AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 31 December 1926, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. “HER BIG NIGHT.” A now star lias taken her place in the celluloid heavens, and threatens to outshine more serious silsters if any more pictures such as “Her Big Night,” which delighted a .second night audience at the Theatro Royal, coi'ics a’ong. The star is Laura la Blante, who has been gracing Universal pio4S’’.cs with her presence for the past force years, and who now steps forth ns a. star all by herself in “Her Big Night.” The picturo is a farce comedy and has an irresistible appeal. The audience rocked with laughter last evning, as comical v;i)'.)iation); followed one after the other with startling rapidity. The story, based on Peggy Gaddis’ “Doubling Eor Daphne,” deals in a way, with the movie industry, and in concerned mainly with the somewhat embarrassing failure of a star to show up for a personal appearance which lias boon arranged for her at a theatre in connection with the premiere of her latest picturo. In the efforts of the star’s iirodnper and press agent to cover up her indiscreet disappearance in order to keep the matter out of the newspapers, a dozen involved comedy situations arise. The cast supporting Miss La Plante is an unusually large and brilliant one. Einar Hansen, one of the foremost screen stars of Europe, plays his first American part opposite the comedibnne Such faej’e comedians, as Mack Swain, Leo Moran, Zasu Pitts. Nat Carr, and William Austin add many laughs. John Roche plays the role of a super-jealous husband, and Cissy Fitzgerald is the equally suspicious wife. The pleasing supports include the International’ News, and a bright comedy. Robbie Todd, the lad from Glasgow, received : a very good hearing last night with his' clever impersonations of Harry Lauder. Tho Royal Orchestra, under the direction of Mr N. B. Sutcliffe, played an appropriate accompanying programme.

SATURDAY’S NEW PROGRAMME AT FULLERS. I

“All Around Frying Pan,” an adnp-j tatiou of Frank Richardson Pierce s magazine story “Forty and Found,” is Fred. Thomson’s latest contribution toj western classics and tho entertainment' of the public. Featuring the famous j Alturas Round-up as a part of a picture that needed no such bolstering to make its story stand up, “All Around Frying Pan” proves the Lest of the new Thomson series—and that is saying a lot. The star is back in Ins cowboy roles with a vengeance, but Silver King, his famous horse, is not cast in quite tho heroic mould of former pictures. He starts out as a had bucket’ at the Round-up, and Fred is the only saddle pilot who can ride him. Silver is unquestionably the most versatile animal on the screen; for in addition to his real acting ability (and anyone who has seen him knows that that horse can think!) he proves a wonderful outlaw. How that horse can sunffsh, swap ends, and generally go loco! A fine cast gives Mr Thomson wonderful support, and the picture has been adrofiy handled by Director Dave Kirkland. The comedy, as is usual with this star, is a big factor in the stoiy development. The Royal Theatre will screen “All Around Frying Pan”

for Saturday afternoon and evening. Excellent supporting pictures will be shown, and seats may lie booked at tho Theatre Office or through ’Phone 570.

“THE FIGHTING BUCKAROO.” BUCK JONES AT THE GRAND. Buck Jones in “Tho Fighting Buckaroo.” the latest Fox Films production, which was greatly appreciated by a. largo house at the Grand Theatre last evening, takes full advantage of the opportunities of making a vivid picture. From the minute the bucknroo leaves the steamer on his return to the United States, until his return to his Arizona ranch, ho is racing or lighting for a gilrl and a gold mine. The story concerns Larry Crawford, who is operating a ranch oil a lease from an owner whom ho lias never met. Ho lands from a trip abroad two days before the expiration of his option to buy tho ranch. With Larry, is Percy Wellington, an Englishman, and on ihe dock, is Andy Parker, the fore-; man of the ranch, who tells Larry that gold has been found on the ranch anil that the option expires on the second day at noon. Further Andy tells him that a scheming lawyer named Bradshaw is waiting to buy tho property, i and that he is spying at the dock. Larrv and his friends take a cab to a liotclj and by a coincidence he meets Betty Gregory, charming daughter of Judge Gregory, who through mistaken identity finally lands him in jnii’. Larry is bailed out, and recognises the girl with her father and Bradshaw, who has employed a gang of crooks to steal her jewels. As all these things are. happen-i ing tho time for tho closing of the op-; tion draws near, and after a hundred j and one marvellous experiences, LarrY arrives at the lawyer’s office only to(, find Bradshaw and the girl there. It transpires that she is the owner of the ranch, and instead of buving it, the two go into partnership. The excellent supports include the Fox Nows, a fine 1 scenic showing Sweden as it is to-day ( and a hilarious comedy cnt.'rtled “Too Many Eolations.” A .splendid pm- 1 gramme of music was discoursed by tho 1 Grand Orchestra. I

“IT'S THE OLD ARMY GAME.” GRAND THEATRE SATURDAY. Tiie army, lor that matter any, army, is always profuse in surprising phraseology—wo are not at the moment insinuating or suggesting anything—phraseology that js sometimes clever, .sometimes' witty, sometimes puzzling. The phrase, “it’s the old army game” is comprehensive of all three, and a picture of this original title. “It’s the Old Army Game,” is to he presented at tlio Grand Theatre, Saturday after-1 noon and evening. The name immediately gives rise to a barrage of .specu-! lation, but. after all, there were so many army games that difficulties pro-i sent themselves in the path of explain' ation. Which is;' perhaps, just as. well.! Still remembering .some of the delightful and amusing comedies seen in the not far distant past, one is yet emboldened to assert that this Paramount picture has those attributes which de-

mand superlatives only, becuuse for unalloyed originality of theme, intelligence of direction, and the almost nerve-shattering comedy tactics of W. C. Fields, in the leading role, this production is destined to eclipse all former! successes in the liekl of humorous en-j tertnimnont. The thought, for instance of selling New York real estate in; Florida is in itse’f amusing, yet that is part of an old army game. Every- : thing about the story savours of that I shrewd humour and bititng wit which j appears to flourish in military circles,, although the picture has nothing to do’j with war. Although (lie story demands

a large measure of recognition, it is the pantomine of Fields which is the brightest and most enduring aspect of the picture. He is a composite mixture of genuine comedy and pure burlesque, and as the story itself is slight, he has to use all his gifts of comedy and “gags” to keep the merriment moving all the time, and this he does with hilarious results. His conceptions of humour are totally different from those of other comedians. With the fact in mind that tragedy and comedy arc so; closely related, he works delilcatolv j m pathos, and such is the comic nature of his art that boisterous laughter must needs he the rostdi:. It F astonishing from what scemino’v innocent thin"-:, this actor mm • •;!rar* j gjmie.dy. ... .What he cay do »ifh a j

ear —or, when liUrrassed occasion, demands, to one—in both pleasantly original and exquisitely amusing. Although the star is, throughout, thA centre of interest., the acting ot ! Louise Brooks, who heads the support-! ing cast, must command attention, for! she brings a vivacious bearing to a ! role that is almost as rich in comedy talent as is the leading part. ' I