Round The Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

Round The Shows

STRAND “THE DOVE The high reputation of the Strand Theatre for first-class entertainment is well upheld this week, when an excellent programme of balanced pictorial items, music and stage prologue, is being presented. The musical side of the programme is particularly good, commencing with an overture by the Strand Symphony Orchestra, under Miss Eve Bentley, followed by a saxophone solo, and including a beautiful stage presentation in which Miss Mary Cofield, soprano, sings “My Heart’s Desire” (Coningsby Clarke). Among the smaller supporting films there is an Aesop cartoon, a Strand Magazine with the latest budget of English and American news, an<J finally the great air picture, “Forty Thousand Miles with Lindberg.” Then comes the main pictorial attraction, “The Dove,” recognised as Norma Talmadge’s greatest screen triumph. “The Dove” is the colourful, quickaction narrative of a virtuous dancehall girl, a courageous young American employed in a gambling house, and “the bes’ damn caballero in all Costa Roja,” Don Jose Maria y Sandoval. Against a background of guitars, stilletos, roulette wheels, fine ladies and grand gentlemen, the characterisation of Miss Talmadge as Dolores, “The Dove,” a bea.utiful dancer, comes to glowing life. Noah Beery and Gilbert Roland have the main supporting roles. “LUCKY LADY” AT GREEN LANE Monte Carlo, where more money is gambled away than anywhere else in the world, is shown in “The Lucky Day,” to be screened this evening at the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane. “Warming Up,” a rousing story of the American game of baseball, and starring Richard Dix, will also be shown.

Further Entertainment Notices wll be found on Page 15 of the News Section

CRYSTAL PALACE, MT. EDEN OPENING IN JANUARY Auckland's fine chain of suburban theatres will be augmented next month when the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden, will be open. This theatre, which is being built for Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., has been designed on the most modern lines and promises to be one of the most comfortable and up-to-date theatres in Auckland. ORGAN RECITAL A special Christmas programme has been arranged for the organ recital in the Town Hall to-morrow evening. The city organist, Mr. Maughan Barnett, will play Guilmant’s offertoire on two Christmas themes, Karl Elert’s quaint setting of Adeste Fideles, March of the Magi Kings by Dubois and Handel’s Hallelujah chorus, in addition to pieces by Bach and Tschaikowski.

' PLAZA AND TIVOLI “FOR ALIMONY ONLY” “So that’s it! Almony! That’s what you married me for, is it—you shameless parasite, you ” A maid, with a comical complex, hastily rises from her position at the keyhole and wobbles to the cloak closet across the hall. A crook retreats from the stand he shared with the maid and the door opens. . . . Peter Williams, with face so red reflecting as a barometer the height of the man’s temper, backs out. . . . Peter Williams (for picture purposes only in “For l Alimony Only,” but who, in reality, is Clive Brook) turns to find the maid with his overcoat and hat, which he accepts rather hurriedly,* and departs for the clubs . . . and another barque flounders near the Rocks of Divorce, tossed by the High Seas of Matrimony. This is just one of the many incidents of an exciting nature which are featured in the P.D.C. picture, “For Alimony Only,” starring Leatrice Joy, which is now being shown at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres. “For Alimony Only” is filled with situations of a spontaneous nature — complications which evoke laughter, and deep pathos that stimulates real tears, as well as tense drama. The cast in support of Miss Joy is not a large one, and besides.the star and her leading man, Clive Brook, only three others, Lilyan Tashman, Casson Ferguson and Toby Claude, are important members. The second attraction on the programme at these theatre is the intensely dramatic drama by Universal, “The Heart of a Nation,” starring George Sidney. “Heart of a Nation” is from the stage play of “We Americans,” by Milton Herbert Gropper and Max Seigel. It deals with the drama and the humour of a foreign-born family which has migrated to America. The children quickly assimilate the new manner of living but the older folks experience difficulty which at times approaches tragedy, as they, are unable to change the habits of a lifetime. PRINCE EDWARD “A WOMAN’S WAY” “A Woman’s Way,” now at the Prince Edward Theatre, gives a vivid picture of the Parisian underworld and the colourful life along the boulevards. It is a drama which revolves around a dancing girl, known as the “Frozen Flame.” This girl, charmingly portrayed by Margaret Livingston, is utterly indifferent to men until she meets an attractive young American. The second attraction is the latest Lon Chaney picture by Metro-Goldr wyn-Mayer, “The Big City,” in which the famous actor appears as a gang leader in New York’s underworld. Exciting battles with the police provide many of the thrills in this production. CLICK CLACK CABARET Dancing will be enjoyed again this evening at the popular Click Clack Cabaret, Newmarket, when the usual Saturday carnival night will be held. Dancing will be enjoyed until midnight to music by Clyde Howley’s Famous i Internationals.

