ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19294, 12 July 1924, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALBION THEATRE. MADGE KENNEDY IN “THE HIGHEST BIDDER” AND WESLEY’ BARRY. There are good pictures and there are mediocre, but the pictures to-night are among the first named, being picked from the best that is on the market to-day. The first on the programme is the Muriwai Motor Races of 1924. This picture gives the onlooker an idea of the speed boats of New Zealand, then comes dainty Madge Kennedy in the Goldwyn comedy drama named “The Highest Bidder.” As “Sally,” born to wealth, but condemned by fate to orphanage and poverty, she is rescued from her plight by Mrs Steese, an adventuress, who plans to marry her to a wealthy man. Sally, desperate, agrees to the plan. She meets Henry Lester, a millionaire, who falls in love with her, as she with him. Lester, in early life, had been jilted for a man with more money, and had never quite recovered. His bitter feelings towards women is aroused when he discovered, as he thinks, that Sally and Mrs Steese are merely after his money. In a cynical moment he plots to have Sally become involved with an outcast, dressed up for the occasion, and it is this, complicated by his own repressed love for Sally, which makes “The Highest Bidder” an unusually tense and vivid picture. The .second feature is by the popular freckled lad Wesley Barry, entitled “The Country Lad.” “Can the leopard change its spots?” is the question asked when the expected answer is in the negative. There’s only one answer. And when you turn to the sphere of the silver screen, and throw the searchlight of attention to Wesley Barry, the youthful, fun-brimming, freckled entertainer, the question you can’t help asking, after seeing him in a picture, is “Can ‘Wes’ help being funny ” There’s only one answer—and this is:—but no, first see him in his latest skit, “The Country Kid.” A clever Mermaid comedy completes the programme. Seats may be reserved by ’phoning the Albion 738. Day sales all day at Dunlop’s. Children are admitted for 6d at night, including to-night. WESLEY BARRY MATINEE 2 P.M. TO-DAY. Young and old will have the time of their lives at the Albion matinee to-day commencing at 2 p.m. when the popular favourite Wesley Barry (the freckle king) will be seen in his latest Master picture “The Country Kid.” This play differs from the usual kind of Barryian vehicle in that it was specially written around the freckle-faced lad. His past pictures have been adaptations of stage successes; but the Warner Brothers, who are producing his pictures, looked about for something different, and hit on the idea of making

a special story. To this end, they procured the services of Julien Josephson, noted scenario writer, who has a reputation for knowing all the kinks and idiosyncraciee of boys. Two other youngsters recently hoisted to stardom and long contracts, support Wesley in this rollicking picture of the trials and tribulations of a young lad. One is “Spec,” ODonnel, rival of Wesley in freckles. The further series of the exciting educational serial “Round the World in Eighteen Days” will be shown, this is a wonderful episode and must be seen so as to keep in touch with the following episodes. A fine big comedy by Mermaid Company completes this programme which is given to the children at the cheap price of admission of 3d. CIVIC PICTURES. GLORIA SWANSON AND BABY PEGGY. With the promise of a programme featuring Gloria Swanson and H. B. Warner in the French play “Zaza”; Baby Peggy Montgomery in her very first full length feature film; Jack Mulhall in “The Social Buccaneer” and the Animal Comedy “Arabia's Last Alarm,” all those who patronise the Municipal Theatre to-night should be more than delighted, especially as the celebrated Civic Orchestra will present a selected prcgrarrfcne including “O Sole Mio,” waltz (D. Capua), “Weiner Volksmusik” (Karl Komzak), “Roguish Eyes” (Gruenwald), “Bebe” Foxtrot (entr’acte), and many other popular numbers. It has apparently remained for the directorial genius of Allan Dwan to bring forth from Gloria Swanson a super-passion, which even her most ardent admirers never suspected her of possessing. The picture responsible for this is “Zaza,” which has just been released by Paramount with H. B. Warner as leading man. Gloria has the role of a French actress, noted for her temper and her passion. Her lover is being taken from her by another woman, and she resorts first to pleading, then to temper, and finally to fury, with which to hold him. The final fight, between her and the other woman, is an achievement which rightfully ranks among the superthrills of the screen. “Zaza” is the best thing Miss Swanson has