HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 416, 26 July 1928, Page 16

HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS

FINE BUCK JONES PICTURE A thrilling and colourful story of the ranch country, starring the popular out-door actor Buck Jones, is The Branded Sombrero,” which was shown for the first time at the Hippodrome and Empress Theatres last evening. Leila Hymans, a well-known actress, has her first role in a Western picture, and as the ranch girl with whom two brothers are in love, she plays a sympathetic characterisation which left nothing to be desired. The story opens with the death of a rugged old ranchman, peculiar in the country round about for ■Tiis choice of a queer sombrero adorned with the brands of a dozen ranches. It is known that he has some secret concerning this peculiarity, but he keeps it to himself until the day he is shot from ambush. On his deathbed the man reveals the secret to his stepson. The facts are that in his younger days he was a rustler, and for every steer he burned a dot in the brand of that ranch which appeared on his ten gallon hat. counting the dots, the heir to this shame determined to repay every head of cattle.

Equally enjoyable is the supporting picture, entitled “Singed.” “Singed” is a story of the newer West, the land of oil wells and gushes, and in this locale a thrilling picture has been made, with Blanche Sweet in the leading role.

At the Hippodrome Theatre to-mor-row afternoon patrons will have the advantage of listening to a full account of the big boxing contest. The management has arranged to have loud speakers installed in the theatre and a full ringside description of the fight will be broadcast, round by round.