Amusements, Pictures and Theatres

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16939, 13 January 1923, Page 19

Amusements, Pictures and Theatres

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. ANOTHER WONX>jrRFUL PROGRAMME OF PICTURES AND MUSIC. TVt.* and with gorgeous Bettings, Gtoige Meltord’s latest Paramount production, ‘' The Woman. "Who Walked -•.10ne,” with Dorothy Dalton, will bo seen at ISvery body’s Theatre next week. It is the story of a girl who sacrifices her life to marry an elderly, wealthy earl tor the sake of her impoverished turnily. Her high spirits and utter lack of conventionalitv arouses her liusband’a jealousy to fever pitch and he sets a spy to watch her. Caught under suspicious cirounista-noes she is ordered from the castle and eventually finds her way to South Africa. Here s he meets a man who interested her m England, and who is flying from the law. Oonvinoed of his innocence succeeds in clearing his name only after a series of thrilling incidents, the most drama bio being when she is forced t<» marry him by the chief of the pursuing police. Bringing South Africa to Southern California. That was the formidable task offered to the technical department for the production of “ The W oman Who Walked Alone.” On tiie large tract of land which is known as the “ Lasky Ranch” was built a street of a South African town. Though t here are only a doeen houses, built of corrugated iron or plaster finish, after the native fashion, they have been placed so as to give an effect of great length, and arc in, auch perspective relation to the adjacent foothills ns to represent perfectly the Cape mountains of Africa. For “atmosphere” several big waggons with six or eight oxen to each were procured. Fifty men and the same number of horses appeared as the South African Constabulary. An unusual feature was the construction of one unit of the exterior and interior of the grocery store to which Mr Sills, as Clement Gaunt, comes to buy provisions. It is customary to build the exteriors of such seta at gome suitable place out-of-doors, while the interiors are built and “ dressed ” inside the studio. Beside® Miss Dalton and Mr Sills, the large oaet of this feature includes E. cT. Radoliffe, Wanda Hawley, Mayne .Kelso, Frederick Vroom, John Davidson, Charles Ogle, Mabel Van Linen, Harris Gordon, “Lefty ” Flynn and Cecil Holland. JLileen Pteroy, the olever comedienne of W illi&m Fox photoplays, Vian a lively i picture for her new release. It is called “ The Tomboy ” and will act as the supporting feature on the pro-' gramme. This Is the type of pioture that suits Mine Percy best. Her blonde leauty adds to the roguishness of the story, and in addition the authorclirector, Carl Harbaugh, has introduced some humorous by-play which altogether makes this an entertainment of fine value. Mias Percy is most happily cast in this story. Bhe looks the part of a boy at timds—until her pretty blonde curls fall from under her roguishly set ca<p. Dressed in overalls and playing tricks as boys do, she is fine food for gossip among the women of the village. And of course she annoys the mother* with marriageable daughters when she captures the handsome stranger for a sweetheart. In her successful efforts to run bootlogger® out of town, so that they will not sell whisky to her father, she gets into many ludicrous situations. “ The Tomboy” Is a picture well worth seeing. In the cast with Miss Percy are Hal Oooley, Richard Oumraings, Paul K&mp, Byron Munson, Harry Dunkinson, James M’Elbern, Leo Sulkey, Grace M’Clean, Virginia Stern, Walter Wilkinson, Wilson Hummel and Ethel Tear©—who will be remem be red for her olover work In Fox Sunshine * Comedies. Mr W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M., conductor of Everybody’s “ Select ” Orchestra, has arranged an excellent musical programme for his fine band of talented musician* Chief among the items are the following:—Overture, 1 ' Zampa ” (Herold) j suite*, “Three Waltzes ” (Cecil Scott), “ I/Oracolo ’ (Franco Leoni); grand opera, “Procession of the Grail” (Wagner), •Queen of Sheba” (Golterman); entr'acte, “I Found a Rose in the Devil’s Garden” (Fischer); symphony, <a) Son Hoto.” (b) “ Saltarello,” Italian (Mendelssohn) ; light selections, • Petit Duo” (Lecocq), 4 ‘Linger Longer” (Scott), “Amazon” (Earl). As usual reserved seats may be obtained at The Bristol or by ’phoning 40*25. GRAND “LITTLE LORD FATTNTLEROY.” “Better” pictures is a cry often heard, and those who are interested in the uplifting of the screen entertainment should go at once to see Mar.v Pickford in “ Jfittle Lord Fauntleroy. ' Here is a perfect story, perfectly acted, and presented without regard to cost or pains of production. In the dual role of the little Lord and of his lovely young mother “ Dearest,” Mary Pick lord is at the summit of her art. Frances Hodgson Burnett lias delight ed millions with the story that has passed into classic realm, and created a costume title, and now this supremely fine photoplay will do still more. The English atmosphere has been perfectly preserved, and the entrancing story is unfolded with fine suspense. The* picture is remarkable for its faith fulness to the book. The characters seem to have walked out of the printed page. Mary Pickford takes a dual role. Firstly of course she play* the little lord, and is the boy of tho book to the very life. As "Dearest” tho gentle loving mother is perfection Mention must also be made of the wonderful characterisation of the old Earl by Claude Gillingwater. Other Other specially good figures are Hobbs the grocer, and Mrs M’Ginty the old apple woman. The settings are superb created regardless of cost and tellingly English in every way. The story is enlivened with choice bits of fun, and it sparkle* with quaint whimsical hu mour. Is * a veritable classic*. QUEEN’S THEATRE. "YOUTH MUST HAVE LOVE.” Shirley Mason, the dainty Fox star, will be seen at the Queen’s Theatre today in her lateßt attraction, " Youth Must Have Love.” This production is based on a story of a young man unjustly accused of the murder of an old miser, who had gained wealth and position through the unfortunate ciroumstances of others. How Earl Stannard, the young man, is vindicated through the never failing faith and untiring aid of a girl provides a romance of intrigue and adventure that promisee to surpass all of Miss Mason’s previous pictures cf exceptional entertainment. The story carries tho audiemob through a series of unusual inci-

lonts and dramatic sequence’s to a rowerful climax. Among th© many hrilling incidents in the play are th© obbery of the old miser by his nephew, rho causes his death while attempting o escape, the accusing finger pointed o escape from a purging posse, how a girl, bringing him bod eac-h day, is the cause cf his hidng place being revealed, his unjust irrest for the crime and his escape from irison, the elopement of the youth and ;lie girl, with the no©*© following oloee lehind. their capture when their ontonobile is wrecked and tbeir subsequent /■indication when the real criminal >s evealed. The added attraction is a .creamingly funny feature comedy, >n titled " The Sailor,” in which Clyde. Uook w featured. The support® indude th© Fox News, episode twelve of ‘ Fantoraae,” “ Safe in the Safe." sunshine comedy, and a oartoon subject. “QUEEN OF SHEBA.” NEXT SATURDAY. In th© midst of antiquity, much of ihe true history of the famous Queen Df Sheba came to us only in fragments, for priceless manuscripts of great his;orical value, which dealt with Sheba ind her times, were destroyed in the Treat fire of Alexandria. Enough was known of her beauty and her fame, however, as well as the great love that, sntercd her life to induce the Pox Corporation to reproduce and reconstruct the romance of this famous beauty of bygone days. Every effort has been exerted in the direction of architectural and historical accuracy in reproducing the pomp and ceremony of her time, and every detail of the story of Sheba’s great- love affair with King Solomon, has been adapted to the modern screen. The presentation is not only a historical reproduction of the past but also tbs re-telling in a new guise and new surroundings of love story that will never die., for through all the ages man has loved only the woman, but the love of woman is ever for the love of the man GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE PRISCILLA DEAN IN “ UNDER TWO FLAGS.” THOMAS JEFFERSON IN “RIP VAN WINKLE.” " At' the Mercy of Men,” “ Confidence ” and present successful programme of motion pictures will bo screened at Greater Crystal Palace for the last times this afternoon and tonight, and the world-famous Symphony Orchestra, under the distinguished conductorship of Mr Alfred J. Bnnz, will play at both sessions. There are two monster