AMUSEMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17182, 27 October 1923, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. JOHN BARRYMORE IN ■ SHERLOCK HOLMES.” What th© motion picture of to-day needs is not more regulation, but more imagination, according to John Barrymore, star of th© Goldwyn picture, “ Sherlock Holmes,” coming to Everybody’s Theatre on Monday for six days. John Barrymore is one actor at least who cannot be accused of a lack of imagination. His Giannetto in “ The Jest” was the outstanding dramatic sensation of New York three seasons ago, and that was followed by his Richard 111. in Shakespeare’s play of that name, causing more discussion than any other single performance in a decade. And then on the screen, in Stevenson's master piece of horror. “ Dr Jekyl! and Mr Hyde,” he showed himself head and shoulders above most of the cinema stars by the imagination -which he brought to bear upon the two characters. It was in an article on motion pictures in a recent issue of the “Ladies’ Home Journal” that Mr Barrymore declared that imagination is what they lack, and the reason for that he found in the fact that most producers of photoplays are mortally afraid of producing something that would go over the heads of the public. “ The movies of today are in a parlous way, and the obvious unimaginative stores are responsible,” says th© young star. Everyone connected with pictures should have imagination— the actor, the director, and th© man who edits or cuts th© picture.” Certainly no lack of imagination can be found in Barrymore’s assumption of the role of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s immortal detective in ‘‘Sherlock Holmes.” The author lavished a wealth of imagination upon the character in the scores of stories which have made his name a household word throughout the world. And then William Gillette fashioned a stago play about the character, treating it with the stirring dramatic imagination which at one© made it a popular success. And now Barrymoro has sifted the famous character to the screen through his own sensitive and artistic temperament. Filled to overflowing with imagination, “ Sherlock Holmes ” is one of the great photoplays of many The reason for the great popularity of the screen version of “ Sherlock Holmes ” is to be found partly in the fact that it was adapted from William Gillette s stage play, and partly to the able direction of Albert Parker and the brilliance of the cast. John Barrymore makes an ideal Sherlock Holmes, and Gustavo von Seyffertitz, as Sherlock’s antagonist of London’s criminal world, is a foeman worthy of his steel. Roland Young is the Dr Watson. Oarol Dempster is the Alice Faulkner, Hedda Hopper the Madge Larrabee, and Anders Randolf th© Richard Larrabee Other famous actors in the cast are Reginald Denny, Albert Bruning, Lumsden Hare,. John Willard, William H. Powell, Percival Knight, Robert Fischer. Robert Schable, David Torrence and Jerry Devine. The supporting programme includes a Paramount comedy entitled “Torchy’s Big Lead,” starring Johnny Hines ; a Burton Holmes travelogue and the latest topical gazettes. A brilliant musical programme lias been arranged by Mr W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M.. for Every body’s “Select” Orchestra. Chief among the items are the following:— Overture “ Efcxnont ” (Beethoven); grand opera—“ Jewels of Madonna” (Wolf Ferrari). “ Tragedie Antique ” (Massenet), “Chant d’Amour ” (Wa<rner), “Forest Muxnmas ” (SiegfriedWagner), symhhony, “B Minor” (Schubert) : suites—“ Prayer of the Sword ” (I et V), “L’Oracolo ” (Leoni) ; entr’&ere, “Minuet” (Beethoven); new waltz songs—“ Steal a Tattle’Kiss” (Sutton). “I Just Want You” (Tibbot); new fox trot, “Tell Me With Smiles” (Hirsch). Reserved seats may bo obtained either a t the Bristol or bv telephoning 4920.