AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 5 January 1927, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

* “THE DUCHESS OF BUFFALO.” i . 1 ■ SPARKLING COMEDY. These Russian Grand Dukes are very gay people. A little flirtation with a Parisian or American dancer is more to them than the life of a mere lieutenant. Such is the opinion gleaned from “The Duchess of Bufa'lo,” which headed a very interesting programme at the Theatre Royal last evening. .Long before the performance started the Theatre was well filled, and the house rocked with laughter over the many amusing situations. Heading the brilliant east is Constance Talmadge, who is just as bright and vivacious as ever. Her acting throughout is excellent. The comedy honours must surely go to Chester Conklin, east as-an hotel manager, who prepares his house for the secret reception of the royal party. By the time he has completed hi; secret arrangements the whole town is bedecked with flowers and hunting, and the guard turns out to welcome tho royal visitors. The royalty of Russia has been treated very lightly indeed, but many' of the situations arc ridioulous'y funny, j It is great comedy. An American dancing girl makes a great name for herself "in Russia, and among the many she captivates, is the 'Grand Duke., However, her own choice is a lieutenant in the dragoons, and they decide to marry. Before this happy ceremony can take place the officer must gain the permission of the Grand Duke, and when Ill’s Royal Highness discovers who the bride is to be he prohibits the marriage. The dinner parly arranged hv the two lovers is attended not by the lieutenant., but by the Grand Duke. However, there was tho Grand Duchess Olga Petrovna to contend with and she rather upsets the Grand Duke’s little love affair. The fair American dancer causes quite a sensation in Russia with her daring vei’-danee, and wives and I sweethearts line! it necessary to blind- | told their escorts during this little I phase of the porforinaneo. Apart from j ike comedy, there are many thrilling situations and several threatened oxoeuiio'c.s, but eveniii.dlv the Grand Duke gets out of a nastv scrape, and tee wedding hells sound happily for Ihe lovers.

A furiher episode of ihe fine e<|uealional film, “The Epic of Everest, the English Gazette, and a funny Felix the Cat. comedy comprise the supports. 'lhe Royal Orchestra, under the capable direction of Mr N. B. Sutcliffe. played a delightful programme ot both popular and classical music.

“MONTE CARLO.” A POPULAR PROGRAMME. Sparkling comedy look charge ot the Grand Theatre last evening during, the screening of “Monte Carlo,” which opened to a large and d*‘ighted house, and in which Lew Cody shows ■us his best ns an ncomp'iidiod humorist, and Gertrude Olmstead does the greatest, of credit to what is one of her host roles. The insistent demands of motion picture audiences for last-moving, refreshing comedies. with plausible stories and natural situations, is adequately met by “Monte Carlo,' 1 v Inch provides something really fine for lovers | of good pictures. The .story concerns three girls, who, having won a beauty contest, embark for Monte Carlo —the rendezvous of kings' and countrymen, laughter and tears, tragedy and comedy; where fashion, romance and adventure stand and watch the world | go by: and where, strangely enough, j hotels insist that guests pay their bills. , Ii: this maelstrom plunge the three girls from a provincial town. They learn the laughter of the place and something of the sham —blit not before i romance lias come their way. It comes • as far as Sally Roxford (Miss O'm- ’ stead), is concerned, through ihe ’ medium of a penniless idler who imj personated a prince. The other girls i have a similar romances. Even eclipsing j them all is the glorious fashion and | beauty parade, where gorgeous gowns j and glowing youth make a perfect pio- ■ turn, filmed in natural eo’ours. Sel- ! dom has such a rare scene of beauty been accomplished per the natural colours of a motion picture, and the | wonderful reality attained is a striking indication of picture advancement. A New Zealand scenic, the Pathe News, screen snapshots, and a hilarious tworeel comedy, “Her Hunted Hero,” make a very fine supporting programme, I while the music by the Grand Orchestra ! caps off an entertainment of the best. i ‘ j GERALDINE PICTURES. j “Her Big Night,” to be screened at j Geraldine on Wednesday night features j Laura La Plante as a star in comedy—- . as the shop clerk in love with hnnd- ■ some young Elinan Hanson. AYlriist, ■ reaching out for bliss Laura gets the I chance of big money by doubling for a movie star, and goes through with it. I Tullv Marshall , as a newspaper snout guesses tho deception, and ondea- ! vours to spring a. story because the star in the ease is entangled with a I scandal, but is defeated itn his nefarious j idea through the wiles and aplomb of ' the fair Laura, whose love affair terminates in the usual way. Apart from the two mentioned there are several sound people in the east, including’Zaau Pitts, Lee Moran, Tally Marshall, Mack Swain and John Roche. The programme also includes International News, episode ten of the serial, and a two-reel comedy, “Smookin’s Tooth,” one of th«J' Newlywed series.