AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18007, 12 July 1928, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

MADGE BELLAMY. IN “VEIIY CONFIDENTIAL.” •‘Very Confidential,”. Madge Be) lnmv’s new starring vehicle tor L'un I ituis, opens at I' uller-llaywai d s tonight. J tie story, written by James K." McGuiiuicss and Randall 11. F was directed by James Tnilmg. the supporting cast includes Fat Guniung, Alariorie Beebe, Alary Duncan, Joseph Cawtliornc and Carl von Ilaartman. In her new opus. Miss Bellamy is very much at home in comedy ano dramatic situations, which, afford her some exceptional opportunities m a sporting goods store, .at a famous mountain resort, and. in the homo> of the man whose love she covets. The story is built upon the theory that a good-'ooking girl can accomplish the thiim she sets out to do, provided she lias 'pluck and a steadfast determination to win. In this case, Miss Bellamy has been twitted by her friends. She” lias tho temerity to love a big. two-fisted football hero. Her fellow shopgirls pooh-pooh .the suggestion that Madge can win this chap. She asserts that she wi’l—-but things go wrong from the outset. Ultimately, ■she has to poso as a celebrated liuntswoman, and this results in endless confusion. At one point, the situation is acute. Madge, after a motor-boat accident, rouses in the summer homo of her idol to find him bending over her. To her horror, she discovers that lie lias about decided to undress her —for the purpose of drying her olothes, and to avoid possible illness. Just how Director Tinling contrives to get her out of this situation and into others, which culminate in happiness, form the basis for much comedy and not a few thrills. It is said to be the most hilarious picture Miss Bellamy has ever made. Beautiful scenic effects enhance tho production. Many of the scenes were made in'the San Bernardino Range in California. Supporting pictures will include, “Fox News,” a Van Bibber Comedy, “Hot-House Hazel,” and an educational number, “Argentina the Rich.”

REGINALD DENNY. AT THE GRAND. Motion picture followers, all oyer tlie country are welcoming the return of the ever-popular star, Reginald Denny, to the role of a boxer in his fecont Universal picture, “On Your Toes.” The enthusiasm aroused over Denny’s portrayals of a fighter in “The Leather Pushers,” has never quite died down, although the series has been released for some time. There is no doubt, therefore, that'many persons will await with interest the opening of his latest scfcdii hit at the Grand Theatre, where it has been booked as the feature attraction commencing this evening. Reginald Denny is familiar to every movie patron in the world, it is said, through liis numerous screen successes, but in this newest and greatest comedy he surpasses everything that he has given film audiences in the past. “On Your Toes,” is now showing over the co.untry and is raising the high standard of entertainment set by the most successful season in the history of the motion picture industry. Universal has selected the finest east it could assemble to support Denny. Barbara Worth, the heading lndy„ is one of Hollywood’s most beautiful and charming women. Bhe is a worthy opposite for the handsome Denny. Mary Carr, the screen’s “best-known mother,” lias a featured role. Others in the east are such players as Hayden Stevenson, Frank Hagney, and Gertrude Howard. Fred Newmeyer wielded the megaphone. Denny portrays the born boxer, whose good nature makes him chicken-hearted in a fight. Tlie schemes hy which lie is finally made mad enough to fight for the championship provide an evening of the most glowino and thrilling entertainment. Supports inc’ude a big British Empire News, two-reel’Century Comedy, entitled “Start Something,” and the latest International News. Seats may be reserved as usual, ’Phone •186. “IL TROVATORE.”

To-night theatregoers in Timaru, will nave an opportunity of extending a we. come lo the Fuller;Gonsalez Grand Opera. Company, winch will open a season of two nights in the Theatre Royal. In Invercargill, Dunedin and Oamaru, the Company played to capacity iiouses every mglit, unu when tho season iiiiislied in each of the towns mentioned, there were hundreds who lamented the fact that they had omitted to book, and had thus deprived themselves of the opportunity of seeing an outstanding company in the world’s best operas. Two operas only wili be presented in Timaru, “ll Trovatore” to-hight, and “Faust” to-morrow night, and as the box plans are filling rapidly, intending patrons should make a point of booking immediately to avoid disappointment, “II Trovatore” (The Troubadour) was first produced in Romo on January 19, 18oci, and is one of the most popular of Guiseppe Verdi’s works, its music having a universal appeal. The, scene of the opera is Biscay and Aragon, and the period is about the middle of the fifteenth century. The words are by Salvatore Oammanaro, tho story being suggested by a Spanish drama, of the same name. The first act deals with events leading up to the duel between Maurico and Count di .Luna. The first scene ot tho second act is a gipsy camp in theBiscay mountains, where the famous Anvil Chorus is sung. Azucena, the gipsy, appears, and proves to be none other than the witch’s daughter. In a dramatic song she relates to Manrico the story of tho death of her mother. Later die confesses that the infant cast on the flames was not the count’s child, but her own, but despite Maurice's questioning, she claims him as her chi d, and reminds him of the manner in which she nursed him back to health, after the almost fatal wounds be received in his fight with the count. The second scene of this act is set in the cloisters of a convent, where Leonora has determined to take shelter. Count di Luna, appears to carry her off, and sings the famous