screen classics on the new programme for next week, commencing Monday, and the manager of Greater Crystal Palace, Mr V. M. Beebe. clainiß that this is the first time in the history of motion pictures that two such, celebrated masterpieces have been shown on tho same programme. Both 14 Under Two Flags” and "Rip Van Winkle” are immortal a© stories, and will ever rank amongst th© greatest of novels. A love epio immortal, a tragedy sublime. "Under Two Flags” captured the heart of the world when it came as a novel from the pen of Onida (Louise de La Ramee), and its growth in popularity was heightened by its presentation on the stage by many renowned artists. Now it has been made into a super-picture by the Universal-Jewel people, and with Priscilla Doan in the star role. Priscilla Dean,, than whom there is no more magnetic figure on the screen, breathes the fire of her dynamic personality into the role* of Cigarette, idol of a French regiment at Algiers. There are street scenes in “ Under Two Flags ” that give a true insight of the life of the masses in this French province of Northern Africa. The military pomp of an army post is accurately presented, and the oppressive luxury surrounding the pampered beauties of a sheik’s harem add picturesque colour to this great master-picture. Every interior setting, every street scene of Algiers are produced with faithful accuracy. Not an inharmonious note was allowed to creep into the picture, which took nearly a. year to make. The result is that those seeing “ Under Two Flags ” might well imagine they are spending an evening in the African desert. While the picture is superb ns a spectacle, it is also a work of great historic value, and Tod Browning, the director, has developed the romance of the tale in masterly fashion that has rarely been equalled. If Onida could be alive to-day and see the glory of this pictorial version of her creation as it is held in the limelight by critic and public, she might be recompensed for the ghastly error which dragged her to an obscure death in poverty. Hers, both in hook and picture form, is a masterpiece for the Equal in every respect, though different in theme, is the enormous Hodkinson production of “ Rip Van Winkle,” which is the second superfeature on next week’s massive programme. Washington Irving, first among the American men of letters of , his day, completed Ins masterpiece, " Rip Van Winkle." in 1819. Of all ! his books, this idyll of the Catskills [ has gained widest recognition, and the l famous toast of the inimitable Rip, ‘Here’s to your good faith and your family’s; may they all live long and prosper,” has been a household saying for more than a century. Thomas Jefferson, who appears in the Ward Lasoelle version of the play, is the fifth generation of his line to follow the stage, and the fourth of his family I to play “ Rip Van Winkle.” His | great-grandfather, the first Joseph Jefferson, appeared in the premier presentation of the play in Philadelphia J in 18*29. i The management announce that owj ing to the extreme length of these big ■ pictures, it will be necessary to comi mence the screening of “ Rip Van Winkle,” at the night sessions de luxe. «t. 7.35 o’clock, and patrons are advised to book their seats at The Bristol. or to attend the day sessions. Ip addition to the two screen classics there will be shown the latest. International News film, and‘the. sixth chapter of “ The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. ’ Particulars of next week's magnificent 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.° LIBERTY THEATRE. “ THE ETERNAL FLAME.” To-day at the Liberty: Norma Tal inadge in her latest success "The ’ Eternal Flame,” tho drama magnificent. A perfect consonance of masterly production, and spectacular beaut, v Iri “The Eternal Flame” one finds a story of tense heart interest that re volves around the petty jealousies, scandals and romances of the court of

