AMUSEMENTS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 84, 7 February 1928, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

THE KING'S THEATRE. THE "WINNING Oh' BARBARA WORTH. Tense dramatic incidents, an incomparable love story, unusual .scenic effects, together with an underlying strain of comedy and the graphic portrayal of desert development join to make Henry King's film, "Tns Winning of Barbara Worth" which comtes to the King's Theatre tonight, one of the outstanding photoplays of the year. Filmed on the great arid Black Bock Desert, the story unfolds a world ot' entertaining and educational features feore Ronald Colman, as Willard Holmes, begins to feel sure ' that he has finally won the fair Bar- ' bara, played by Vilma Ba'n.ky. Konald Column's ride with the payroll to stop a threatened revolt of labourers in the town of Barbara, built by Jefferson Worth, Barbara's father, to compete with Kingston, is one of the high spots of the production. Over miles of barren • desert and through the beautiful canyons of the Harlequin, Mountains, Willard Holmes and Abe Lee rode through the night. Bandits, hired by James Greenfield. Holmes' foster-father waylaid the pair in Devil's Canyon. The battle, distinguished by its sincerity and the excellent acting ai: the characters involved, resulted in the wounding of both men. This bit of action afforded Colman opportunity 'to perform one of the most spectacular screen feats he has undertaken in his successful career. I Vilma. Banky, who as the grownup Barbara, casts the magic spell •,over Ronald Colman young easterner and Gary Cooper, as Abe Lee, desertbred western engineer, iplays the jfhother of the infant Barbara in the prdlague of the picture. For more than a week, with the temperature hovering around 120 degrees, the talented actress worked in the "oiting blasts of man-made sand storms in order that she might give the limit of realism to the part, which called for great damatic portrayal and emotional acting. The sand storm scenes constitute a vivid part of "The Winning of Barbara Worth." For the* first time in the history of motion pictures, actual sand storms have been filmed and are incorporated in the finished product.

Henry King was directing Colman and Miss Banky in an interior scene early one afternoon when far across the desert a sand storm began formation. Quickly equipping a camera car, he began to chase the rolling clouds op sand and dust. The storm was encountered about twen-ty-five miles from the desert ramp and photographed from all angles.

WJRTHS' STARS. UNIQUE AG GREiU ATI ON. TO-MORROW NIGHT. Tlie exceptionally strong 1928 programme whifah, W'irths' KJ'irais wil\ present in Stratford on Wednesday Februry 8 for one night only means that tliei world-famous circuses at Europe and America are the poorer for the loss of no fewer than five wonderful acts which Air. George AVirth was enterprising ejnougTi to secure on his recent world tour. Wirth .Bros, have entertained Australasia, with many trained animal .acts, but never during their 47 years as circus proprietors have they staged a more delightful one than that in which Palienberg's beans bold audiences spell-bound by their amazing. iy human-like performances on high bicycles, scooters, stilts and skates t play football, a marvellous act Chester Dieck, a marvellous Indian who will be seen for the first timeon this side of the Globe, dashes into tliei ring with a motor-cycle and siSe car, but these do not remain Jong in their conventional shape as they are' gradually disintegrated until the otelier of all the laws of gravity is careering round on one wiieel, riding down staircases and thrilling beholders with all manner oft: bewildering daring and apparently lmjpjO'Ssibio feats. In the Reda.ni Troupe, a man of abnormal strength is seen with three beautiful partners hi soine remarkable feats of .strength, and a tableau of classical 'posiugs in which he ishows his splendid physique. This act is finished by tlie man hold a sort oi merry-go-round: on his Head with the three women driving three separate aeroplanes attached. Then there are- Hilary Long and little Jessica, who do some remarkable head ba.iuicing feats on a revolving traoeze, the star concluding with ai slidei down an incline wire on - hettf.

n irths' Perfonnig jloiihs were trained by Captain Smith. During the performa/hces of the lions, ildlle, Gulnare Hoyer will enter the cage and perform her wonderful dance of the Thousand Feathers, as danced by her at Fdies Bergeres, Pans. Uhico and Grace, a lazy acrobk.it and his dainty partner. Marvellous performances on T'ne Roman Rings and Trapes. Miss Madeline, graceful rider and dancer will also appear. These acts, any one. of which alone is worth the whole price of admission, are supported by a score oir others all of tlie recognised Wirth standard, wliicli menus that they are the best in, their particular line. The .Latest Novelty is Tin Hare Racing. Public invited to bring their own dogs. Resides this unique entertainment, Wirth-s' famous Zoo will also be on view, both before the performance commences and also from 4 to 5 in the afternoon, when, the animals will be led. THE RETURN OF THE OHERN 7 ! AVSKYS. It isi understood that there will be a very distinguished audience at the i'p/cital of the Clieriiinyslcys at tfiie Town Hall, Stratford, on Thursday afternoon next. Tickets on sale at Urubbs 7 : These gifted brother® appeared in

London as infant prodigies hi 1906, and again as boys, ti: 198.4, when they won their laurels. Since then they have visited nearly every corner of the earth, and have made several tours of the United States. Canada, Australia, .South Africa, India and the Orient. it will bo interesting for South Africans who have followed their d.ireei: to hear them again, this time as matured artists Musical critics throughout the. world have considered that the Chernia.vskys are without equals. The programme arranged lor their concert will give scope to their ususual versatility. The brothei-s bear very little resemblance to one another either in apXSf.iarancei or in personality. The one great characteristic they have in common is a naive ami delightful sense ok : humour which is the strongest clement in thir private life, and which frequently creeps into their music, '.('ravelling as they have done since early boyhood They have gathered a vast amount of experience, ,'uvd a fluency in many languages, which makes them most entertaining not only as musicians, but as conversationalists. There is no doubt that the return of these striking artists after an absence of six years will prove an important event in thei musical world.