ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20044, 4 December 1926, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES. AT THE CIVIC TO-NIGHT. The Kentucky Four—Mr Huntley Spencer, celebrated tenor; Miss Beatrice Inglewood, charming mezzo (who will sing by special request “Don Fatale” and “Angus McDonald”); Mr Phil Yates, baritone and comedian; and Miss Thelma Martin, soloist and accompaniste—will be featured by the Civic Pictures management tonight in addition to a full double-star picture programme. This talenteii combination will present a bright and entertaining programme of specially selected numbers from their extensive and varied repertoire. The picture programme will feature the Fox masterpiece “The Man Without a Country” or “As No Man Has Loved.” The picture preaches the doctrine of patriotism and it is the most stirring and convincing document that one could wish to see. A brilliant and ambitious young military officer, led away by specious promises, in the heat of passion and in the presence of his superior officers, gives utterance to the words, “Curse my country. I never wish to hear of it or see it again.” His words are taken literally and he is banished to life on shipboard for the term of his natural life. He is not permitted to hear news of his country or friends or see his native land. The pursuance of this theme gives rise to a stirring drama which strikes deep at the heart strings and which will be much discussed. When Frank Borzage’s name is associated with a picture as director discriminating screen patrons know by experience that the film will be enjoyable. “Early to Wed,” his latest production for Fox Films, which is also on this bill, is no exception. Borzage has the gift of injecting the little human touches into his pictures that make them convincing and it is screen history that his name has never been connected with a failure. Matt Moore and Kathryn Perry have the featured 1 roles in “Early to Wed,” which concerns a 1 young married couple who take the advice jof a friend that the way to achieve prosperity is to look prosperous. It requires no master mind to visualise the possibilities of such a scheme and the director has extracted some perfectly delicious comedy from the tale. Tommy Carter, the husband

portrayed by Matt Moore, is nothing if not an optimist and when a friend suggests that he bump the boss for a big increase in salary, he agrees. Not only that but decides to elevate his standard of living immediately and let finances take care of themselves. Accordingly he and his bride plunge themselves heels over head in debt for a fancy home and furnish it lavishly. When Tommy essays to scare his employer out of a 100-dollar-a-month, the boss doesn’t scare worth a cent; fact is, he fires Tommy outright, whereupon things begin to happen—in groups and clusters. It is the wife who, by her audacity, nian--ages to bring the muddle to a blissful climax, but it is not the purpose nor wish of this chronicler to relate how she does it. She solves the problem, but not until the spectator has had his money’s worth of entertainment. Seats for this excellent combined programme of vaudeville and pictures may be reserved at The Bristol, or by ringing No. 380. ALBION THEATRE, “WANDERING FOOTSTEPS” AND “THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT.” A pleasant addition to the season’s photoplays is “Wandering Footsteps,” produced by Banner Productions, commences at the Albion to-day. The story makes no attempt to handle a problem in a serious manner, but in spite of the levity with which it is related, there is to be found in its scenes an abundance of epigrams and clever, unobtrusive flicks of the foiblps of men and women—reformers in particular. Its chief motive, however, seems to be entertainment, and it is a very satisfactory production for that purpose. Interpreted in the main by Alec B. Francis, Estelle Taylor and Bryant Washburn, it is a tale of wealth burdened youth and a poverty burdened man, both of whom are seeking the primrose highway out of their troubles. It opens with a deliciously clever scene between the two at their first meeting, when both are “half over seas.” The youth, while tipsy, adopts the man, in the same condition, as a father, and takes him aboard his private yacht which is full of guests, before either recovers his sobriety. Alec B. Francis will be remembered in scores of successful screen plays among which are “Three Wise Fools,” “The Gold Diggers,” “Listen Lester,” “The End of the World” and “Beau Brummel” in

which he interpreted the role of Mortimer. Estelle Taylor has many other claims to fame other than being the wife of Jack Dempsey. Her work in “A Fool There Was” and in “The Ten Commandments” will be long remembered. A woman who refused to be chained to shibboleths and outworn conventions. “Ruth Burchester,” who left home because she '-believed in life and humanity, and who went back to play sinner to her sister’s saint. Such is the compelling character played by Fay Compton in “The Eleventh Commandment” produced by George A. Cooper, and released by Master Pictures, opening to-night at the Albion. This is the story of a household dominated by the influence of family tradition and stern, uncompromising respectability represented by a “die-hard” parent of the old school who pays the penalty of bigotry in. seeing his daughters break the bonds of an outworn creed—the one by going on the stage, and the other by living a life of lies and transgressing the Commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Be Found Out.” The supports to these two features are excellent, completing another programme of great merit. Plans are at The Bristol, or ring 738 for reserves. Day sales are at Rice’s, next to the Albion Theatre.