■ouis XVIII. The Duchess© ,a beajiti- j ul young woman of sterling cFafacfer. nds herself regarded as a toy by her arrior husband, who wagers on her unty just as he would upon a falcon r horse. His interest is centred pon his own life without thought fur is wife. In this loneliness she finds rionds who seek her love but to all she emains aloof until General de Mouriveau arrives. A moment of vanity, he desire to be known as the conueror of the man who haa never fallen a love, ruins the duchesse. anti detroys the general’s faith in her virue ad sincerity. Her of ex lanation fail to find a welcome, and lthough her husband has died she inds, at the end of months, that her ore must perish and she revolves to liter a convent. At the last moment he man who spurred the general on o believe malicious gossip about the luchesse admits his mistake. In a onveut on a beautiful Mediterranean si© he finds the duchess about to take ter final vow, but love overcomes he» [©termination to renounce all worldly hings, and their reunion becomes one f happiness. For Norma Talmadge-7-or the Art of the screen—.mother pit ar of unique achievement. Vast cenes, magnificent in investiture of olour and crowd, will hold your eye -- mt ever holding your heart will be the ;lory. romance, drama and ineffable appeal of this wonderful woman. A charming Parisian prologue will »e presented by Miss Millicent Jenlings. who will sing some delightful•'rench cliausonettes. The box plans are now oQpn at the Bristol Piano Company. STRAND THEATRE. THE HOPE.” Olive, daughter of Michael Whit>urn, does not know that her father tne moneylender whom London mows as Morton Dudley. JSlie is his 1110 interest and he aspires to give Jiiye a social position, so lie reveals o Mrs lirendemeer his identity and igreos to cancel her indebtedness to nm if hlie will sponsor Olive socially, thus the girl meets Harold, Earl of ngestre. Harold is in love with J rendu Carlyun, a girl of excellent amily, but like Harold almost impoverished. Captain Grant also loves irendu, but has made advances to .)iive—for her money, of course, ind Olive worships Grant. Harold and irant are ordered away with their •egiment, and Olive asks Brenda to fee ier companion in a world tour with Vlrs Breudemeer as chaperone. In india Olive and Brenda meet Harold .icing brought in wounded from an uigagement. During Harold’s convalescence 119 becomes engaged to Brenda. It the same time Grant makes dishonourable love to Olive, and when she appeals to him to marry her he refuses and threatens to expose her father’s business. Olive returns to ber home and writes two notes —one to Ha. old # and one to Grant. Both notes a,re delivered to Grant, and he substitutes the reproachful one to him for Lhe one intended for Harold, and shows the letter to Brenda. Tims when Harold goes to Brena he finds himself repulsed, and profiting bv Harold’s rejection Grant makes desperate love to Brenda. Events moce swiftly after this, and a very fine climax occurs in which Harold and Brenda are united to each other, and Grant drops out of their lives forever. The second feature on the programme stars Betty Compson in “ The Little Minister.” Supports include the Mack-Seunett comedy, “Gingham Girl,” and an English Topical Budget. SYDENHAM PICTURES. “ God made the coquette as soon as He had finished the fool,” said Honore de Balzac, the famous French writer, author of “ La Duchesse De Leangeais,” from which is adapted “ The Eternal Flame,” now showing at the Sydenham Theatre. It is a romance of love and intrigue of the old French Courts, the story- of a woman who finds her husband wagering upon her faith just as he would upon a horse and then she is turned into a fearless coquette. “The Eternal Flame,” brings Norma Talrnadge to the screen in a role, magnetic. raidant and wonderful that lifts her to the supreme pinnacle of emotional power. Also appearing on the programme is the Hobart Bos worth production “ The Sea Lion.” Bosworth takes the role of Nels Nelson, captain of the whaling schooner “ The Lair.” Boswortb presents this character in wonderful fashion and there is a strong supporting cast. FULLER’S OPERA HOUSE. ENJOYABLE VAUDEVILLE PROGRAMME. The Staig Sisters do some very startling feats in their turn, “The Globe of Life,” which is being presented before big audiences at Fuller’s Opera House. A framework globe is used by these artists, and inside they perforin “ stunts ” on motor-cycles and push bicycles. The items include an exhibition of looping the loop. The English Revue Company are having a popular run. their latest production. “ Sunbonnet Sue.” being delightfully humorous. Other notab.le contributions to the programme are given by Linden and Berridge, very entertaining comedy artists; Sam Stern, a versatile comedian and Vaughan, a contort tionist who has some surprising feats. 10-day there will he a matinee performance.