AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18353, 26 August 1929, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

GOOD PROGRAMME. AT THE MAJESTIC. A programme that was well varied, comedy and heavy drama being interspersed in a pleasing manner, was submitted to a large and delighted audience at the Majestic Theatre on Saurday evening. The first film, “Love and the Devil, features Milton Sills and Maria Corda. The picture is one of unusual beauty as well as of exceptional dramatic merit. Distinctly European in colouring and atmosphere, it is nevertheless, an altogether human story, and Sills is both likeable and human in it. In Maria Corda he has found a leading woman of great ability and exquisite loveliness who pairs with him beautifully. The story is a rapidly-moving one that opens in Africa, swings quickly to Venice and London, and ends again in Venice. It deals with the nearly tragic love of Sills, as Lord Dryan, for the beautiful prima donna, Giovanna, whom he marries only to become pathetically jealous of her, her art, her friends, her past. This leads to the supposed murder of the actresswife, and Sills’s trial in Venice for that murder. Maria Corda, the beautiful Hungarian actress, plays opposite the star. Mme. Corda will be remembered for her vivid portrayal of Helen in “The Private Life of Helen of Troy.” “Stairs of Sand,” the second film, presents Wallace Beery and Jean Arthur. Zane Grey, who is probably the best-known American fiction writer, is the author of “Stairs of Sand,” a romance of Old Arizona. “Stairs of Sand” is the twenty-first Zane Grey novel to be picturised, and is a worthy successor to a long line of successes. The story deals with the loves of a young girl in an Arizona town. She falls under the influence of a powerful man in the community and is befriended by another who is almost as heavily steeped in villainy as the first. A young Eastern youth comes to the desert town and wins her away from the two menaces after considerable thrills and gun-play. The Majestic English and American News, and a splendid Bobby Vernon comedy comprise the supports. “POWER” AND “MUMSIE.” AT THE GRAND. For the week-end change at the Grand, a high-class performance was provided by the management. The theme of the two pictures is entirely different, but both provide exceptionally fine entertainment. The chief attraction is “Power,” which stars William Boyd, Alan Hale, and Jacqueline Logan, a trio of most versatile perpormers. It is the old story of two men in love with the same girl. Husky (William Boyd) and Handsome (Alan Hale) are two friends who work together on a dam, and when off duty ofi or their attentions to any charming woman who cares to listen to them. Handsome, indeed, considers himself a very accomplished squire of dames, when demonstrating to the city dude how easy it is to make feminine conquests, sees Husky waiting at the door. A council of war takes place, and both agree to look after their own “dame.” After one or two adventures with ladies, in the middle of his work on the dam, Handsome is caught by a wheel, and swings over a chasm, but Husky rushes along to the boom, and saves him from death. They are real friends from now on. But Lorraine la Rue (Jacqueline Logan) comes into the city bent on making a financial haul. Once more the friends are rivals. Husky takes her out for a ride, and makes violent love. When she promises marriage, Husky lets her have his savings of two thousand dollars, and the wedding is to take place next day. Handsome also falls into her net, and parts with his bank roll. The two friends compare notes, arranging to keep away from the place of appointment. Both turn up, and the final scenes show Lorraine getting safely away with the bank rolls. As the vamp, Jacqualine Logan is well nigh perfect, and was ever the demure and artful minx fooling two simple men. William Boyd and Alan Hale were never more delightful as a pair of comedians. The second feature is “Mumsie,” a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. Pauline Frederick’s beauty and exceptional talent make her the logical choice for the title role of “Mumsie,” and her presentation of this characterisation is one of the finest things she has ever done. As a mother who finds that her most beloved son is a gambler, liar and would-be traitor, Pauline Frederick time and again reveals the emotional fires of the truly great artiste. Refusing at first to believe the truth about her son, she is at length convinced when enemy aeroplanes seek out the little town in which they live because a gas factory is hidden there. It is then that Miss Frederick attains her supreme moments. The cast supporting Pauline Frederick has been well chosen, with Donald McCardle giving an outstanding performance. A Metro-Goldwyn News and Max Davidson comedy complete an exceptional bill.

“WINGS” COMMENCES WEDNESDAY. Probably the greatest success that has been shown in New Zealand for years is the mighty aviation spectacle “Wings,” and Fuller-Hayward’s promise patrons of the Majestic Theatre that it will be screened here for three nights, commencing Wednesday. “Wings” is an epic, and filled with momentous incident. The thrill of the ’plane battles is only equalled by the fact that you, as spectator, are taken right into the battle as passenger on one of the ’planes. The throb of the human story, and the many big and impressive scenes, decoration of Allied officers, and the prominent part played by the Allies in the picture immediately takes it above the run of war pictures that have glutted the screen. Best known in the cast is Clara Bow, red-headed star, with the personality plus, who has lately reached such popularity as a star, and who tries, with great success, a fine dramatic role, as the girl, in “Wings.” Next comes the fine characterisation of two young men. These two boys, who have but recently come before the public eye, will, by reason of them great work in “Wings,” be long remembered. They are Charles Rogers and Richard Arlen, who play the mates in the picture. Others in the cast, which is one of the biggest assembled in recent years for a motion picture, are Jobyna Ralston, Gary Cooper, Henry B. Walthall, Gunboat Smith, and others. "Wings” is dedicated to those young warriors of the skies, whose wings are folded about them forever. It tells of their gallant deeds of daring, their sacri- > fices and their romances. Box plans | will open at the Bristol on Tuesday, and a matinee will take place on Wednesday afternoon.

HEUGHAN, THE ACTOR-SINGER. What is an actor-singer? Some think it is a comedian (who most likely never had a lesson in real singing in |

his life). Some think it means some kind of entertainer who makes the most of acting to cover up shortcomings in singing. Both would be wrong where Heughan is concerned. Heughan shows the actor-singer to be a real artist, holding an even balance between the music and the drama. The voice is used to express the one through the other, where necessary, and he has got rid of all cramping conventions of the Victorian concert platform. Only a great artist could have dared to do it, only one who was richly endowed by nature, could hope to do it successfully. One of the great American critics wrote;—“The incomparable actorsinger is his title by reason of the union of every gift of nature, every accomplishment of perfect training—a magnificent vocalist.” Yet another wrote; —“He has an equipment quite

uncommon on this contemporary stage —his singing voice is a rich bassbaritone, his speaking voice full of winning inflections, his figure of heroic proportions, and his features radiantly handsome. Add to these the easy assurance of a trained artist, and the total is impressive. His songs ranged through all the moods of comedy, romance and tragedy.” The Edinburgh “Scotsman” joined in the chorus, and said:—“He has set a new standard for Scottish song,” and Glasgow agreed. Over and over again it has been said that his voice and method make “any concert of his a delightful experience," and that “he must be seen and heard to be appreciated.” Mr Heughan will give concerts in the Theatre Royal on Thursday and Friday next. The box plan is at the Bristol.

COUNTRY PICTURES. The Scott picture circuit, which opens at Washdyke to-night, will present “Frisco Sally,” a comedy which equals the best previously screened. It opens with a procession on St. Patrick’s Day in San Francisco. Supports will include a Mermaid comedy, "The Radio Detective,” etc.