ever done. She is quite enchanting as the madcap chanteuse of the small town music-hall, and is equally delightful when the surroundings are more dignified and Zaza has acquired polish. It has been a long time since Miss Swanson looked so bewitchingly pretty as she does in this picture, and never before has she approached the skill with which she presents the character. It, indeed, a brilliant performance, full of coquetry, devilishness, perhaps, temper and temperament, and, after love has mellowed her nature, a heart that feels for others’ sorrows. One must think back quite a long way for anything in screen acting of the women with which to compare her work in this picture. And the clothes she wears! Startling and bizarre; gaudy, even, but very much in character and worthy of Zaza, who sings in the halls. This picture will make Miss Swanson’s position much stronger than it has ever been. Her ability to act is readily recognised, and in “Zaza” her beauty is strongly in evidence. There must be several dozen children of more or less prominence in the motion picture field, but every once in a while public fancy becomes so centred around a particular child player that it is heralded as a star. The producers, quick to grasp this sentiment, immediately capitalise it, to the satisfaction of the motion picture public. This demand on the part of the public, it would appear, has brought about the transfer of Baby Peggy, heroine of Century comedies, to the starring role in Universals Jewel production, “The Darling of New York,” The tiny star, whose age is around four years, is cast as the central figure in a dramatic crook play and although she is surrounded by a grown-up cast of unusual merit, the ability of the adult performers does not detract from the artistry of the child. As a matter of fact, the very strength of the cast which includes Sheldon Lewis, Gladys Brockwell, Pat Hartigan and others, is an asset to the efforts of Peggy. BABY PEGGY’S FIRST BIG PICTURE. AT THE CIVIC TO-DAY. “The Darling of New York,” Baby Peggy’s first big picture, will be screened for the first time at the Civic Pictures’ matinees this afternoon; also a funny Animal Comedy and the latest episode of ‘The Social Buccaneer.” All New’ York was searching for this roguish rascal in the liveliest, most exciting scramble of events that ever went to make a real hon-est-to-goodness feature picture. A gripping, human-interest drama, thrilling suspense, a laugh and tear all centreing around a little girl who you can’t help but love and enjoy from beginning to end. You’ve seen Baby Peggy in comedy roles, and everybody knows what a riot of fun she is—clever, clean-cut comedy gets you. You are going to see another side of Baby Peggy in this picture—you will see her carrying big emotional situations, and before you know it you’ll be wiping away a tear between laughs. Every boy and every girl will want to see this clever little girl star in the biggest thing she has ever done. CHAUTAUQUA. SECOND ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY. 'The second of the Chautauqua series of entertainment is announced for next Friday evening at the Municipal Theatre, when the audience will be treated to a very fine Dickens recital by Mr Stanley Brookes, who is described as Australia’s leading Dickensian. Mr Brookes will render items from Nicholas Nickleby, Martin Chuzzlewit, Pickwick Papers, David Copperfield, Tale of Two Cities, Old Curiosity Shop, etc. In addition Mr Brookes will prove his versatility by reciting Kipling’s “The Thousandth Man,” Brunton Stephen’s “My Chinee Cook,” Harold Hansell’s “The Record,” and “Speech” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. “The Four Cornerstones of Citizenship” is the title of lecture to be delivered by Mrs D. Pirie Beyea, whose experiences during the Great War were most remarkable; the lessons that she drew from the War, and her own experiences are most interesting and convincing. Mrs Beyea is a native of Edinburgh; and she spent her earlier years in Great Britain, afterwards living in Canada, and eventually in the United States. Though a prominent platform personality, she is delightfully feminine. Mrs Beyea is interested in all forward movements, and always gladly contributes to such from the sum of her vast experiences. In recognition of her work in the nursing field with the Imperial Army she has been made a life member of the Australian Soldiers’ League. Fuller particulars of this unique evening’s entertainment will be advertised later; in the meantime readers are well advised to reserve next Friday evening for Chautauqua, and we are assured from northern Press reports of the high standard of excellence maintained on this the second evening.