MAJESTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 222, 8 December 1927, Page 17

MAJESTIC

“THE UNKNOWN” TO-MORROW “The Unknown,” a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer special, which comes to the Majestic Theatre to-morrow, stars Lon Chaney, the greatest character player the screen has ever known, in one of the most amazing roles he has ever attempted. As Alonzo the Armless, star performer of a circus in Madrid, Chaney, using his toes instead of his hands, hurls knives and axes at Joan Craw, ford, who, as Nanon, the daughter of the circus proprietor, stands against a target. Alonzo’s flashing weapons OLitline the girl’s slender form in shining steel, but not one touches her. He loves her, and his prehensile toes are as skilled as any hands. But Malabar, the strong man, also loves Nanon, and he always watches this act with anxious eyes, fearing for the safety of his beloved. Thus begins a chain of dramatic events, which finally culminates in one of the most amazing finales ever filmed. Joan Crawford gives a bewitching portrayal of the dark-eyed Nanon, and is particularly beautiful in her circus attire. Pier lithe, youthful figure was never shown to better advantage. Her emotional acting is equally noteworthy, and will add immeasurably to her ever-growing reputation. Norman Kerry, as the strong man of the circus, gives a sterling performance, his rugged strength providing a splendid foil for Miss Crawford’s rare beauty. Among the other players, Polly Moran gives a convincing performance in a brief role.

Something new in the way of entertainment is provided at the Majestic Theatre, by a woman who gives a remarkable demonstration of mind concentration. Cases of the mind working in one direction, while the hand works in another, are not uncommon, but the sight of Remona —for such is the stage name of the woman in question—reading, writing, spelling, adding figures and talking at one and the same time have astonished large audiences all over the v^"° rl d. Mr. Whiteford-Waugb and his Majestic Orchestra will provide another of their famous musical programmes. They will play as their overture Rossini’s famous composition, “The Barber of Seville,” and include in the incidental music rendered “Three Eastern Sketches” (Horgill), “In Old Granada” (Hadley); grand selection, “Ernani” (Verdi), “Schubert’s Songs,” “Meditation” (Tschaikowsky), “Spanish Dances” (Stegger), “Serenade” (Saleede), and “Cleopatra Suite” (Oehmler).

Among the many scenes included in the Majestic Magazine and Pathe Pictorial are scenes of the celebrations of the SOth birthday of President Hindenberg, Walsall’s welcome to Lieutenant Webster, the winner of the Schneider Cup race; British warships at manoeuvres off the coast of Scotland; excavations of Ostia, “the glory that was Rome”; the latest Parisian fashions, otter hunting in Devon, and a beautiful scenic of “The Guarded Mount,” at Penzance, showing the famous fortress, and then going down to the coast to the picturesque little towns of New Lynn and Mousehole. An hilarious comedy and a scenic conclude the pictorial programme.