ACROSS the FOOTLIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1927, Page 20

ACROSS the FOOTLIGHTS

COMING EVENTS. OPERA HOUSE. To-night.—“Aforganson’s Finish” (Anita Stewart and Johnnie Walker) Exhibitors Alliance. April 12 to 14.—“ Three Bad Men.” ’William Fox Special. April 16 and 18.—“ The Romance of a Million Dollars.” (Glenn Hunter and Alice Mills) Exhibitors Alliance. April 26 to 28.—“ The Wanderer” Paramount Special Attraction. May 5,6, 7.—J. C. Williamson Ltd. “Abie’s Irish Rose.” EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. To-night.—“Mismates” (All Star) First National. And Jackie Clarke. Child Comedian. April 11 to 13.—“ Perch of the Devil” (Pat) O’Malley and Mae Busch Universal and “The Adventures of Maisie” No. 5. April 14 to- 16.—“ The Return of Peter Grimm” (All Star) William Fox and “Riding For a King” Steve Donohue Series No. 1. April 18 to 20.—“ Dancing Mothers” (Conway Tearle, Alice Joyce), Paramount, and “The Adventures of Maisie” No. 6. THE PEOPLE’S THEATRE. April 9 and ll.—“ The Great K. and A. Train Robbery” (Tom Mix) and “Buffalo Bill,” episode 9. April 12 and 13—“ The Ridin’ Comet” (Yakima Canutt) F. 8.0April 14 and 15. —“The Night Cry (Rin-Tin-Tin) Master Pictures. April 16 and 18.—“ Paradise” (Milton Sills and Betty Bronson) and “Buffalo Bill” the final episode. THEATRE ROYAL—WAITARA. April 9.—“ The Vanishing Race,” Paramount Special Attraction. April 12.—“ Great K. and A. Train Robbery” (Tom Mix) Fox. “Buffalo Bill” No. 9 and “Riding For a King.” Steve Donohue Series, No. 1. April 13. —“The Night Cry” (Rin-tin-tin.) (A’sian Films.) April 14. —“Perch of the Devil” (Universal Films. April 16.—“ Three Bad Men” (All Star) William Fox Special. No more colourful characters ever added danger and romance to the early West than the Gamblers who followed the home-seekers to the mushroom towns that sprung up along the line of march of civilization, and in the forthcoming monster production “Three Bad Men,” which John Ford recently completed for Fox Film Corporation, in the heart of the Mojave Desert, a number of the thin-lipped, flashily dressed Knights of Chance of those lawless days will be faithfully por-trayed. This picture of the early rush for homes and gold is said to be even greater than “The Iron Horse,” and it dwarfs all previous Westerns in the brilliancy of cast. The leading roles are in the hands of Smiling George O’Brien and Olive Borden, Lou Tellegen as the leading villain, Tom Santschi, J. Farrell MacDonald and Frank Campeau are the three old-time desperadoes from whom the picture takes its title, and other distinguished players are Alee Francis, star of “Thank You,” Jay Hunt, star of “Lightnin’,” Otis Harlan -and many others.

Canutt, as a rider, is no overnight development. He rode his first contest at the age of sixteen, and won the county championship of Washington. At the age of twenty he rode a tie for the world’s championship. At twentyone he won the world’s championship in 1917. And he has continued his successes by winning the all-round cowboy belt in 1920 and again in 1923.

Interest is stimulated in Tom Mix’s latest picture “The Great K and A train Robbery” by the fact that it was in the making of this thriller than Tom was rather badly injured. Mere figures are futile when describing “Three Bad Men,” for nothing approaching it has ever yet been attempted by the camera:—This is not a clipping from the description furnished by the makers of this spectacle, but the expressed opinion of residents of New Plymouth who saw its first presentation at The De Luxe, Wellington, last week.

“The Whole Town’s Talking”—about what ? —not the weather —not butter prices—not football—but just about a poor chap who wishing to be regarded as “a bit of a lad” and having no sordid past, attempts to make one. Edward Everett Horton is the bold bad one and he is aided and abetted by Virginia Lee Corbin, Trixie Friganze and Otis Harlan.

“Behind the Front” is a comedy of the war, which features the humour, adventures, and disillusionment of a couple of simple soldiers, played by that inimitable character team, Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton. This refreshing comedy has everything required for lightsome entertainment, and is worthily followed by its sequel “We’re in the Navy Now,”" a further chapter of hilarity in the lives of the same couple of fun-makers.