“11 Balcn,” but lie is frustrated by Manrico, and the lovers make their escape. The third act is set in the camp of di Luna, and the last in a prison coll, where Leonora arrives, bringing nows of tho freedom that lias been granted to Manrico, but lie accuses her of betraying his love. Azut'ena counsels flight, but Leonora lias taken poison, and sinks at Manrico's feet. The count enters, and on discovering what lias happened, orders bis men to behead Manrico. After tho execution,- the gipsy drags the count to the window and erics, “You have killed her brother!” Tile count utters a wild cry of remorse, and fads senseless as the curtain descends. Tho music throughout is of a most stirring nature, and the soloists are al 1 powerful singers. The chorus scones, which are of vital importance, are exccl'ent, particularly tho “Anvil Chorus,” ami the “Miserere,” while the martial choruses for the soldiers of Manrico and tho count arc sp'endidly done. The presentation of “Faust” is bound to attract as much attention as tonight’s opera.

AT HIGH SCHOOL. Three opera stars, at present in Timaru, riignorina Rosita Silvestri, Signor Alessandro Rota, and Signor Franco Jzal, of j.the Fu ler-Gousaiez Grand Qpcra, were yesteday the guests of the Boys’ High School, and were treated to some novel experiences. Mr Thomas, the Principal, .escorted the singers through the school, and they showed manifest delight with the general appointments and surroundings, including the Memorial Hall and library and the open-air class-rooms and doimitories. Tho show piece, however, was the entertainment hall, where Mr Thomas assembled lour hundred and fifty sturdy, young New. Zealanders, who constituted a massed choir. Under the baton of Mr Sawell, wrUr Mr McC.'atchy at the piano, the boys sang, “The Song of the Bow.” “Drake’s Drum,” and “Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes,” to such effect that the visiting artists were enthusiastic in their applause. They particularly admired the section of tenor voices—though all others were good. Air Moore’s “Sistine Choir” of nine lads then gave clever and amusing parodies vof “Finiculi Finicula,” and Tosti’s “Good B.ve,” the soloist of the lastnamed being Noel ICennccly. Tho quality of his voice was idmired by the distinguished listeners. Alt' Fitzgerald, wiio accompanied the party, complimented boys and teachers for a most entertaining programme, and stated that- Signor Rota wished, to say that, outside his own country, he had never heard organised musical work of such good quality at any school in his travels. When the boys learnt that Signor Izal, who p’ays Escamillo, the Toreador, in “Carmen,” had been a real toreador in liis young days, and had fought and killed his buT in the bull ring in Spain they gave him an ovation and sang the chorus to “The Toreador Song,” much to Signor Izal’s delight. Signor Silvestri was charmed with tho singing, and from abovo threw down flowers, which the boys fought eagerly to possess. The visitors were dismissed with the school war cry. GERALDINE PICTURES TO-NIGHT. “BEN HUR.” juct/ro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s world famous masterpiece, "Ben Hur,” opens a season of iour nights at Geraldine .Popular Pictures to-morrow. When tno picture started its third' week at Christchurch, a contemporary wrote. " 'Beu Hur’ is to be shown for a third week, as its immense popularity is undiminished. Little more can be said in praise of tiiis great epic than to reiterate its unfailing appeal and devotional nature, its. enormous and beautiful sets, and the 'dignity and power of its sacred story, 'three years m the making, tho company-, making trips to Rome and Asia Alinor to secui e fidelity, and historic backgrounds, costing some millions of dollars to produce, and necessitating llic engagement of thousands of player.?, ‘Ben Hur’ cannot fail lo make a lasting impression. No stone was left unturned to make the picture not qniy tho most enduring thing materially vho screen has ever seen, but also the most beautiful story of all time in its true guise of love and poetic fee’ing. To be sure, i he famous chariot race, which is all some people know of ‘Ben Hur,' is the most remarkable aspect of t-liq production, several teams of blood horses competing in a most realistic and spectacular race. The sea fight between pirates and Roman triremes was fought out in the, harbour of Genoa, and the o'd days of Roman might and glory aro vividly recalled as those stately gallics sweep across tho screen, manned by mailed legionaries and propelled by miserable slaves. Although featuring these purely worldly parts of tho great drama, ‘Ben Hur’ is essentially the story of the Christ, and those many [tarts of tho picture which concentrate oil tin's angle aro beautiful and reverent in the extreme.” Heavy reserved seat sales are reported.