AMUSEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16780, 8 July 1922, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

CF! AND THEATRE, '* BED HOT ROM ANCE ” The story of “Red. Hot Romance” centres around a young American, played by Basil Sidney, wlio receives 50 dollars a week from his rich uncle until he reaches the age of twenty-five Then, according to the will, he is to hear of other bequests. The youth is in love with the daughter of an old Virginia family, the head of which had been waiting forty years for a diplomatic post. The young man pawns all his furniture to make her presents. V hen the day of the big inheritance arrives, the youth discovers he is to receive 25 dollars a week, and must serve one year as an Insurance Agent I to prove his worth before he can secure his fortune. It is a refreshing satire <>l some of the most familiar situations ir. the romantic stories a trout heroes in mythical kingdoms. It is playful, is staged with care, and is an elaboration of most of the serious productions. The scenes are laid in a small and spicy kingdom, whither comes the hero, an American life-insurance salesman. He sells policies to the King and the Cabinet. and learns that a revolution is imminent, and that his clients are very likely to cash in. So he takes upon his own broad shoulders the responsibility of thwarting the rebels. The second feature is “Boh Hampton of Placer.” In the leading roles are James Kirkwood and Marjorie Daw. One of the most picturesque periods of American history figures in this feature, namely the Indian uprisings which followed the Civil "War. And in the climax to this production, which is adapted from Randall Parrish’s story of the same name. General Custer's famous last stand against the Sioux is reproduced and immortalised on the screen in a most fascinating and dramatic manner. Interwoven skilfully in this thrilling background is an absorbing and beautiful story of faithful comradeship and love, as well as of adventure. STRAND THEATRE. “ SOMETHING TO THINK ABORT.” In this Cecil B. de Mille production the leading parts are taken by such screen favourites as Gloria »S wan son, Julia Faye. Micky Moore, Monte Blue, Elliott Dexter and Theodore Roberts. In the story David Markley falls in love with Ruth Anderson, the daughter of an old friend, and his proposal for marriage is accepted, but on the eve of the wedding Ruth elopes with Jim Dirk, a farmer’s .son. The couple go to the city and Jim while walking in an under-water tunnel is drowned. Ruth returns home and finds her father blind and unforgiving. David finds her in a state of collapse an<T marries her to give her child a name- The boy becomes the joy of David’s life. Ruth seeks to regain David’s love but with- j out success until the old housekeeper ! suggests the exercise of the power of ** right thinking.” She agrees, and as David is reading in the library, Ruth and the housekeeper hold the thought of Ruth’s love over him. Danny, her son. learns that his blind angling friend is his grandfather, and filled with “ love ” thoughts the child leads him home where David, Ruth, Duke, and the boy enjoy a happy reunion . The second feature is “ The Price of Possession ” with Ethel Clayton in the lead. The story deals with a young woman whose husband, a boundary rider in Australia meets a mysterious death. Finding some papers which seem to prove that her husband was heir to a vast English estate, the widow goes to England and claims the property However the real heir appears and it is only after several stirring developments that the young widow comes to a realisation of the truth.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. “ THE SWINDLER.” “ The Swindler adapted from the story by Ethel M. Dell, will he shown at the Queen’s Theatre commencing today. As a photoplay the story was produced for Sipll’s by Maurice Elvev, and the title role is very ably played hv Cecil Humphreys, while the part of the heroine* Cynthia- Mortimer, is filled by Marjorie Hume. Another fine figure in the film is Toddy Arundel, who plays the part of the detective. The story deals with a person who took the blame of another’s sin and, though innocent, did five years. When he came out of prison he was justly rewarded by the woman he loved. The second attraction is Eugene O’Brien in “Is Life Worth Living,” a delightful production with the popular star in one of his best productions. It is a story that contains everything, there are thrills, comedy, pretty dresses and a charming romance. The story shows O’Brien well down on his luck until he begins to wonder if life is worth iiving. How lie meets a girl in much the same straits as himself and how they start out together and make good is graphically told in the picture. There is a mignificent collection of supporting subjects including an English and American Gazette, a scenic, and a comedy subject. Delightful music has been arranged for this programme by the Queen’s Orchestra. