AMUSEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16750, 3 June 1922, Page 17

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE*

spEcral pan a:.iornt picture. A unique and pleasing Paramount picture is to be presented at Everybody's Theatre all next week. “ Tlxree Eire Ghosts ’ was produced in Englaud l \ George Fitzmaurice, who has achieved wonders by skilful hand! in g and with artistic settings. Many famous and historic spots about Loudon have been wonderfully woven int-o the. picture, giving it a realism -which charms. In “Three Live Ghosts,*’ George 1 uuuaunco has produced a of screen production which took America by storm. Newspapers iti alt States devoted columns to praising the wonderful effects obtained in all departments, and especially commending the director for the artistic and finished manner in which ho has handled the picture. Tho story is an adaptation, of the play of the same name, which ran *or an entire season on Broadway two years ago. The author, Frederick Steward Tshatn, is a well-known American playwright who was educated in Europe. He spent sonic years in London. t»ecoming thoroughly familiar with that city in ail its aspects, and with tho iiio of its millions. George Fitzmaurice, appreciating this fact, recognised the value of faithfully reproducing the locality, and spared no effort, to get every detail. He took a. strong cast, in- < hiding Anna Q. Nilsson, Norman Kerry and Cyril Chadwick, across th-e Atlantic and filmed the entire picture in London. Many excellent “ shots ” of famous London landmarks were secured and used as a background for actual seenes iti the story. Thi3 feature in itself gives the picture a wonderful realism. When one remembers the vag.ancs of the Ixnidon. atmosphere, the photography of “ Three Live Ghosts” will be deemed little short of miraculous. Every seen© stands out from the screen, strongly and in complete detail. , It is a picture full of human appeal, de- j licatclv blending pathos and humour, j without founding one false note to mar i the harmony of the whole. Tho supporting picture is Para- 1 mount's fourth special comedy starring l Harold Lloyd. Tt is entitled “ Never j Weaken.’’ It is claimed to even surpass his previous efforts, wbioh were considered by critics to be almost unbeatable. 1 A delightful musical programme will • bo given by Lverybody's “ Select ” Or- ; chcstra, under the oonductorshiip of Mr j W. .T. Bellingham. F.&.M. Chief araoiyj! the items are tho following: -Overture. ; “ Berber of Seville*' (Rossini); ’cello j solo “ Berceuse ” (Jarnefeldt)), Harold! Beck : xylophone solo,. “ Peggy ” (West- j ern). Clarenw* Crawford: entra’acte, j ‘ Serenade " ( Wider'): orchestral suites j ■—“ Etienne Marcel ” (Saint Saens), “Andante” (Gneig); ballot music. | “ Pary satis (KainbSaens) ; light selec- , lions—Oli! Oh ! Delphine ” (Ruben), I “ Pinafore. ’’ (Sullivan); fox trots-—! “Ain’t Wc Got Fun?” (Conrad), j “ Swane© ' (Gershwin), “ Margie ” j ( Klickiuann). As usual, reserved floats j .nay be obtained either at The Bristol 1 or by telephoning 4925.

CREATER CRYSTAL PALACE

A BIG PROGRAMME OF MUSIC AND PICTURES. A big programme is announced for r ?xt week, commencing Monday, when all of the films on tho long three hours* entertainment will bear the renowned Universal City trade mark. Heading tho now bill is a very excellent live-reel masterpiece entitled “Playing With Fire,” in which the star part is taken by vivacious uml brilliant Gladys Walton, who seems to be gaining in popularity all over the world with eVer\ tick of the clock- As Enid Gregory, in “ Playing "With h ire,” Miss Walton plays the piano -at » music thop and through her beauty and charm is practically responsible for all of the business that is done in the melody shop. She lacks refinement and education but on 'M realises it. when ?he meets: Janet f *’ick. a society girl who is hiding irom her friends Through her father’s financial disgrace and ultimate suicide. Enid befriends Janet and gets her a situation in the song-shop. Janet in return teaches Enid a. lot and awakens ambition iu her, which after many exciting and humorous experiences leads her temporarily into the social whirl much to disgust of her boyhood sweetheart. Tho photoplay is beautifully and luxuriously mounted, and -during the telling of the delightful story there is a huge fire which is said to be the most thrilling ever screened. The second big picture is claimed to Vic the swiftest photo-comedy drama that has ever come from the famous Universal City studios. It is called “Headin' West." with popular Hoot Gibson as the star and beautiful Louise Lorraine in the girl part. The opening of this fine comedy is unique end novel, and Gibson breezses into the picture by jumping from an aeroplane end landing on his old home in a parachute much to the consternation of the natives and huge herds of cattle, horses, etc-, with which the big ranch is stocked. All through this big picture there is a succession of thrill and excitement- po that the audience is kept in constant suspense as to wliat is going to happen next. The supporting films are the ninth instalment of “ Winners of the West ” which was adapted to the screen from the evergreen novel, “ The Pathfinder/’ an exceptionally amusing Century < omedv and the latest International Nows film.

