SCREEN and STAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17029, 1 May 1923, Page 5

SCREEN and STAGE

NOTES ON CURRENT AND COMING SHOWS

• Fetich Heet%, ” showing at Greater Crystal Palace, is a story by Clarence Budriu*git>n .KVJlaud. which was printed in •' 'Everybody * Magazine.” it was ••d«pt-©d for the screen and directed by KVA-.v in L. Hollywood. In it Mrs ' rustle. played by Irene Castles, has the part of a young girl who is obliged to earn her own living and. chooses dancing as the means. Sh-e becomes a member of a Broadway cabaret chorus and in a short time is the talk of. the town. Thon site meets Lieutenant John Tsbor and the romance begins*. It takes her to the tar north, in the cold and discomfort of a logging camp, where, through intrigue and freaehery, she i« tempted to leave her It us band and return t-o t-he bright lights 4 of New York. It- is one of the most ne/ol and interesting stories ever screened. Ronald Riley, of Allen Doone's Company, has pronounced literary leanings, and has already completed several dramas, onte of which may possibly be produced by Lady Forbes Robertson j during her forthcoming Australian tour. In association with Air J. B. Rowe, • of the Forbes Robertson Company, Mr Riley toured Africa-and the East, and the magic and mysticism of those countries exercised a profound influence on J his literary aspirations. A native of the old historic city of Norwich, in the cathedral of which he'made his, debut as a, boy soprano. Mr Riley finds ] many points of similarity in Christchurch. As was anticipated the new revue * staged by Walter George's Sunshine Players at the Opera House last evening proved to be the most acceptable thse company has yet staged in Christchurch. Mr George, who Hoes his own producing, has given his latest piece the title of “ The Mixture,” and with his wide experience he has succeeded in writing perhaps the brightest entertainment in his extensive repertoire. The company well deserved the success which attended their efforts la-st evening, as both principals and chorus girls had put in many hours a day for some time past in rehearsing the' piece. ‘East is West” «ontinues to draw good business at the Grand, and the audiences are most appreciative of the fine acting of Alias Constance Tallaadge. Another very enjoyable picture. though of quite a different calibre, is a comedy-drama, “ Why Change Your Wife?” Naaimova is noted for her fine screen acting, but she is no less famous as a dancer. She has a charm mg role in hqr latest picture. “Stronger Than Death.” which is being .screened at the Strand. There an excellent- supports to this picture in “Is Matrimony a Failure?'’ an Eng lish Topical Budget,, an illustrated news film, and an educational production, ‘‘ From Effcst to West.” Miss Agnes Shear shy has made a choice selection of musical numbers for the Grand orchestra as accompaniments to the pictures “ Easl is West ” and “Why Change Your 'Wife?” at present being screened at that theatre. The selections include “ The Geisha (Jo-nes), “ Cbu Chin Chow” (Norton), “ Cairo ” (Fletcher), “ Romantic ” Suite (Stanley), ‘Arabian Dances” (Ring), “Around the Map” (Finch), •The Naughty Princess” (Cavillier), and “ The Daisy Chain ” (Lehmann). The selections include “The Geisha” played and include “ Leave Me with a Smile ” “ 1 Want a Boy,” “ Sleeping Seas.” and •*' Na-Jo.” “ When the Leaves begin to Fall” makes a good entr’acte. Helen Ferguson, quite a young beginner in pictures two or three years ago, has reached a freight ol popularity as a leading woman and is to be seen at her best opposite Frank Mayo in “The Flaming Tour ” at Douglas Fairbanks is so well known to picture patrons that his pictures need no recommendation. In his latest effort, “ One of the Blood,” he is seen in conjunction with Marjorie Daw. This picture marks another triumph for Fairbanks, who is unexcelled on the screen for the kind of thrill that he has to offer us. He plays the role of Billy Brooks, who finds New York too slow and goes to Mexico, where he “mixes in’’ with the Mexicans and makes himself a hero. Later he is found helping to put down a rebellion in a little kingdom in Europe and taking to wife the princess to whom he plaved Romeo.

Greater Crystal Palace. This Universal production was directed by Edward Sedgwick from the story by Lillian and George Randolph Chester. “Molly Bawn ” was presented at the Theatre Royal for the last time last evening by the Allen Donne Company. To-night the third comedy-drama, “ In Old Donegal,” will be staged. John Pastor reinforced the vaudeville section of the Opera House programme last evening, and proved himself to be a violinist with a knowledge of what to play to captivate an audience. He had the house rocking with laughter when he took command of i the orchestra. Miss Lilian Harper’s Strand orchestra are playing an appropriate and enjoyable programme of music to the accompaniment of the pictures being screened at that theatre. “Is Mat-ri-monev a. Failure?” calls for some lighter | class pieces and the selections “ The I Sunshine Girl,” “ Our Miss Gibbs ” and “Yo-u’re in Love” are played to--1 gether with “ Tulip Time ” and “ Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight.” “Taxi” is given as a one-step and is much appreciated- During the screening of i “Stronger than Death ” the orchestral selections include “ In a Persian Garden ” (Lisa Lehmann), “ Queen of j Sheba.” fox trot. “A Vision of Sal- | ome,” “ Dagger Dance ” from “ Natenia,” “ Lucia di La-mmemoor.” “ 11 ! Trovatore,” “A Dance Oriental” (LuJ bominsky), “ The Dance of the Raven” fro-m the “ Flower” suite, a serenade “ Espagnele ” (Bizet) and “In a Persian Market.” It is not generally known that in producing his motion picture, “ The Man From Beyond.” which is being shown at the Liberty, Houdini was dubious as to his ability to successfully combat the perils which he was called upon to experience in the filming of the story. Swimming upon the Niagara River rapids to the brink of the Falls itself, seemingly is fraught with danger of the most hazardous sort, and likewise, battling with an adversary on tile edge of a towering cluff, is a feat the outcome of which is never certain until actually performed. As a. protection for his picture, in the event of his death or mutilation, Houdini caused to be photographed in advance of his performing the several perilous feats, an entirely different finish to his picture than was called for in the original script, and other than the one used in the finished production. Those people who have read “The Pride of Palomar ” and who attended Everybody’s Theatre last evening, must have come away well satisfied with the picturised version of the story. The photography is excellent, and the cast has been put into very capable hands. The. many scenes of ranch life which one could imagine when reading the book are all thrown on the; screen. One of the finest scenes is that of a thrilling horse ra cling event, widish there are also shown some startling buckjumping feats. Of great picturesqueness was the view- showing a huge dam in a valley of the mountains. Forrest Stanley and Marjorie Daw are very pleasing in their characters, and altogether the picture is quite as interesting and entertaining as the book.