ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20539, 16 July 1928, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE. ENTERTAINMENT DE LUXE. LON CHANEY IN “LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT,” ALSO LOUISE FAZENDA IN “FINGER PRINTS.” Good ghosts do not work in eight-hour shifts, and have no objection to the “dogwatch”—in fact, it is against all ghost tradition to be “seen” between sunrise and sunset. Hence all the night work on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s latest picture for Lon Chaney, a master detective story, which opened at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday night. Lon Chaney worked only four days on this unique picture, and twentyfive nights. This was necessary in order to give a realistic portrayal of the “vampires,” “ghosts” and uncanny settings—all of which are exploited by Burke from Scotland Yard, preparatory to placing a suspected murderer under hypnotic influence which leads to his confession. “London After Midnight” is the last word in modern detective fiction—it will galvanize all who see it with astonishment and expectancy—• while a very tender love story is part of the theme. Seldom have the walls of the cosy Majestic rung with such honest laughter as that which greeted the beloved comedienne, Louise Fazenda, in her first starring vehicle, “Finger Prints.” Warner Brothers are responsible for this masterpiece of mirth and mystery, which is released by Master Pictures. The story is an adaptation of Arthur Somers Roche’s story by Graham Baker and Edward Clark, and it was directed by Lloyd Bacon. The excellent cast include two featured players, John T. Murray and Helene Costello. Miss Fazenda did wonders with the part of a Government spy posing as a real dumb Dora of a housemaid. She was never before quite as funny. POPULAR PICTURES. LOIS MORAN IN “THE WHIRLWIND OF YOUTH”; JACK HOLT AND FLORENCE VIDOR IN “SEA HORSES.” The programme screened on Saturday evening was well up to the usual high standard, the pictures, projection, and Stories being strong factors towards making perfect entertainment. “The Whirlwind of Youth” depicts the love story of a young English girl who goes to Paris to study painting. The scene's change to the Riviera, and finally to the battlefields of France where she enlists as an ambulance driver. As Nancy Lois Moran gives a splendid characterization, and she is supported by an excellent cast of performers. “Sea Horses” is a thrilling story of the sea, and adventure on the East Coast of Africa. There are three supporting subjects, and the programme should appeal to all. Low prices are the rule here, and seats may be booked at the Bristol. CIVIC PICTURES,. “THE COHENS AND THE KELLYS IN PARIS”—GREAT FUN! AND EDMUND LOWE IN “THE WIZARD.” Those who are not afraid of dying of laughter should see that comic classic, “The Cohens and the Kellys in Paris,” inimitably done with George Sidney and J. Farrell McDonald as the head of two of the lost tribes. Originally Cohen and Kelly are business partners but a quarrel results in a feud as deadly as a Sicilian vendetta between the two men, whilst their wives are still thick friends. Each of the men try to outdo the other in showing generosity to their wives, to their immense delight. Then, to complicate matters still further young Patrick Kelly marries Cohen’s daughter in Paris. In order to break the news gently the marriage is only given out as an engagement, and as both Cohen and Kelly decide that there shall be no marriage, they all embark on the same boat for gay Paree. When they arrive they find the young people already married, but on the point of a break-away owing to young Kelly’s model, Paulette, being far too good-looking. What follows is one of the most ridiculous and laughable scenes possible, but it ends with the complete reconciliation of the Cohens and the Kellys senior and junior. Vera Gordon and Kate Price are inimitable as the wives and Sue Carrot is as pretty a Miss Cohen as one could see in any synagogue. A trained ape, a secret panel, and a clever, vengeful man, provide the thrills in “The Wizard,” the other star picture. “The Wizard” was adapted from a play, Balaoo, by Gaston Leroux. The story hinges on vengeance.

Years before two men, Webster as Judge and Edwin Palmer as prosecuting attorney, sent Carlois’s son to the scaffold, and he, a scientist, plans vengeance.. He trains an ape in murder tactics, to follow certain scents and to bring that person back to him. At a birthday party, which Judge Webster gives to his beautiful daughter Anne, played by Leila Hyams, hair-raising events take place. The lights are turned out for Anne to light up her birthday cake and all are suddenly aware of a sinister and mysterious presence in the room. A storm outside blows open the French windows with a crash, revolver shots ring out, and Palmer disappears. The party withdraws from Judge Webster’s house to that of the scientist. The Judge calls the police, | but the hero, Stanley Gordon, a reporter, answers the telephone and reaches the house first. Then follows thrill upon thrill. After many tense moments the mystery is solved. Edmund Lowe, of “What Price Glory” fame, is seen to perfection , as Stanley Gordon, the hero-reporter. On I

this programme “Blake of Scotland Yard” t and the official May Fair film are also i being shown. ] .- • 1 MISS DAISY HALL. J TO-NIGHT’S RECITAL. ’ The recital to be given by Miss Daisy 1 Hall this evening will rank as one of the 3 highest performances ever given in Invercar- 1 gill by an individual star, for the programme , contains some rare gems from a large repetoire, specially selected to suit the color- j atura soprano voice. Miss Hall is gifted j with a beautiful golden throat, endowed by nature. Her voice has that unmistake- ] I able resonance of great artists who visit ( us at rare intervals. She is a brilliant , pupil of the Bel Canto School, Italy. Her ‘ voice flows flawless and golden without effort to the appointed end, and her coloratura work glows with a congenial warmth. It is not often that Nature endows a , I singer with such commanding, attractive

stage presence, and charm of manners that, with her first bow to her audience she immediately gives that magnetism, (so rarely noticeable to-day) that can hold enthralled even the most unconcerned, and with the warmth of her work and her golden voice, a few moments suffice to hold all (so to speak) spell-bound. Much can be written, more can be said of the great merits of the wonderful little New Zealander, who is now going to take her place, amongst the world’s leading artists. That Invercargill will show appreciation to the prima-donna, who has returned for a short time to her home country goes without saying, and it is to be hoped that a large house will greet her this evening. Patrons are requested to be seated at the advertised time of commencement, as the management announces that no person will be admitted to the theatre during a number.

The Natural Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children attended to nearly 100,000 children in Britain in the past year.