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE, A gorgeous unfolding of a* charming love story about which is woven a delightful atmosphere of the rich romanticism of the Irish people—this is “ The Bride’s Play ” starring Marian Davies, which will be the star attraction at Everybody’s Theatre next week. Miss Davies portrays two different girls in this picture—a lovely fair-haired daughter of Erin of mediaeval times and a sprightly and winsome brunette of to-day. Quaint old Irisn dances, which take place in the mediaeval wedding scenes, are time to custom in every derail, an exhaustive study having been made of this feature. A great deal of attention was paid to the mediaeval costumes worn by the characters. A court jester performing on a balcony of the castle af fords amusement for the wedding guests. The beautifully costumed knights and their ladies, the squires and peasants from the countryside surrounding the castle, blend into a magnificent picture of mediaeval life. Miss Davies, who is supported by Wyndham Standing, is seen as an appealing, kindly girl, fresh from school. whose guileless heart is won by a worthless worldly poet. Hoy/ she learns of th? duplicity of the po *t and finds her true love forms a fascinating story that is staged amid marvellously fine mediteval ca6tlos and chapels and majestip natural scenery. The usual high-class musical programme will be given by Everybody’■? “Select” Orchestra, under the direction of Mr W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M. Reserves may be obtained either at The Bristol or by telephoning 4.1)25.

L3BERTY THEATRE. “ PECK’S BAD BOY.” “ Reek’s Bad Boy,” starring Jackie Coogan, the six-year-old motion picture celebrity, will be the feature attraction on the new programme at Liberty. The little youngster who carved a niche in the hearts of all picture fans who saw him as “ The Kid” is said to' have done even greater work in “ Peck’s Bad Boy ” than he did in the Chaplin masterpiece, if such a thing can be possible. “ Peck’s Bad Boy” was adapted to the screen from the volumes of the late Governor George Peck. Only the best portions of the books of Governor Peck have been incorporated in the screen version. After these portions were put into the story, the story itself, it is said, was revised to better suit the talent of the young artist. Jackie is seen as an all-round American lad who is constantly making trouble by ingenuous boyish pranks. How he manages to get to the circus at the expense of his “ Pa.” causes the escape of a lion and general furore at the tent show, and throws a church into an uproar by introducing a. collection of live ants, are some of the highlights in this comedy. The sub-titling is the working of Irvin S. Cobb, famous humorist. Doris May has the role of the Girl in the Case (Jackie's sister), and Wheeler Ookman portrays the Man in the Case. The second feature u Staking his Life” is more than a portrayal of Western character it is a study of the close proximity, the narrow border line between hate and love, so masterfully handled that one will not realise at first the deep psychological problem. There is much to he “ read between the lines ” m this gripping drama with W. S. Hart at his very best, supported by Louise Glaum and Oh as Ray. The story is a tense, powerful drama, a character study of the life of a western bov, who grew to manhood amid the gentle crudities of the west.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE ” Love’s Masquerade,” “ Across the Dead Line ” and current surpassing programme of motion pictures null be presented at Greater Crystal Palace for the last times this afternoon and tonight, and the world-famous Symphony Orchestra of more than twenty solo musicians, under the distinguished conductorshio of Mr Alfred J. Bunz, will play at both sessions. The manager of th© palatial theatre. ' Mr V. M. Beebe, offers four big attractions for next week, commencing on Monday. Besides a fine variety of supporting films and an orchestral programme, the equal of any previously presented by the big orchestra, there are three distinct star pictures on the long three hours’ programme. The first feature picture is a delightful Univer-sal-Jewel suxier-masterpiece in six reels of ‘ film entitled “The Talk of the Town,” starring one of the world’s most foremost screen actresses, Miss I Dorothy Phillips, who has many out- ! standing successes to her credit, notably I “Once to Every Woman,” “ The Heart, of Humanity,” and “ Th© Right to Happiness.” “ The Talk of the Town ” is* a convincing story of a butterfly wife who delights in secret flirtations, although strictly reared, when an innocent bit of playfulness would bring rorth stern rebukes and severe punishment. The sequence of the story is good and there are many happy incidental sidelights. Comedy abounds, though in some instances it comes very near to tragedy. As is usual in UniversalJewels, no expense has been spared in the production, the mounting and costuming being especially lavish features of the delightful photoplay. The casr. supporting Miss Phillips was specially picked and includes Ralph Lewis and Znsu Pitts. The big picture was produced by Allen Holubar, who has made many famous screen works. The second big picture is a famous Hodkinson production and was made I by Irvin V. Wiliat, who has many super-screen classics to his credit. it j is entitled “ Down Home,” and was adapted to the screen from the well- j known and widely-read novel “ Dabney j Todd,” by F. N. Westcott. “ Down j Home. ’ like “ The Talk of the Town. ■ j is a. big picture of more than six thou- i sand feet in length, and has an all-star | cast headed by beautiful and talented ! Leatriee Joy. ■ Down Home ” is a j photoplay that appeals to the heartland j mind as well as to the eye. It as a | story that embodies all the emotions { of which human mind and heart are capable—it makes you laugh, and it makes you cry—it makes you think of the many vicissitudes life holds for most people, and then it makes you realise that we can make a stepping-stone to higher things out of each trial that comes to us, if we only try hard enough and look at things in the right way. | .Many of the scenes in “ Down Home ’ j were taken in the New 7 England States J of America, and have all the charm and beauty of real country life. In the sixth reel are some of the most magnificent and glorious .now scenes ever photographed. Attraction number three is Round Two of “ The Leather Pushers.” There are twelve sparkling romances of the boxing ring and high society in this delightful series of stories. Each is a complete story in itself, and all are from the pen of H. C. Witwer. said by many to he the greatest living sporting writer, and the most unusual and humorous author the world has ever known. His writings attractively combine O. Henry’s humanness with the subtle wit of Sewell Ford, surpassing in breeziness the stories of both. Playipg leading role in “ The Leather Pushers” is RegHuld Denny, a cleancut, virile young rotor with a fascinating personality and graceful manner. Denny is cast as Kane Holliday, iy\ handsome college athlete and society ; idol, with a weakness for pretty ladies, j who suddenly finds himself almost pen- j niless and is forced into the prize ring j to regain his lost fortune. The supporting films are the four- , teenth instalment of the fine chapter j play, “ Winners of the West,” which j was adapted to the screen from the | great novel “The Pathfinder,” a tale : which is based on historical facts, j There is also an excellent Century com- j edv in which baby Peggy is starred, arid if time permits the latest International News film will be screened. Particulars of the orchestral programme will be announced in Monday’s newspapers. The box plan is at The Bristol, or seats may be reserved by telephoning Greater Crystal Palace number 3758. OPERA HOUSE. There was another large audience at the Opera House last evening, and every item was enthusiastically applauded. Some of the principal artists tliis week are:—-Mr Paul, the clairvoyant; Davey and Ritchie, jugglers ; ; Saunders and Roberts, Bella Mora, j and the Sprightly Sister*. There will he n matinee this afternoon as well as the usual evening performance. Next Wednesday, «at a special matinee, Mr Paul will give an address to ladies omy on spiritualism,

SYDENHAM PICTURES. At the Sydenham Theatre to-day the leading attraction will be “ Red Hot Romance,” produced by two masters of satire, John Emerson and Anita Loos. It is a brilliant satire on tho familiar situations of romantic stories about small kingdoms, mostly mythical. The hero is an insurance salesman, bequeathed a million dollars by his father on the condition that he increases the profit of the company in a year, during which time he is to receive £5 a week. He goes to the small kingdom of Bunkonia, and proceeds to insure the king and council, and lands into the middle of a revolution, taking on his own shoulders the job of saving his clients and arresting the revolution. The action is swift and the situations are colourful, while the impossible situations of the story are woven together entertainingly-