts both at the Trafalgar Rotunda and the Botanical Gardens, and a first-class programme lias been arranged for tomorrow’s concert, containing the following numbers: March, “The Royal Australian Navy” (A. Lithgow); overture, “Poet and Peasant” (Suppe); air vane, “Eventide” (W. Rimmor); - waltz,. “The Prisoner’s Song” (Gus Massey); selection, “Souvenir of the Opera” (W. Rimrnev); hymn (chonls) “Judge Me O God” (Mendelssohn); “Turkish Patrol” (Miclraelis); ‘march, “Light Cavalry” (Farrell); “God Save the King.”