SCREEN and STAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17181, 26 October 1923, Page 5

SCREEN and STAGE

NOTES ON CURRENT AND COMING SHOWS

“The Dangerous Age” and “Just Tony ” will be screened for the last time at the Grand to-night The usual weekly matinee will be held at the Opera House to-morrow afternoon. “ Boston Blackie.” starring William Russell and Eva Novak, will be finally screened at the ueen’s to-morrow night. Wonderful scenic background, action of tense thrills, n.cn#nts of heart breaking suspense and a. girl of primitive (harm a.v +he ingredients of “The Cave Girl,” whic'i will ?o shown at the Liberty for the last time to-night. “ The Streets of New York,” the newest Arrow release, which is scheduled for presentation at Greater Crystal Palace next. week, numbers' in its cast many highly popular screen stars, among whom may be mentioned Edward Earle, Barbara Cast let on, Anders Randolf and Leslie King. “Snowdrift,” the latest At illiaxn Fox production starring Charles Jones, which will be shown for the last time at the Queen’s to-morrow night, has a splendid supporting cast. Superb photography of the snow-covered wastes of the Yukon adds a distinctive note to the picture. There is no greater loyalty jn the world than that of circus folk to one of their own kind who may be down and out. This loyalty and other features of life underneath the “ Big Top” are dramatically portrayed in “ Sawdust,” . a Universal photoplay starring Gladys Walton which will befinally screened at. Greater Crystal Palace to-morrow night. The screen play was adapted fro a magazine story by Courtney Riley Cooper. “Fay Day,” Chailie Chaplin’s lat est ccmedy. v ill he shown at the Grand to-:no?row. The plot is complete in novo ties and burnt runs .situations that it sell and abounds wrnew stunts, are put across in Chaplin's inimitable style. In Mack Swain, who rejoined him during the making of “The Idle Class,” the star has a. good foil, whie Edna. Purviance furnishes a very attractive and capable feminine lead. Sydney Chaplin is also in the role of a bachelor friend.

Being tlie mother of sis screen children does not disconcert Mary A Idea well known film actress, in the least. A visitor to the Goldwyn studios during the filming of “ The Old Nest, 5 ' which will be shown at the Grand tomorrow, asked Miss Alden how' she liked mothering such an unruly bunch. To which the actress replied casually, “Oh, this is nothing; I’m used to it,” and the visitor left wondering just what Mary meant. What Miss Alden did mean was that she has played mother to most of the famous men in the .theatrical world, among them Henry Walthal, Donald Crisp, Jack Bickford, Jim Kirkwood, etc. Her interpretation of the mother parts in the screen version of Ibsen’s “Ghosts,” and of the mother in Griffith’s “ The Battle of the Sexes,” are considered among the finest ever done. It would take too long to record in detail all the clever and ridiculous things Odiva’s seals do both in and out of the water : how one, at the captain’s suggestions, clears his throat most-vigorously two or three times before launching out on his “ baritone solo,” how his “singing” rouse s the loud jealousy of a rival artist in the cage, how one folds his hands over his face in attitude of prayer in the tank, how one twists and turns a given number of revolutions at the. trainer’s suggestion, how he promptly and correctly follows a- dozen different. directions about raising his flippers and moving in different ways, and how. he follows Miss Godiva in a. pretty and remarkably clever swimming movement—backwards in complete circles. Tt is all very entertaining and very wonderful, for indeed the detailed understanding between the captain and bis charge would hardly be credited by anyone who had not actually seen it. The seals wi*l be at -the Opera House on Monday night. Local movie fans will have the opportunity to see screenland’s wickedest cilia in at work when they attend the Preferred Picture. “Shadows,” at the Liberty to-morrow. Those who remember the time when the old Es sanay Company was making one and two reelers, will recall the sinister countenance of 'Walter Long. Since those early days Long has been much sought after by casting directors who wished some dirty work done in a forthcoming production. Probably the-most famous characterisation Long ever created was that of Gus. the renegade negro who chased Mae Marsh over a cliff in “The Birth of a Nation.” After playing in the great Griffith picture- he achieved fame in many other notable tuccesses. In the past few months lie has received honourable mention everywhere for his evil ways as Biff Doolev in “The l>ic tator.” and as the outlaw in “ Blood and Sand.” In I he character of Daniel Gibbs, the brutal admiral of Turkey’s fishing fleet, in “ Shadows,” he has again found an unsympathetic but interesting role to fill.