The box plan ie at- the Bristol, or scabs may bo reserved by telephoning Greater Crystal Palace, number 3758.

QUEEN’S THEATRE.

“ THE ROAD TO AJRCADY.” “ The Rond To A ready,” which comes to tho Queen's Theatre to-day, strikes a high note in screen productions of sterling quality. After the ball, daughters of society nestled amidst luxury, exchanged confidences and told each other their dreams of the future. Tor on©. the stream of love ran smoothly, but for the other, a loveless marriage seemed inevitable —love- bartered for gold by the inexorable hand of am - bition. This is tho theme of “ The Hoad To A ready.” In genuineness of theme, in excellence of cast and perfection of production it takes its place? among the beet pictures. The story, vital in its significance, and embodying in its scope a deep range of human emotions, is told with a simplicity and car nest ness that grip the mind and heart and stamp on the memory a lasting impression. Love always strikes a vosponsive chord in human nature, but when that love is overshadowed by a tragedy that threatens to engulf three /ive6 and the catastrophe is avoided by the assertion of innate nobility of coul the simple story rises to the heights of the epic- The east is one of the most admirable ever chosen for a photoplay. Virginia Lee is the featured star and creates a role replete with hor charm, naturalness and appeal. Throughout the entire photoplay her portrayal is marked Avith that delicate restraint that is the essential of true The second attraction will be a brilliant. pjr'tunnation ol the novel “ At. jflu, Villa Rose/ b> A. E. W. Mason.

Tt is a detective story full of exciting scenes arid surprising situations. There will be a well-varied and highly entertaining supporting programme.

GRAND THEATRE.

| “ POUUYANNA.” This, Mary Pickford’s first producI tion for tho United Artiste— Marv | Pickford, JXmglaa Fairbanks, Charles I Chaplin rind T>. W. Griffith—is regard- ! cl by many lending American critics ias her best picture. The picture is I from Eleanor H. Porter s famous novel i of tho same name, and is the story of ' a. little girl who, by making it her re-Up-ion to be always glad, gradually i brought home to those among whom ! she lirocl the fact that the spirit of i gladness is the best philosophy in the ' world. Pollyanna Whittier’s first ten ! rears of life were spent in a rude home i in the Ozark Mountains. On the death | of her parents, at the age of ten, tho ; little orphan went to lire with her ; mother’s sister. Pollv Harrington, in 1 the New England village of GeldingsI rille. Henceforward it is. tho story • of hoar this littlo girl, with her habit of always seeing something to be bo [ glad about, won the hearts of all the | villagers, and finally—hardest task of ; nil—win* over Aunt Polly, and brings jto fruition a long buried romance. Under the heading of The Glad Play.” X>p Frank Crane writes in respect to “ Pollyanna ” :• —.If ton e® ll just make people glad they’ll get over whatever it is they have. Gladness beats all the pills, boluses, panaceas, serums, fomentations, baths, massages, diets, fastings, mineral waters, trained nurses, thought cures, besides osteopathy, Swedish movement, et cetera, so in#. “ Pollyanna ”is the pure joy. It> is luimau i rom skin to heart-bone. It is fun. Tt is wholesome a.s a healthy child, clean as a burst ol sun-shine. It oa-mo over tliat audience liLg a shower of soft rain, falling on a hot parched meadow. All the littlo daisies and jonquils that grow so discouragodly under our dustv cares, looked up and smiled and bloomed. Everybody went home that night and was -flecentw and kinder to his folks —especially his children. Polly recall* to U* how warm , and real and lovable and divine a thing i it is to be. Just human. And what a God-blcs3ed cure-all it is to be. Just glad. The second feature. “ The House of the Tolling Bell," has to do with the struggle for possession of a. half tumble down manor house, believed by the superstitious native* to harbour ‘‘spooks/’ The atmosphere of mystery and superstition ia closely interwoven into the theme o-f the story and convincingly exploited in the picture. May M'Avoy is splendid in the role of a poor little Southern girl and Bruce Gordon is a considerate and manly hero. Several striking characterisations by other members of the all-star ca3t are most worthy of praise. STRAND THEATRE. •T R FAT ’EM ROUGH/ * In “ Treat ’Em Rough/’ Tom Mix, whose daring fonts have- non for u.;a the title of ’** Fearless Tom,” -s wild to have bis greatest role, that of N* d Ferguson. A cattle stampede in which Mix “bulldog” a steer, is the exciting soo.no. Over two thousand .paniosfricken. cattle are following their leader. The only way they can be stopped is to throw their leader. This the hero of the story does successfully for the first time in the history of pictures. It is an inspiring sight that makes one tingle with excitement. There is also a delightful romance. The second feature is “ Smiles Are Trumps/’ with Maurice Flynn in tho lead. This is a railway story which begins when Flynn, a.s a young assistant paymaster, discovers that lus superior officer has boon tampering with the payroll of a. section foreman. Tho discovery incenses the paymaster and he sends his subordinate to pay off the men himself—secretly instructing the section boss to be prepared to “get” the bumptious young assistant.. What happen* from then on provides exciting action galore, which includes several rough and tumble fights, a giddy piungo from an open trestle, a.ud a sensational race between two locomotives on parallel tracks during which Flynn makes a blood-curdling leap from one speeding engine to another. The girl who figures in the love theme is portrayed by Oro Carew. Tho supporting films are : Mutt and Jeff Cartoon and a Fox World s News.

