ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20447, 27 March 1928, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

AT THE POPULAR. THE LAST NIGHT WITH W. C. FIELDS IN “THE POTTERS” AND JACK PERRIN IN “STARLIGHT THE UNTAMED.” There’s fun for the whole family in this great family picture, “The Potters” with W. C. Fields as Pa Potter, star of “So’a Your Old Man” in the leading role. The story concerns itself with the episode in which Pa becomes interested in an oil deal. If you’ve never read J. P. McEvoy’s comic strip or seen his play, it might be wise to say that “The Potters” are a family of average, human, everyday Americans. Pa is honest, blundering and ambitious. Ma loves her husband, but continually argues with him. Mamie is eighteen and a flapper. Bill has reached an age where he can sport a cute little moustache. After an early morning argument with Mamie because of her friend, Red Miller, Pa Potter arrives at the stenographer’s desk he occupies. Rankin shows him a newspaper clipping, which describes some new oil gushers and mentions the fact that Eagle, an oil investor, is coming over. On the latter’ arrival, Pa bargains with him and finally turns over four thousand dollars of the mortgage money. For this, he receives two leases and Eagle magnanimously throws in some adjoining property, gratis. Nothing but laugh-provoking scenes follow on each other’s heels. Ivy Harris and Mary Alden are featured in Mr Fields’ support. Fred Newmeyer directed for Paramount. The feature of “Starlight, The Untamed,” which most impressed us was the photography. William Thornley, to whom camera credit is given, certainly knew what he was about when he photographed this one. And who-ever-it-was who picked out the scenery against which the story is played, certainly knew his stuff, too. We don’t know when we have seen more beautiful country, more majestic mountains, more magnificent trees —and all photographed with an eye to beauty and lighting, which would enhance a motion picture of even the “super” variety. The wonderful collie, Rex and “Stralight,” also contribute considerably to the visual enjoyment of the spectator. ALBION TO-NIGHT. LAST NIGHT OF WILLIAM HAINES IN “SPRING FEVER,” ALSO ALEXANDER CARR IN “APRIL FOOL.” William Haines’ newest Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, “Spring Fever,” is an outstanding success at the Albion Theatre, where it screens for the last time to-night, because it delightfully combines sport, love and humour with a keen study of human nature. The new picture is an hilarious comedy romance laid on pleasant and exclusive country golf links, with Haines in the role of a shipping clerk, whom his boss introduces to the club because he is a “dark horse” capable of defeating all the local cracks. Dashing and handsome, and very well pleased with himself, the clerk causes no little consternation amongst the highbrow guests when he captures the heart of the prettiest, and wealthiest, girl in the club. —From this juncture, the picture version of the great stage success is packed with laughs and a very human love story. Joan Crawford in everyday gowns is a gorgeous girl—her role opposite Haines lacks nothing in spirit, beauty, and feeling. George K. Arthur, who co-starred with Karl Dane in

“Rookies,” has a brilliant, role. Ed. Sedgwick very capably directed “Spring Fever.” Alexander Carr of “Potash and Perlmutter” fame, who assumes the role he created on the stage in the screen production, dominates a fine cast in “April Fool,” which also finishes to-night at this theatre. A master of the technic of screen acting, he most gracefully bridges the wide gaps between the varied phases of his role. His comedy, delicate and subtle, is always amusing, and his more serious moments brought lumps to many throats. Whether in New York’s East Side, where the story starts and ends, or at the luxurious Riverside Drive apartments, the story always moves rapidly and the comedy never lags. Nat Ross, who directed the production, is most deft in his manner of shifting rapidly from poignant pathos to delightful humour. He maintains a rapid, even tempo throughout the telling of his story, building up a suspense that will surely hold your keen interest. Mr Ross, who made one other production for Chadwick recently, is a director who is destined to take his rightful place among the leaders shortly. “THE BLUE LAGOON.” H. DE VERB STACPOOLE’S WORLDFAMOUS ROMANCE. ALBION TO-MORROW. A picture with the spirit of eternal morning, eternal happiness and eternal youth, “The Blue Lagoon,” H. de Vere Stacpoole’s world-famous romance, will be screened at the Albion to-morrow. “ ‘The Blue Lagoon’ was produced on a tropical island, and offers a succession of beautiful views of dazzling sands, waving palms, and tropical nights . .. the story of a little girl and boy who grow up alone on the island is portrayed with charm and delicacy.”—London Evening News. The author’s opinion of the film version—“l feel that I must congratulate you on the film of ‘The Blue Lagoon.’ It is a wonderful piece of work, quite distinct from any screen picture I have ever seen, and made so, I believe, by the fact that you have cast convention and the tricks of the studio aside, and gone straight to Nature for your effects.”—H. de Vere Stacpoole. A very strong supporting programme has been arranged, and plans will be at The Bristol.

AT THE CIVIC. LAST NIGHT OF “CHEATING CHEATERS” (BETTY COMPSON AND KENNETH HARLAN) AND BUCK JONES IN “CHAIN LIGHTNING.” We have a most entertaining, mystifying farce-comedy placed before us by the Civic management for the last time to-night in “Cheating Cheaters,” which stars Betty Compson and Kenneth Harlan. There were too many crooks after the famous Palmer jewels, and the funny part of this picture is that each gang of thieves thought the other were honest. But you remember that old one about thieves falling out?—well, they fall out here when two sets of society Raffles set out to put one over on each other. Each gang thinks the others are honest and the picture grows more mysterious with each passing minute until the unusually surprising ending relieves the suspense and you find yourself completely entertained, yet wishing there were more of it! There is plenty of action and real entertainment in Buck Jones’ “Chain Lightning.” It is only necessary to say that this js as good a Buck Jones pictures as any of the star’s. The scenery is always good and wonderfully represented by the camera. Buck has been travelling the world, but comes home to clean up the country of scoundrels and save the delightfully pretty chic little heroine from their leader. Inter alia we witness a really worth-while explosion in an interesting narrow pass called The Notch.