ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20613, 11 October 1928, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. GEORGE O’BRIEN AND ESTELLE TAYLOR IN "HONOUR BOUND’’ AND CHESTER CONKLIN WITH W. C. FIELDS IN “FOOLS FOR LUCK." Powerful melodrama in “Honour Bound" •nd delightful fooling in “Fools For Luck” make the new programme at the Civic one of universal appeal, and consequently it proved very popular fare to last night’s huge audience. “Honour Bound” is really an exposure of the convict labour atrocities that were uncovered in the state of Alabama several years ago. It was written by Mr Jack Bethea, a newspaper man who had investigated the conditions in the Southern prison camps personally, and therefore knew what he was writing about. There are thrills aplenty. The cruelty shown by the prison guards and by the contractor of the convict labour is realistic in the extreme. There are thrills also in the fire scenes, where the convict labour barracks are shown set afire by a mentally deranged convict, who had taken that step to avenge the wrongs against the prisoners and particularly against the hero. In that fire, the hero is shown trapped and barely able to escape with his life. There is good drama in it. George O'Brien is excellent in the part of the hero. Estelle Taylor does well as the faithless woman. Tom Santachi, Lelia Hyams, Frank Cooley, Sam DeGrasse and others are in the supporting cast. Chester Conklin and W. C. Fields are the stars in “Fools For Luck.” The team work of these two is always good, though each is a host in himself. Mr Whitehead (Fields', is the usual semicrook who sells stock in a “dud” oil-well, and when the enraged buyers bring it all back to him. he, having being put wise by a false “friend” that the well is throwing a gusher, returns them their money with virtuous cheerfulness, only to be told by the “friend" that the oil is far to seek. Right on the heels of this comes rushing a man from the well, covered w*ith oil, shouting that the Mell has blown a gusher to the skies! Then indeed, Mr Whitehead is assured that honesty is the best policy. Jack Luden and Sally Blane provide the small love interest, and Arthur Housman helps the fun along. The supporting features are bright and varied and included is an item showing Tom Heeney’s arrival at Auckland. Seats for to-night may be reserved at the Bristol. “WINGS.” AT THE CIVIC PICTURES. After record-breaking seasons in’ Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin “Wings,” Paramount’s great epic of the air comes to the Civic Pictures on Saturday next for a special season of six nights. The season will commence at the matinee on Saturday. For the first time local picture-goers will have an opportunity of hearing with “Wings” the amazing synchronized sound presentation. This new invention has created a furore throughout the world and the manner in which it faithfully reproduces the sound of the planes in the air and the rat-tat-tat of the machine guns is amazing. ’Wings” is a picture of the war in the clouds produced on a scale that has never been attempted before. But “Wings” is not solely a war picture, for running through it is a very tender and real human story. It tells of two friends, Jack and David, played by Richard Arlen and Charles Rogers, and of a little girl named Mary Preston, plaved by Clara Bow. When the shadows of the Great War spread over to their little town, Jack and David join the Air Force. In training camp, Jack and David are enemies, and their antagonism ends in a fight. David’s pluck under severe punishment wins Jack’s admiration, and the two become pals. In their final days in camp, Jack and David get a grim insight into aerial warfare. Cadet White, with whom they share Quarters after they leave ground school, crashes to his death just before they are ordered up for their first flight. Over in France things happen so speedily that they are veterans within a few weeks. On their first dawn patrol their squadron of five meets Count Von Kellermaa’s “flying circus.” David’s machine gun jams when he is opposed by the enemy leader himself, but there is chivalry among the knights of the air, and Von Kellerman refrains from shooting him down. The Box Plans will open to-morrow. MAJESTIC. CHESTER CONKLIN AND MACK SWAIN IN “THE NERVOUS WRECK,” ALSO “THE PRODIGAL SON,” FROM SIR HALL CAINE’S FAMOUS NOVEL. liotous and rowdy, rampant and resonant, a nervous breakdown, a merriment and glee—that is ‘The Nervous Wreck,” which opened at the Majestic Theatre last night. Mort, a cowboy, played by Chester Conklin, is serving as cook against his will, and such cooking! He keeps a pig in the kitchen and—shaves onions! He makes violent love to Miss Haver which Ford resents, not through jealousy, but because the noise affects his wornout nerves. Conklin makes a mad race for a bottle of liniment which he uses with novel effect. Watch the lizard climb up Ford's trousers leg—as neat a big of comery effect ever screened heretofore. If you don’t smile at this, you're a stone statute. In addition “The Prodigal Son” was screened for the first time, also at this theatre. This suberb English production, adapted from Hall Caine’s novel by the same name, may safely be classed with the few acknowledged masterpieces of the screen. The story, with its universal appeal, holds the interest in a vise-like grip even through the lengthy footage, which is not run un by a single foot of padding nor by a single superfluous scene; the vivid action of this intense drama logically demands it. The direction of A. E. Coleby unmistakably shows flashes of genius, and the acting of an entire cast of English artists, whose names are unknown in this country, is uniformly excellent, while the performance of “Magnus,” the grievously wronged elder brother, has not been excelled in screen history. HEENEY-TUNNER FIGHT. MAJESTIC ON SATURDAY NEXT. Jack McAuliffe, the retired, undefeated, light -weight champion of the world, says of the ‘Tunney-Heeney Fight”:—‘The fight between Tom Heeney and Gene Tunney should never have been stopped by the referee—in fact, no championship fight should ever be stopped. A challenger should be out before he loses the fight. Heeney was not out—he was knocked down in the tenth round and dragged to his corner. But he quickly revived between rounds and was doing well in the eleventh round. Then, with only eight seconds to go, the fight was given to Tunney. Heeney might have recovered.” This picture was screened in Wellington before the Prime Minister, The Hon. J. G. Coates, Members of the Cabinet, Members of Parliament, and the leading boxing enthusiasts, who proclaimed it “The greatest fight film yet screened.” And it will be screened at the Majestic Theatre here for a season commencing Saturday next. THE FAMOUS “LYNCH” FAMILY. MUNICIPAL THEATRE. TO-MORROW NIGHT. Much interest is being evinced by the return of the famous Lynch Family to Invercargill to-morrow evening at the Municipal Theatre. Being so well-known and favourably remembered these excellent musicians need no “boosting.” Their name is sufficient guarantee for a bright and dever entertainment. Always associated with the Lynch Family has been a supporting company, with talents much above the usual. On this occasion they introduce some excellent artists, all of whom are making their first appearance in New Zealand. Mr Lester Barry is a noted English actor-vocalist, possessing a particularly fine baritone voice. Miss Pauline Kitchen, sograno, is also a phenomenal siffleuse. Miss Norma HaH, vivacious comedienne and

male impersonator, and Miss Eloise Mack, refined soubrette and champion dancer, will give variety to an enjoyable programme. The Box Plan is now open at the Bristol, while day sales can be secured tomorrow at Mrs Gawn’s (next Theatre).