BONNIE “ANNIE LAURIE” MAJESTIC’S SCOTTISH WEEK Morning sun warms the Scottish glens and highlands. There is a sparkle of dew and the scent of heather on Maxwelton’s lovely braes, a -croon of pibroch and ring of claymore as the clans foregather in the homestead of the chief. Rumours of war are in the air and all Scotland is astir. Thus is the stgge set for the opening sequence of “Annie Laurie” which opened at the Majestic yesterday. An incomparable romance with an incomparable actress in the leading role. That is “Annie Laurie,” presenting Lillian Gish as the immortal heroine of one of the sweetest national songs ever composed. Associated with Scottish characteristics, habits and traditions, the subject contains innumerable pitfalls for American producers whose wells of research are often clouded and shallow. For once, however, an American director has caught the correct atmosphere and _ arranged details of production which ring true. From the opening sequence, the onlookers are transported on the wings of the screen over the border and into the highlands. The years are rolled back and they find themselves face to face with the Annie Laurie of their dreams—a lovely, modest woman whose charms and accomplishments fulfil every anticipation. Lillian Gish is an actress to her fingertips. She has never been a nation’s idol—her ability in a realm of sex appeal worship is too subtle for that—but her name is a synonym for the highest form of screen art, and her pictures are always worth seeing and appreciating. Her work in “Annie Laurie,” is another triumph, and should do much to strengthen the sentiment attached to that famous Scottish name. The story tells of the bitter hatred existing between Clan Campbell and Clan Macdonald, and how the gulf was bridged by the marriage of Annie Laurie of Clan Campbell to lan Macdonald, one-time mortal enemy of her people.

The warring - of the clans, the intrigues and acts of treachery, the bloody battles in Highland fastnesses, the mission of the famous Fiery Cross, the brayery of the heroine in lighting the signal flame warning Scotland that “the Campbells are coming”; lastly the beautiful scene at Maxwelton where Annie gives “her promise true”—all these are but the outstanding features of a screen tale that is one of the best achievements of the famous Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Miss Gish is supported by a cast including Nurman Kerry, who plays la.n Macdonald, Creighton Hale as Donald, Hobart Bosworth in a character role as the Macdonald chieftain, and David Torrance as Sir Robert Laurie. The mounting of the production is magnificent and the photography superb. The Majestic’s presentation of this romantic drama is worthy of a special occasion. The character of the big picture demands a suitable musical score, and the Majestic orchestra has made an admirable selection. The melodies last evening added materially to our enjoyment of the programme. The supporting picture programme contrasts delightfully. There is an excellent Aesop “fable,” a comedy starring genial Max Davidson who is becoming one of the screen’s leading

two-reel fun-makers, and a budget of "Majestic” news that includes a glimpse of everything worth seeing on both sides of the Atlantic as well as in the Southern Hemisphere.

Alma Rubens has been added to the cast of “She Goes to War,” the picture that Henry King is making from Rupert Hughes’s latest novel. Eleanor Boardman has the leading role, and Gertrude Astor is also in the cast

NEW REGENT

BIG PICTORIAL PROGRAMME Spectacular backgrounds, mass movements of whites and Indians, struggles between trappers and the red men. with Fred Thomson and his white horse, Silver King, at their best, combine to make “Kit Carson one of the outstanding pictures of the season. Carson’s life was a series of thrills and Mr. Thomson has skilfully chosen many of them in building up a remarkably dramatic story for this Paramount picture, which is now being shown at the New Regent Theatre. Two pleasing love stories are threaded into the drama —one with a, pretty Indian girl, , and the other with a Spanish woman. This latter role is played by Nora Lane. The Indian girl, a newcomer, is Dorothy Janis. The film version of the two romantic episodes in the life of America’s famous Indian scout and military leader is authentically done, the intensive research work undergone by Mr. Thomson in setting it to the screen, being manifested realistically. It compares favourably with any of the big Western specials produced by any film company in recent years. The second big pictorial attraction on the programme is “The Mating Call,” an exceptionally dramatic picture laid in America shortly after the World War. The star, the well-known actor Thomas Meighan, appears as a soldier who re- . turned from the war to find his war - bride has deserted him. To ease his loneliness he brings home a poor Russian immigrant girl, played by Renee Adore© and as time goes on they grow to like each other. Smaller supporting films, and excellent music by Mr. Maurice Guttridge’s Regent Operatic Orchestra, contribute to a pleasant evening’s entertainment.

LYRIC “NONE BUT THE BRAVE” Fresh, delightful hot-weather comedy drama that hits the high spots of beauty and romance is being shown at the Lyric Theatre this evening. The picture is Fox Films “None But the Brave,” a colourful beach and college story with Charlie Morton and Sally Phipps. The story concerns a boy—a hero at college—who brings his school world to his feet with a series of splendid athletic feats. However, when he graduates he finds the business world has no time to pay homage to an exathlete and he is forced to eke out an existence as a fife guard. A novel sequence of the production is a bathing beauty contest filmed in colours. The second feature is an hilarious Mack Sennett feature length comedy, starring the inimitable Monty Banks, and entitled “Keep Smiling.’*