ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20209, 21 June 1927, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. LAST NIGHT OF BUCK JONES IN “THIRTY BELOW ZERO,” AND ADOLPHE MENJOU IN “THE ACE OF CADS.” Buck Jones, whose latest picture, “30 Below Zero,” will be seen at the Civic for the last time to-night, could not hide the fact that he started his screen career as a “stunt man” even if he wanted to. Because with every succeeding picture he brings new thrills to the screen. In “30 Below Zero,” his latest Fox film, he abandons the horse and the good, solid earth for the thrills of the air when he embarks on a mammoth airplane headed for Arctic regions. For Buck has remained a stunt man even though ho has soared to the heights of stardam. He has always loved adventure and in tins picture he gets plenty. “30 Below Zero” is a thrilling story of a wild young man who flees from trouble on Broadway in an airplane, only to be plunged into more strenuous ones in the north woods. There are plenty of thrills and many humorous situations which keep up interest from the first title to last fadeout. Eva Novak is the girl in the story. Adolphe Menjou, suave and debonnair, is admirably cast in “The Ace of Cads” which is also on this bill. In this picture Menjou admirably displays his outstanding gift of subtle deceit, and at this no one on the screen is his superior. Jie stands alone as a dissipated gentleman, amj shines out as still a gentleman when on the water-wagon. As Capel Maturin, in the play from Michael Arlen’s story, he abjures "wein, weib und gesang” for the love of Eleanour (Alice Joyce) and they are happily betrothed, but by the infernal devilry of his so-called friend, iiasil de Gramercy, who also loves and covets Eleanour, he is ruined in her esteem, and Basil wins her for his wife. In bis subsequent grief and fury, Maturin commits an indiscretion for which the Colonel of his regiment, Guy de Gramercy, father of Basil, has him courtmartiailed and broken, “dishonourably discharged.” Nineteen years later they all meet again, with the exception of Basil, who has paid the price in the big war, and with the addition of Eleanour’s beautiful daughter Joan. ALBION TO-NIGHT.

BRUCE BAIRNSFATHER’S “THE BETTER ’OLE.” ALbO HOOT GIBSON IN “THE DENVER DUDE.” Humorous sidelights on the life of the English "Tommy” during active service in I rance in the Great War are shown in the Warner Brothers' picture, “The Better ’Oie” commencing a four night session at the Albion to-night. Originating as a cartoon by Bruce La.rnsfalber, "Tne Better ’Ole” was produced as a play and later adapted to the screen. Sydney Chaplin appears as "Old Bill’ and his work has received high praise from Bairnsfather, who says: "It is particularly fitting trial Sydney Chaplin who is an Englishman should play ‘Old Bill.’ He has instinctively the British sense of humour and is the only man in pictures wno could make the character live. 1 think ‘Ola Bill' is Chaplin's greatest interpretation to date. He understands Bill as well as 1 do and I think that is why the portrayal is so excellent. He has brought to life in a vivid manner all the eccentricities of the British Tommy and made him exactly what he is, a human, simple, lovable soul.” There is an abundance of comedy in the picture. One of the most humorous incidents comes in the middle of the picture with the presentation of a soldier-produced play. Bill and Alf are cast as the legs of a horse and when they are m the middle of their act, the Germans arrive and the capture of the two Englishmen is punctuated by massive scenes of attack and retreat. Biff and Alf make an enort to gain freedom to their own lines, but their object is defeated by their own airmen, who believe them to be Germans. The return of the British is shown in a fine succession of war scenes. Bill is denounced as a spy, but comes through with colours flying and is promoted to the rank of a sergeant. The final laugh i.omes when Bill realises his right, as a sergeant, to kick the corporal who has been the bane of his army life. You haven’t seen nothin’ if you haven't seen Hoot. Gibson's latest western comedy, "The Denver Dude,” which closes its season to-night at the Albion. Gibson is noted for his swiftmoving pictures in which action, comedy and thrills are skillfully intermingled, and “The Denver Dude” ranks among the best productions the popular star has ever done. Although western in its locale, and with much action typical of this type of picture, "lhe Denver Dude” is more than a “westem” in the usua* sense of the word. It is light comedy, with the inimitable Hoot riding the crest of every scene and situation with his winning personality always beaming through and his innate sense of comedy always foremost. An unusually large cast of players gives the star excellent support, and a number of well-known and popular screen personalities are to be seen in the picture. Blanche Mehaffey makes an attractive leading woman for Gibson, and Glenn Tryon and “Slim” Summerville assist the star in lending comedy to the picture. Robert .McKim, Howard Truesdell, Harry Todd, Mathilde Brundage, Rolfe Sedan and others are also in the cast.