ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19771, 20 February 1923, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALBION THEATRE. A happy blend of pure comedy, heavy drama and farce comedy has been secured for patrons at the Albion to-night. Stars taking part include Joseph Dowling, “The Miracle Man,” Douglas Fairbanks, Kathleen Clifford, Lloyd Hamilton, besides others. Joseph J. Dowling, since his wonderful delineation of the Patriarch in “The Miracle Man, ’ has come to be known as “The Miracle Man of the Screen.” As the gallant old Kentucky Colonel in the picturisation of Opie Read’s well-known novel, “The Kentucky Colonel,” released by Hodkinson, Joseph Dowling is said to even surpass the marvellous characterisation of the spiritualistic miracle man. The story telLs of the beautiful and imperishable friendship between two old Kentucky gentlemen, one a General and the other a Colonel—titles which they have borne from Civil War days. In spite of the supreme test which comes when the General is led to believe that the Colonel has 1 for many years been deceiving him in regard to his relations with his, the General s wife, the clear white flame of their love for each other continues to burn brightly. In the wood where they meet to fight a duel, neither fires at the other. Instead they fire straight up into the air, for neither could find the courage or the desire to kill the other. This is only one of the many dramatic moments in this absorbing story laid in the beautiful purple hills of the “Blue Grass” country, where chivalry and courtesy go hand in hand with romance and adventure. Heralded as the greatest comedy of all time “When the Clouds Roll By,” with Douglas Fairbanks, will be screened at 8.45 pan. Although the action of the picture is whimsical, at times fantastic, the human note is sounded throughout. For continuous and unalloyed good fun, it is in the front rank of Fairbanks’s releases. Before the clcuds which threaten the happiness of Daniel Boone Brown and his sweetheart have all rolled by, the hero goes through a series of adventures quite unlike anything seen before—and survives a flood. This flood is the real thing. The way it comes crashing down on human beings and their domestic animals and sends their houses and homes adrift in the darkness and then spreads itself and the wrecked buildings over th® landscape will make folks along the Ohio river take to their rafts and rowboats if the picture is ever shown in their towns. The Mermaid comedy “The Vagrant” and topical subjects complete a programme without equal anywhere. Seats may be reserved by telephoning the Albion.

' ORPHANS” DRAWING MANY SECOND TIME. D. W. Griffith’s “Orphans of the Storm,” based on the well-known stage play, “The Two Orphans,’’and released through United Artists Corporation, continues as the Mecca cf popular interest at the Empire Theatre, Dunedin, where overflowing crowds daily express their delight by applause, laughter and tears. Among the crowds are not a few who saw this screen epic when the engagement first began, but come back to enjoy more of its beauties. The canvas ia so vast and the fiures so numerous, colourful and interesting that, the work improves on the second seeing. The gorgeous tapestry is 1 most skilfully woven with the heart-stirring, i the grotesque, the lovely and the comic side by side in harmonious wealth of detail. It is such detail, as well as the re-sought thrill, that causes “Orphans of the Storm” enthusiasts to come again and again. Always predominant remains the picture of Henriette and Louise, the loveliest bit of genre on the whole mighty canvas. The Misses Lillian and Dorothy Gish in these characters, Joseph Schildkraut as Henriette’s lover, and Monte Blue as Henriette’s rescuer in the famous cavalry ride, continue their great hits. New material in the wild Carmagnole dances and new fooling by Creighton Hale and Porter Strong in the comic roles add hugely to the mirth of the comic interludes. The local season commences next Friday at the Grand Theatre. The box plans are at the Bristol, and already there has been a demand for seate.

CIVIC PICTURES. A picture that will make you think the while it entertains! That is one .critic’s brief description of the Paramount super production “The Witching Hour,” which is on the new programme showing at the Municipal Theatre to-night, and which, together with the outdoor thriller “Soldiers of Fortune,” based on Richard Harding Davis’s well-known novel, will make another in the sequence of strong programmes which have graced the screen at this theatre for many weeks past. Elliott Dexter, Man’ Alden, Anna Q. Nilsson Norman Kerry, Robert Cain, Pauline Stark, Wallaee Berry and Winter Hall (the Christchurch born aclpr) are only some of the many prominent artists who are to be seen in these two big pictures. The story of “The Witching Hour” is one that will have an interest for all who think and who wish to go below the surface in considering an interesting and much discussed subject, while those who merely seek to be entertained will find themselves held in a strong grip by the dramatic strength of the picture. There is a good dramatic story back of this production, coupled with an interesting discussion of mental telepathy, pre-natal influences and psychic phenomena. The story deals with a young man who has an inherited fear of cat’s eye jewellery, and who kills another man when twitted with his weakness. Mental suggestion enters largely into the development of the plot, and it is through the force of mental power that the young man is saved from death. There is also a'strong love interest interwoven that will serve to make the picture one to be long remembered. The novels of Richard Harding Davis are well known for their spirited action, and “Soldiers of Fortune” is no exception. The scene is laid in a South American republic where revolutions are frequent, and the story concerns the adventures of a young American who becomes involved in one of these turmoils. The picture is full of action, powerful in its love interest, and rich in clean humour. Anna Q. Nilsson, Norma Kerry, and Pauline Stark are in the principal roles. There is much in this programme to interest all tastes. Seats may be reserved at the Bristol, or by ringing No 380.