LIBERTY THEATRE.

“THE SIGN ON THE DOOR.” Channing Pollock's play, which was lately produced in New Zealand, provides a vehicle for the new screen triumph for Norma TaJmadge, who rises to great dramatic heights. Miss Tulmadge has the role of Ann HunniwoJl, a young stenographer, whose marriage to a. man of wealth and excellent character, is tollowed by a tragic chain of events which culminate in an unexpected happy climax. The picture is tho ideal feature attraction, being in plot one of the most logical and well constructed dramas ever written. The role of the misguided wife, who successfully takes tiie blame for a murder on her shoulders that she may shield her husband, ia one of the best that Miss Talmadgo ever bad. Jt gives this talented star an opportunity for the display of her emotional acting and also presents her iu a most sympathetic part. In supporting cast is Charles ltichman and Lew Cody, both stars in their own right. “The Sign on the Door *' ie u melodrama in which a man is killed and the police attempt to discover who did tho deed. Both the husband and wife confess that they did tho shooting, although the wife is not guilty. How circumstantial evidence supports the wife’s claim, frees her from punishment since she states that she fired tho shot to protect h-er honour and saves her husband, makes an interesting and thrilling story. The second feature, “ The Kinsman,” is from the Hep worth Studios, which produced “ Alf’s Button.” The featured players arc Henry Edwards (who has a dual role) and Ohrissi© White, supported by an unusually brilliant- cast. Th© story has many high lights of jocular entertainment, dealiug as it does with th© impersonation of a. supposedly dead heir to a large fortune by a distant cousin. a typical cockney, whose likeness to the heir is remarkable. Ivove, romance and adventure have their part in a feature, which ha* nil the elements of popular entertainment-. “ The Kinsman ” can lay claim to being one of the l>eet English features turned out.

SYDENHAM PICTURES.

A picture that is something quite out of the ordinary, and which is said to be one of the best mystery dramas to date, is “ The House of the Tolling Bell.” The action of the story takes place in Louisiana,a halt-forgotten spot which still shows the influence of the early French settlers. The story’ denis with a contested will. In the struggle for possession of the House of the Tolling Bell, honour and up-to-date intelligence clash with ignorance and tho

superstition of the nativ/s- The interest centres upon a beautiful young girl, whose honour and future depend upon, tho issue. The struggle is ended by a climax which is most amazing. May M‘Avoy and Bruce Gordon are costarred in the feature. Other features at Sydenham will be “ Beware of the Bride/’ and Chapter 6 of th© “ Adventures of Tarzan-”

OPERA HOUSE.

Nearly every seat, was occupied at the Opera House last night, the main attraction being a challenge that had been received by Mr P. T. Sc 1 bit. Mr P. T. Smith had challenged him that he would not allow him to fasten tho lady to the Hoard prior to Mr Sol bit’s doing his trick of “ Sawing through a .woman.” Mr Smith duly arrived with his board and tied the young lady down, and the committee generally “kept their eyes open.” The great crosscut saw was called into operation, and the tearing through of the ca.se, and ostensibly tho woman also, was watched with very queer feelings. The halves of the box were pulled apart, and a very much alive young woman appeared smiling. The trick is certainly a Tttystifier. For tho rest the programme was intensely enjoyable, frequent bursts of hearty laughter resounding through th© building. Tho Harem-Scarem Girls. Huley and Bent, and Emerald and Dupre are in distinctly high vaudeville classes. The work of Victor the Great as a ventriloquist, with his supporting assistants, is of great excellence. The Honolulu Four, Rix and Jack Birehley contribute- morsels of refreshing vaudeville, while Signor and Signora Molinari and Frank Whitman earn th© entire goodwill of the audience. Tho programme will bo repeated this evening.