ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 20667, 24 April 1929, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. GEORGE BANCROFT, BETTY COMPSON, BACLANOVA AND CLYDE COOK IN “DOCKS OF NEW YORK,” CLARA BOW IN "THE LAWFUL CHEATER.”

George Bancroft has not yet been seen in a weak role. Like Emil Jannings he is one of the outstanding personalities and most forceful characters on the screen today. In his latest "The Docks of New York,” which is to be seen at the Civic to-night Paramount has gone to a great expense in providing Mr Bancroft with the best of supporting talent. There is the ever popular Betty Compson in the chief suporting role. Then Baclanova, the fiery Russian actress, has a prominent role too. You will recall her work in Jannings’ “The Street of Sin,” and with Clive Brook in "Forgotten Faces.” Also included in the cast is Clyde Cook who gives a very human characterization. Mitchell Lewis, Gustav von Seyfferhitz and others are also included. The story is typical of a Bancroft picture. It has all the elements that go to fit the ability of this popular actor. It is from the pen of John Monk Saunders who wrote "Wings” and “The Legion of the Conderiined.” Last, but not least, Josef von Sternberg directed this production. His success with previous Paramount productions speaks for itself. The management is confident ’-ou will enjoy this picture like no other motion picture you have seen for some time. It is surprisingly, as well as pleasingly different from all others. Bancroft is cast as a stoker on a ship, with Clyde Cook for pal, and Mitchell Lewis for ah unloved boss, he is just a sweating, toiling brute, looking for his one night ashore in which to “have a good time” at The Sandbar, a waterfront dance and drink saloon of yesterday. But a self-drowning waif from the streets receives her unwanted life at his hands, and he carries her to the saloon, where the deserted wife of Mitchell Lewis, Baclanova, earns her bitter bread, but sound at core for all that, revives and attends the near dead girl (Betty Compson). For a freak, the stoker forces marriage on Bettv and “Hymn-book Harry” (Von Seyffertitz) perforins the ceremony. Next morning Bancroft returns to his ship, and the bride is taken to the Night Court on a charge of stealing clothing, which her husband returns in time to admit was pinched by himself. Sixty days for George, but he takes it with a high heart, for his "baby” will wait for him, she says, “for ever.” As the Happiest flapper on the screen Clara Bow gives an excellent performance in “The Lawful Cheater” the other star picture—a rapid fire action romance that gives full scope to the dynamic personality of the star. As Molly Foy, the lawful cheater of the sto*-'- Miss Bow proves conclusive!” that she has that rare gift of mimicry, so necessary for real, true .characterization. During part of the story she masquerades as a boy. and as a boy. she is delightful. Of all the hard, tough characters with whom the story abounds, she is probably the hardest—but here again she shows her versatility, for she is playing a role even on the screen. In her heart she is just a soft, little girl, who has to fight hard to keep the tears back, even though she may be cussing at some ruffian and defying him to do his darndest. The story is every evenly told and well nlaved. In casting Clara Bow in the lead, B. P. Schulberg surrounded her with some very excellent snnportin o ’ material. Raymond McKee as the sweetheart, gives an excellent account of himself. Edward Hearn as a crook, Jack Wise as a -hoo-b°ad. Geor”” Cooper as a crook, all prove themselves fine actors. SYD. CHAPLIN AND RICHARD BARTHELMESS. AT THE MAJESTIC. Two beautiful women of absolutely opposite types appear with Richard Barthelniess in tils new stellar picture, "The Wheel of Chance,” which is to be the attraction to-night at the Majestic Theatre. Lina Basquette plays the role of Ada, a sweet young girl who eventually wins the young attorney, one of twins, both of whom are played by the star. Margaret Livingston portrays a girl of the hall-world who attracts both brothers at. different times and who comes to an unhappy end. Both, arc accomplished actresses. Miss Basque! te is a brunette with hair and eyes of midnight hue; Miss Livingston is a lovely auburnhaired girl. Their roles are diametrically opposite, but each has a highly* important part in the working out of two destinies. “The Wheel of Chance” is an Alfred Santcll production from "Roulette,” the short story by Fannie Hurst. It Is a First National picture. The confirmed movie lan, the occasional picture-goer and the individual who is .finicky about his screen entertainment will all hail with joy the announcement that Warner Bros.’ production of Syd. Chaplin in "The Fortune Hunter,” ’a Master Picture release, is to be seen at the Majestic, commencing at the matinee to-day. There is much occasion for the joy.. To begin with, Syd. Chaplin is such an artist that he is welcome, in anything in which he elects to be seen, and, again, "The. Fortune Hunter” needs little or no introduction. As a play, this comedy was one of the biggest successes known to the legitimate stage. At one time there were no fewer than five companies touring the country in it. Winchell Smith, its author, and producer, made fortunes out of it and, what is more, the comedy will go down in history as furnishing John Barrymore with his first great stage success. One of the great charms of ‘The Fortune Hunter” is its wholesomeness, its touches of human nature and its bristling comedy. Bryan Foy and Robert Dillon, in making the adaptation of Winchell Smith’s story, were keen about retaining for the screen all of these things, and the result is that the picture..promises to have even greater vogue on the screen.than it had on the stage. Helene Costello, sister of the gorgeous Dolores, heads .an all-star cast in Syd. Chaplin’s support. THE REGENT. . TWO FINE FILMS. Ever since he first appeared on the screen in the British picture “A Passionate Adventure" Clive Brook has been one of the screen's leading artists, and his popularity must be further enhanced by 'his work in "Midnight Madness” the current feature at the Regent. The story is of the light comedy drama type, that holds the spectator’s interest inthroughout and concerns a young African diamond miner's fight to retain his mines against an unscrupulous American trader. The locale is Africa, the. atmosphere of the jungle, even to the wild beasts that terrorize the inhabitants at night time, being faithfully rendered. Jacqueline Logan and Walter McGraill are both excellent in support of the star. As the phantom lover in “Beyond the Sierras” Tim McCoy, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s outdoor action star, brings to the screen a romantic characterization that places him in a new niche in the hearts of lovers of cinema drama thrillers. Masked in the majority of the scenes in the spectacular picture McCoy proves versatility as a screen artist and his tenderness in the charming love scenes is a startling contrast to his fierceness in the slashing fight sequences. The story has to do with a group of land plunderers, headed by Owens, played by Roy D’Arcy, who plot to rob the estate of Carlos del Valle, a wealthy Spanish Don. McCoy, a secret service officer, overhears the plot, pretends to be a “bad man,” and joins the bandit gang. In so doing, however, he incurs the hatred of Rosa, the aristocratic Don’s sister, played by Miss Beecher. He, therefore, appears at a masked ball at her hacienda masked and in'the postume of a Spanish toreador. As the dance is in progress Owens and his men raid the hacienda, slay Carlos and attempt to loot the property. Masked and unrecognized, McCoy whips out his sword and engages the marauders in a duel. An interesting gazette and a very clever short comedy complete the evenings entertainment which certainly is a very enjoyable one.