When David Warfield first delineated tlie role of Peter Grimm in “The Return of Peter Grimm,” it aroused nationwide controversy. Disciples of spiritualism saw in the return of Peter a, justification and confirmation of tljeir belief that the disembodied spirits return from beyond the grave to advise and guide the lives of their loved ones. Now that Fox Films have brought this fine drama from the stage to the screen, Interest will no doubt be taken in this side of the production, but it is not the idea of exploiting spiritualism that caused the picture to be planned. The central theme of the picture is the only thing that tells in the long run —love. Nothing else endures until the end.

The woman of keen, deceitful wit and the crude, candid woman of strong will are seen in the grips of death for the possession of a man in the pictured version of “Perch of the Devil,” the famous novel by Gertrude Atherton. Mae Busch and Pat O’Malley are costarred in this tremendous UniversalJewel drama, in which the clash of opposition brings out the best and worst in women. • • • • “The Wanderer,” although a story of the Prodigal Son, built upon the famous

parable of Christ, is not an adaptation or elaboration of this story. It is an adaptation of a stage play which was based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. While in the essential teachings ant) truths, it is to all intents and purposes the same yet, for dramatic power, have additions been made to the simple Biblical story. * # Dogs, like human beings, seem to feel better and more contented when working and doing something useful, than when they are idle. Rin-tin-tin, the wonder dog of the screen, lords a very useful existence, and he seems to sense it. Every day, whether he is working or not, he has a regular routine. In the morning he goes through his exercises, consisting of running, Jumping and playing with a huge rubber ball. He then has breakfast, and after bidding his wife, Nannette, and their children good-bye, starts off with his owner, Lee Duncan, for the Warner Bros, studio to work. # # # # Colourful South Sea Island scenes; a replica of London’s famous Beaux Arts Ball; one of the greatest screen battles in history between Milton Sills and Noah Beery: a coronation scene in which Milton Sills and Betty Bronson are crowned king and queen of a tropical island, and a bitter struggle between a stolid, wealthy man and the ne’er-do-well son of an English nobleman. Those are a few of the highlights of “Paradise” in which the comedy is served by Charlie Murray who is a henpecked English Lord. • # * * “Dancing Mothers” is the tale of a pretty woman who was almost cheated out of life by a heartless husband and a thoughtless daughter. As the mother who started out in order to save her child from throwing herself at a notorious bachelor, and ended by falling in love with him herself, Alice Joyce gives the finest performance of her career. And Conway Tearle in his role as the bachelor, rises to new heights, KING’S THEATRE—STRATFORD. ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS. To-day, Saturday and Monday (Matinee to-day at 1.30 p.m.).—“Mantrap.” Tuesday Only.—i“ The Calgary Stampede.” Wednesday and Thursday.—“ Nell Gwyn” ('Special). A spectacular forest fire, and the rescue of Clara Bow and I’erey Marmont by hydroplane, are features of “Mantrap,” the Victor Fleming-Paramount picturisation of Sinclair Lewis’ latest novel, which comes to the King’s Thea' e to-day. The setting of this unusual love story is the Canadian woods, during a mid-summer camping trip. Ernest Torrence is also featured. # # * # Unlike many who ascended from obscure origin to Royal favour, Nell Gwyn was always a friend of the people. She never failed to turn her influence over the King to the benefit of the poor, as is witnessed by her noble effort on behalf of her country’s fighting men, which resulted in the foundation of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea. In her will she directed that a certain sum of money be devoted every year to securing the release of poor debtors from prison, and she also left one hundred pounds for the use of the poor of the parish of St. Martin’s-in-tlie-Fields. • • • • In Character she Is described as frank, unsentimental and English. As an actress she is said to have been best in comedy, in which she was gay, sprightly and saucy. * « * * The picturisation of her life, First National’s "Nell Gwyn,” comes to the King’s Theatre next Wednesday. • • • • It is with pleasure the management of the King’s Theatre announces the special engagement of a professional orchestra. Miss S. Pelvan, A.T.C.L., of Dunedin, will be musical directoress. Miss Pelvan has had wide experience in orchestral work. With her is Miss A. Mitchell, violinist®, and Mr. Threipland, ’cellist. It is the policy of the Stratford Pictures and Amusement Company to give its patrons the very best. The King’s all soloists orchestra will from Monday next play every night and also at the matinee on Saturdays.