AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18191, 15 February 1929, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

THRILLING COMEDY AND DRAMA THEATRE ROYAL’S PROGRAMME. Another largo audience viewed with considerable relish, last evening, the line programme at present being shown at the Theatre Royal. In the first picture, “The Cardboard Lover,” featuring Marion Davies, laughs are the order. The titling is a thing of joy, the plot is “Get your man,” the man is Nils Asther, and the woman from whom he must be got is Jetta Gouda I, French, and languid, and wholly dangerous. And Miss Marion is only an awkward American at Monte Carlo, pursuing Asther, as a tennis champion, tor his autograph, and aping La Goudal in the most delicious manner possible. Becoming frightened of his French lady, the champion i aplores the American girl to pose flu his fiancee, and not to allow him 5 > succumb to her charms. The acting of the whole cast is perfect. The second feature, “Hangman’s House,” is adapted from the book of one of the most distinguished men of letters than Ireland has produced for the last fifty years, Donn Byrne. It is played by a popular cast, headed by Victor McLaglen as Citizen Hogan, Robert Boswortli as Sir James O’Brien, Lord Chief Justice, nicknamed “Jimmy the Hangman” by the Irish, June Collyer, as Connaught O’Brien, Earle Foxe as John D’Arcy, and Larrv Kent as Dermott McDermott. The story, viewed superficially, might be written off as one of simple plot developed along unusual lines, but it is something more than that. “Hangman’s House” has, as a picture, captured the elusive spirit of Ireland and her people just as the book did ; that atmosphere that surrounds it, now lively, now sinister, is typical of the people. It is magnificently acted. Victor AlcLaglan as Hogan, walking off with the honours. Its scenes, its castles, its shots oi country fairs, and the simple folk of the counties, are all attractions iii the picture. The supporting film, a gazette, also proved interesting, and the incidental music was, as usual, delightful.

BRIGHT DOUBLE BILL. AT THE GRAND A double-feature programme, con tainiug an abundance of comedy aiv thrills, was presented before a very ap preciative audience at the Gram Theatre last evening. The first pictur was “The Nervous Wreck,” in whicl a star cast was seen. Believing hirnsei to be tlie victim of several mysteriou disorders verging on the fata), Hear. Williams strikes out for Arizona in touring car. He stops at a ranch ii Arizona, and is so contented that lr stays on with the rancher, Jud Alor gifcn, and his daughter, Sally. Sally i engaged to Bob Wells, the sheriff, am is preparing .to leave for Chicago 't buy her trousseau. Henry volunteer to drive her to the railroad, and the; are making good progress across tb desert when the car runs out of gas Sally confesses that she has left a not at the ranch sajffng that she hn< eloped with him. Knowing that Well will shoot him if he catches him, tli driver is overjoyed to see an au'tomo bile approaching. He asks for gas nn< is refused. He grabs a monkey wrencl and with it “holds up” the party, tak ling their gas. and leaving them as the; found him—stranded. Henry and Sail stop at the first ranch house for food and aro greeted joyfully by And; McNab. the foreman. He has just los his cook, and sees in this young coupl a cook and a dishwasher. He steal their car and locks it in a shed. Sail; agrees to stay, and of course tin “wreck” does too: the two of them an mistaken for husband and wife, wliiel impression they dare not correct. X tell the remainder of the story woul< spoil patrons enjoyment The second picture is “The Price o Fear,” carrying an abundance o thrills The story tells t of Grain Somers, a wealthy clubman* aud amat eur detective, who is leading the polic< on the trail of a gang of crooks header by, a man known as the “Professor.’ The police are watching the gang loot ing a warehouse, and are waiting fo: a favourable * opportunity. “Toad’ Magee, a member of the gang who lia: turned “stool pigeon,” runs out t( I inform the police. The robbers escape • Somers and the police pursuing then fruitlessly. The crooks come "to tin lashlonable residence of the “Proles j sor,” and Mary Franklin, who has j been hired as a. maid, but is really si spy lor tlie police, listens in from tin next room Somers takes a job af waiter in tlie Red Rooster Cafe, a hangout of the gang, in order to sp\ on them The “Professor” has learnei of the treachery of Magee, and instructs the gang to “get” him. Magee comes into a side room of the cafe, where the gang start to fight with him He escapes with the crooks in pursuit. Somers follows. He is just too late to save Magee, who is killed when he runs into a blind hallway. Hardy, lieutenant of the “Professor,” sees Somers bending over the body of Magee, and calls a policeman, shouting that Somers committed the murder. Events work up to a thrilling climax. A British Empire News and a Cartoon .'ire the supports. Mrs G. Donaldson led the Grand Orchestra through a pleasing musical programme.