AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 18 June 1924, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

HOOT GIBSON AT 'THE GRAND.

' Universal presents Hoot Gibson in one of the most colourful western', pictures, :of: imany months in ‘ “Ride' For Your Life,” at the Cosy Grand Theatre this evening. It is a story of California’s gold rush days, involving romance, -intrigue,'' and thrilling adventure; Hoot - portrays 'the role of a cowboy who has not inherited his father’s adventurous nature, but is content to bask in the glory of his fighting dad’s reputation. Then at the whim of a pretty girl,' with whom ho is in love he changes his whole routine of living and pretends to be a bandit that'he might win her esteem. It is life type of role in which Gibson excels. It entails hard riding, fast shooting, and some dramatic acting, but the broad, thread of humour that is interwoven iii the story furnishes the big entertainment punch to the picture. The youthful would-be bandit gets into more trouble than a real road agent on parade in front of a bunch of sheriffs. But eventually he wins the girl, after lie’s proved to her that it's not such a romantic thing to be a bandit. As Laura La Plante, of “Sporting Youth” fame,‘-is“the'girl, his efforts are well worth the trouble. The story was written especially for Gibson by Johnston McCulley, popular magazine writer, and adapted to the screen by Raymond L. Schroclc. In the cast besides Miss La Plante is Harry Todd, Robert McKim, Howard Truesdell, Clarke Comstock, William Robert Daly, and Frecl Humes. Sup-

ports include the latest “International News,” and a two-reel Arthur Trundle comedy, entitled “That’s Rich.” Seats may be reserved as usual, ’Phone 486. ANNETTE KELLERMAN IN “VENUS OF THE SOUTH SEAS.” An all-New Zealand picture, constructed in a locality famous for its natural beauty, is at last here. It will be seen at the Theatre Royal this evening, and features that famous diving Venus, Annette Kellerman, whose sylph-like form is seen in much grace-ful-action. The film, which was taken mainly in. Nelson, with some Island Bay “shoots” and Christchurch scenes, is a most creditable production in every way. The story concerns a lonely pearl-diver and his beautiful daughter, Shona. Sho is a child of Nature, a goddess of the seas, and one moonlight night romance comes to her when she swims out to a strange boat and meets the hero. A rival pearl pirate, on the death of the old man, attempts villainy, hut the young man pits himself against him, and, naturally, all ends well. Playing opposite Miss Kellerman is Mr Norman French, who does some excellent acting, and makes a manly hero all through. The diving stunts of the Venus of the Sea must be seen to he appreciated. Sho performs all manner of fanc-y dives, including the 'dolphin. double somersault, tho “splash,” and numerous other graceful evolutions, while tho slow-motion displays shows exactly how it is done. Her fall from a high rock into the sea is a notable part of her work, and the underwater photography of her fight with an octopus and her pearl-seeking has never been surpassed. “Venus of the South Seas” marks an epoch in the picture-making industry, and opens up wide possibilities for New Zealand as a “locale.” An attractive featurette cn ihe programme is golf by Geuo Sarazen. _ This is a demonstration ot the world’s famous player Geuo Sarazen, in which he demonstrates by tegular and slow-motion photography tho various strokes that have brought him fame. Other subjects will include Die “Pathc Gazette,” and “Life in a Dutch Cheese Factory.” Selected musical numbers will be played by the Royal orchestra, directed bv' Mr Edgar Collins. Seats may be booked throuldi ’phone 570.

MUSICAL CELEBRITIES. Visiting artists of world-wide fame are not so frequent in their visits to these shores that lovers of the best music can afford to pass by such a programme as that which is to be presented next Tuesday and Wednesday at the Theatre Royal by the Lenghi-Cellini, Zacharewitsch, and Cimara combination. Maestro Conte Pietro Cimara will play “Marcia Nuziale” of Greig, Rachmaninoff’s “Melodia,” Chopin’s “Polonese,” Debussy’s “Arabesca,” Moszkowski’s “Waltze d’Amouthe,” and “The Gavotta of Sgambati.” Lenghi-Cellini will include in his numbers the favourite “Mother of Mine,” “Oft in the Stilly Night,” “Cielo e Mar,” “Vittoria! Vittoria!” “J’ai peeure en reve,” “Jenne Fillette,” “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” “Tre Giorni son che Nina,” “Ah non credevi tu,” “Fenestra che lucivi,” Massenet’s “Elegie,” and with Zacharewitsch the exquisite, “Berceuse de Jocelyn,” “Angels Guard Thee,” and Cimara's “Nostalgia.” Zacharewitsch will play his own compositions, and those of the known great ones, “Trille del Diavolo. Sonata in A minor (Veracuni), “The Spider’s Web,” “Lotus Land,” Bruch’s “Concerto in G minor,” Wieniawski’s "Polonaise in D,” “The Slavonic Dance” of Dvorak, and many other gems of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Paganini. The box plan opens at The Bristol on Friday.