The big feature of Everybody's programme next week will be “ Sherlock Holmes.” in which John Gilbert, the famous dramatic actor, plays the leading role. Nat. Hanley, comedian at the piano, and Keith Desmond, monologuist, both of whom have enjoyed immense popularitv during their stay at the Opera - House, will conclude their seasons to. morow night. “If Winter C-omes.” the dramatised version of a. very widely read book, will he. staged at. the Theatre Royal to-morrow night by the J. O. Williamson Company of English and Australian artists. Work on “Maytime” has been started at Schulberg’s studio. Mr j Sc.hulberg has just announced that Ethel Shannon and Clara Bow will be the leading woman players, and Harrison Ford the hero. “The- Cave Girl ” will be shown at the King's, Sydenham, for the last time /to-night. To-morrow’s new programme will he headed by “ Omar the Tentmaker.” and the chief support ; will he “Just Tony,” starring Tom Mix and his famous horse. “The Face on +be Barroom Floor.” a new William Fox special production, j will be shown at the Queen’s next week. “The Face on the Barroom Floor” is a twentieth century melodrama. replete with thrills, including | the daring escape of prisoners from tlie state penitentiary and a thrilling storm, at sea. Henry B. A\ althall heads the all star cast of screen ar- ) tists seen in the production, and he j is ably supported by Ruth Clifford. ! Alma Bennett and others of equal prominence. There are many spectacular scenes j and effects in the new Goldwyn-Rupert ■ Hughes picture. “ Souls for Sale, : which will be screened at Everybody's to-morrow night. There is the filming of a. desert picture; night circus scenes in which the “ big top ” is struck by a holt of lightning and burned to the ground ; the rescue of Eleanor Boardman as Remember Steddon from being run over by a horse ; the death of the villain, imperonsated by Lew C ody, who runs into the propellers of a windmachine, and many other scenes of un- j usually dramatic intensity.

Perhaps one of the most thrilling everyday sights is a racing fire engine. It suggests tragedy and courage. A film entitled “ The Third Alarm ” is alleged to be the epic of the fireman, and it provides some thrilling fire scenes, and deeds of bravery are not lacking. This film was recently shown at the headquarters of the Sydney Metropolitan F'ire Brigade, and was used as part of the propaganda for Fire Prevention Week in the Now South AVales capital. One of the most beautiful of the younger leading women of the screen, Virginia Brown Faire, recently had the rather unusual experience of playing a middle-aged mother. This was in Richard W alton Tully’s screen version of “ Omar the. Tentmaker,” in which Miss Faire plays Shireen, the sweetheart of Omar Khayyam, portrayed by Guv Bates Post. The story covers a long span of years and. in its latter portion middle life has come to the characters, and Miss Faire shares the feminine laurels with Patsy Ruth Miller, who enacts the role of Little Shireen, daughter of Omar and Shireen. “ Omar the Tentmaker,” which is a First National attraction, will he shown at tlie Liberty to_ The cast, for the forthcoming production of the diverting London comedy success, “ Tons of Money,” under the auspices of Mr Hugh J. Ward, is of more than usual interest- In addition to Miss Dorothy B run ton and Mr Charles Heslop, .both of whom recently made a big hit in the play in England, Airs Heslop. a. young and beautiful English actveiss, is accompanying her husband to Australia, and will, appear with him. Another new- I comer is Mr Compton Ooutt.s, latelv arrived from India, where he played ! in “ Tons of Money.” Others who will j have roles in the comedy arc Miss Syl- ) via Shaw, Mr Charles Roacl Night. Mr Douglas Oalder wood, and Air Frank Hawthorne, all of whom appeared in I •Bulldog Drummond” and -The! Faithful Heart.. - ’ and recently complet- • ed a, brilliant Svdnev season in those j Hugh J- Ward ‘successes : and Miss! .Emma Temple, an accomplished actress for whom Australian theatregoers have always had a warm affection. TO-NIGHT’S SHOWS. Queen’s “Snowdrift” and “Boston Blackie.” Grand The Dangerous Age” and “ Just Tony.” Greater Crystal Palace “The Woman Who Fooled Herself ” and “Sawdust-’ ’ Liberty Pay Day,” “ The Old Nest ” and “The lave Girl.” Everybody’s—“ Souls for Sale ” and ‘ • Sixty Cents an Hour : ' Opera House—All Veudeville. Kinf's, Sydenham—“ Tlie Cave Girl ” j and "Tlie Mali Under Cover.” I