ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19291, 9 July 1924, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. “FOOLS’ PARADISE” AND STIRRING SEA PICTURE. With Reginald Denny in a new round of “The Leather Pushers,” Cecil B. de Mille’s big spectacular 10-reel drama “Fools’ Paradise,” and the Wm. Fox stirring story of the sea “White Hands,” the Civic management has a programme fit for royalty and worthy of upholding the slogan “the Civic has the pictures.” Each week sees something more really worth while in screen entertainment at this popular house. “Fools’ Paradise” is a magnificent photographic achievement and one of the most elaborate and arfflkic productions ever made by Cecil d_e Mille. The story which is interpreted by an all-star cast including Dorothy Dalton, Theodore Kosloff, Conrad Nagel, Mildred Harris, Jacqueline Logan and others,Ctells that Arthur Phelps, a wounded American soldier in a hospital in France, falls in love with Rosa Duchene, a beautiful French dancer, when she kisses him. On his return home he goes to the oil fields in the south-west and invests all he owns in worthless oil lands. Across the border, in a Mexican cantina operated by John Roderiquez, Poll Patchouli, a dancer is the main attraction. Roderique loves her, but she avoids him. One night, after she saves a girl from a white slaver, she quarrels with Roderiquez and flees to the American side. She finds refuge in a shack in which Arthur Phelps lives. Poll falls in love with him, but he spurns her advances, because of his love for Rosa, the girl of his dreams. Poll obtains a position as cigar girl in a hotel and gives Arthur a loaded cigar. Rosa comes to El Paso with a corps of dancing girls and at the theatre, Arthur meets Rosa. He lights the cigar and in the explosion that follows loses his sight. Poll comes to his rescue and he tells her that she had blinded him and that if she touches him again, he will kill her. A few days later, Arthur goes to the hotel led by his dog and hears Poll imitating Rosa. Believing her to be Rosa he begs her for a kiss that he may remember in his darkness. Poll kisses him and visits him at the shack, still in the guise of Rosa, with the result that they are married. Poll calls a surgeon and his sight is restored. Angered at the deception playupon him, he quits Poll and their marriage is annulled. He traces Rosa to Siam where she is dancing in the temple. Prince TalatNoi, who loves her, invites her and Arthur to witness a sacrifice to the reptiles. Arthur saves a lamb from death and Rosa throws her glove into the pit of reptiles with the announcement that she will many the man who brings it to her. The prince descends and is saved by Arthur. He then quits Rosa and returns to Poll. She spurns him and Roderiquez, jealous of him, throws a knife which Poll receives in her own breast as a reward for saving Arthur. She recovers however, and both are happy in their mutual love. Hobart Bosworth, who stands pre-eminent as an interpreter of virile he-man roles having the salt-seas as the background against which they are enacted, is in pride of place in “White Hands,” the Fox drama on the bill. This one, too, is said to be something quite out of the usual run. Seats should again be in keen demand to-night.

ALBION THEATRE, SPECIAL PHARUS LADIES’ MATINEE; 2.30 P.M. By special request, “Pharus” has consented to give a ladies’ matinee to-day, commencing at 2.30 p,m., when ladies will be taught how to banish all ailments, and also how to keep in good health by using the methods of Pharus. In the northern cities these special lectures to ladies have been attended by overflowing audiences, and it behoves any ladies intending to come along to go and book their seats at once at the Bristol. There will be no pictures at the matinee, Pharus occupying the whole of the matinee. At night, in conjunction with a special picture programme, Pharus will lecture and demonstrate on the eyes. The picture part of the programme is a long one, and as splendid an entertainment as the Albion has yet presented. The star picture of the evening is the Elinor Glyn feature, “All the World’s a Stage.” The stars in thU nicture are Dorothy Phillips*

Kenneth Harlan, Bruce Mcßae, Otis Harlan, and Jack MacDonald. The story commences with a Shakesperean play being presented by a small company in a country town. Here a picture director picks out the lady who is playing Juliet and takes her to the picture studios. From this point the story comes forward with a tense conflict of emotions as the new screen actress falls in love with a wealthy youth. Being unused to the temptations of the world, and not remembering the old adage about “Marrying in haste,” she marries the youth, only to find out that he is a drunken wastrel. From this on the action of the story holds one as only an Elinor Glyn story can hold, making a delightful picture. The first big picture of the evening is the Playgoers' picture, “Sunshine Harbour.” This picture adds further glory to the famous name of Beecher, for its star is Margaret Beecher, grand-niece of Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and grand-daughter of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, the anti-slave preacher of Civil War days. Sunshine Harbour” is not a sea story, but the adventure and romance of a Southern society belle arho fled from her luxurious home on the eve of a loveless marriage, and went north to make a name and fame for herself as a writer. Of course, she runs away from one romance only to run into another, and as a newspaper reporter she has adventures, and finally an that brings about a dramatic reconciliation with her father. Seats for the matinee and night performances may be booked at the Bristol till 12 p.m., then at the Albion personally, or by ’phoning 738. Day sales at Dunlop’s all day.