ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20013, 29 October 1926, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALBION THEATRE. “STELLA DALLAS” AND ‘THE GREAT DIVIDE” “Stella Dallas” unfolds a tale of a romantic maid whom the urge for love drives into a marriage with a man above her station in life. The love-life of Stella, coloured by her life of love, is typical of some one girl in every community. The world knows her type. Through “Stella Dallas” in particular, Frances Marion by deft and sure touches of humanity, reveals her character in an individual way to be recognised on Main Street and Broadway. Her beauty and pathos are etched into an artistic creation, framed with no uncertain genius. Keen judges of photoplay values have vouchsafed that the interpretation of “Stella” by Belle Bennett is one of the screen’s outstanding performances and have given due credit to Frances Marion for her i achievement in visualising the character as | it is played. Others in the cast include Ronald Colman, Alice Joyce, Jean Hersholt, Lois Moran and Douglas Fairbanks, junr. “Stella Dallas” will be screened for the last time to-night at the Albion. The great American play—the most popular stage | production of the last twenty years—translated to the screen in a production on which no time nor expense were spared to make it a film even greater than the original, “The Great Divide” will also be seen for the last time to-night. It is a Metro-Goldwyn picture, presented by Louis B. Mayer. The story is of the West of to-day; of a woman, cultured, educated and with the repression of the East, living among the hardships of the western country. Critics and public alike have declared it the “great American play.” William Vaughan Moody, who wrote it. originally called it “The Sabine Woman” and, indeed, it is said he based his story on the historic seizure of the Sabines. CIVIC PICTURES. “INTRODUCE ME” AND “TOO MUCH MONEY.” An innocent, inquiring, energetic appearance, a pair of nimble feet and a readiness to perform any brave deed to I possess his ideal, are the apparently inconsequent articles of mental and corporeal equipment of Douglas Mac Lean in his latest Paramount comedy, “Introduce Me,” which has been delighting audiences at the Gvic. Douglas Mac Lean is one of the few ! screen comedians who have graduated from heavy drama into light comedy. That is why this picture is so funny. Mac Lean learned just what is serious on the stage and I on the screen and therefore knows that I seriousness and comedy are but a hair’s- i breadth apart. Through long experience he has learned just how to turn a thrillingly dramatic incident into one of hilarious mirth. The picture whirls through an avalanche of ingenious fun and dashes swiftly to a climax in which tingling thrills and uproarious comedy do artistic battle for supremacy. The other picture, too, is a sheer delight. This picture, ‘Too Much Money,’’ with Lewis Stone and Anna Q. Nilsson in the principal roles, tells of a husband, who, disgusted with the continual social engagements of his wife with whom he is much in love but whom he rarely sees, decides to accept a friend’s suggestion and deed all his property over to him and declare himself a poor man. Then the couple move to a cheap apartment. While the husband works the supposed friend seeks to get the wife to elope with him. Told of the hoax she agrees, but in reality does so only that the man may be captured. There are many delightful comedy “hits” in the entertaining picture and the society sequences are worth going a long way to see. The supporting features include a tricky Charleston by Ann Pennington. Pollies star, and a diverting Mermaid comedy. SPECTACULAR DEMONSTRATION. The Southland School of Highland and Classic Dancing which was founded 23 years ago by Mr A. Sutherland has from year to year staged many bright and attractive entertainments and this year’s annual demoastration promise* to be no exception to the rule. Mr Sutherland and his assistant Miss Madge Flaus have put in a vast amount of work and they feel confident that then 1 pupils will take the stage to-night in the Municipal Theatre, right up to concert pitch. Children’s entertainments are always attractive as they are at all times so beautifully natural, and this year Mr Sutherland promises patrons a real treat. Altogether some thirty-six items will be staged so there should not be one dull moment from rise to fail of the curtain. The school is fortunate in securing the services of Mr N. F. Sansom, the brilliant basso cantante who performed with such conspicuous success at the recent compeUQons festival. Mr Sansom will appear in national costume, his numbers being A Hundred Pipers ami The Volga Boat Song, The doors will be opened punctually at 715.