SCREEN & STAGE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17244, 10 January 1924, Page 5

SCREEN & STAGE

NOTES ON CURRENT AND COMING SHOWS.

During the day sessions at the Queen’s next week, all ladies attending the circle will he presented with a iiandcome photo of Rodolph Yralentino. " r hese photos are particularly good, &«d show the popular star in a characteristic attitude.

“ Stiff y ” and “ Mo ” are. delighting good audiences this week at the Opera House, in their latest revue, in which this versatile pair jre seen at “The Club.” Highly amusing, the whole' piece is full of light, clean comedy, while the ballets are delightfully pretty and harmonise with the general theme of the piece.

A special circus matinee will be given at 2.30 to-day, by YVirth Bros.’ Circus, when children will bo admitted at halfprice to all parts. This is a rare opportunity for mothers and their children to enjoy an afternoon’s entertainment. The usual evening performance will be given at 8 p.m.

Madge White is featured as the star in Ethel M. Dell’s “ Th© Place of Honour,” now screening at the Grand Supporting her is a strong cast of Eng lish artists. “ The Place of Honour ” is a thrilling romance of th© Indian frontier. Tlie plot is good and holds well to the end. while the colourful background provided makes for perfection in the picture.

Madam© Rose Dion, who plays “Sabotini,” th© temperamental soprano in th© Goldwyn picture, “ The Great Lover,” the big feature screening at the King’s, Sydenham, was a pupil of Sarah Bernhardt, at the Conservatoire of Paris. Madame Dion was born in Paris and lived most of her life in France, coming to America about 1918. She took her first part on the stag© at th© age o’i ten. Pola Negri is th© beautiful seductive flashing heroin© of a thousand lov© triumphs. The new' Pola Negri in a new atmosphere, is th© woman of many loves in her first American Mad© Pic tur© for Paramount, “Bella Donna.’ now screening at th© Queen’s. This is a. beautiful story of a woman ot fashion luring men with her silken channs, till at last she meets the eyes of her great lover. Never has the world seen a love actress like Miss Negri, who plays the role of her career. A well-known cast includes Conway Tearle, Lois Wilson and Conrad Nagel

On January 19 the Liberty Theatre will introduce an English racing picture which is claimed to be the first of its kyid seen in New Zealand, inasmuch that in th© thrilling race scenes ono does not get a mere glimpse of the horses dashing by, hut is actually enabled to follow any individual horse by some excellent colour work which shows the silken jackets of the jockeys in their natural colours. A good story, and caste, combined with rare humour, make ..the master picture excellent entertainment.

Owen Moore and Alice Lake are ideally cost as a young married couple in “ Modern Matrimony,” the Selznick production which is now screening at Everybody’s. The story is almost en tirely comedy and it is comedy of a most acceptable type in that it is at no time actual farce nor yet is it what is usually termed “straight comedy.” It is a rare blending of both, with just a dash of pathos and drama to charmingly season the whole.

“The Conquering Power,'’ which is to be presented at the Queen's Theatre next week, commencing Monday, is one of the real masterpieces of the screen. Rodolph Valentino is feature, in this production. and. as in his former pictures. he is again the perfect lover. Rex Ingram, who made “ The Four Horsemen of tlie Apocalypse.” is re sponsible for "The Conquering Power. ’ and it is claimed that this picture rivals the former one. The story has been adapted from Balzac’s famous novel, “ Eugenie Grandet.”

“A Clouded Name,” the new Playgoers feature, provides interesting entertainment for patrons at Greater Crystal Palace. Norma Shearer, Gladden James and Yvonne Logan make an interesting trio, little Miss Logan being a six-year old miss of charm and talent. There being a. broken engage ment, a hero crushed by his father's disgrace, a heroine carrying heavv business responsibilities, a villain who schemes to marrv her money, and a mysterious old man arid a child, “ A Clouded Name” offers enough romance, mystery, plot, suspense and ihrills to suit all.

It was just a. bright shawl. But it was also- tbe token of a- great love, the messenger of death, the cloak of a spy. and in the end th© harbinger of lasting happiness. It. is around this dazzling garment, worn by a vivid Andalusian. dancer in Havana., in the days of Spanish oppression against Cuba, that th© plot of th© highly dramatic and romantic photoplay. “ Th© Bright Shawl,” now showing at the Liberty, is woven. Tom Ricketts, who lias a pari in th© latest Goldwyn picture, “ The Great Lover.” now showing to capacity houses at the Liberty, was bom in London and educated there and in America. He is the son of Robert Ricketts, famous composer and musician. His first experience on the stage was with the Katherine Lewis Opera Corapanv in 1882. H© has acted and directed for over thirty years. “ Second Hand Love,” now’ showing at Everybody’s, is a rural t-apestm from whose weave a charming romance is made. Charles Jones has th© prin cipal role. Threading with conAum mate arflfetry through the melancholy fortunes of Angela, th© girl who deserted her husband upon being disil lusioned as to his character, the story encounters material of a stiffer fabric in Andy th© itinerant tinker.

“ Smiling ail the Way ” is providing much amusement to picture patrons at the Grand this week. David Butler takes the part of Hannibal Pillsbury, the lumber canip cook, who wins renown for his skill in making “ flapjacks,” while Leatrice Joy is depicted as th© young society girl who goes into partnership with Hannibal in a restaurant , known as “ Th© Purple Guinea Pig ” The adventures these two provides really enjoyable entertainment. Priscilla Dean’s personality on the screen lias always been that of the woman full of life and willing to stand firm in the fight for principle no mat ter what the cost. “The fightingwo man” who is at the same time feminine and charming—that is th© way to describe her. Her latest starring picture, adapted from the William A Brady stage success, “’Drifting,” is the Universal Jewel attraction now screening at Greater Crystal Palace It is laid in the colorful atmosphere oi China, with thrilling action and many surprise angles.

Coming to the Queen's on Monday next in the Paramount production, “ The Conquering Power." Mr George Shurley, who was made famous by the London “Daily Mail” as “ England’s youngest producer.” is staging the “ Alladin ” pantomime in Melbourne for J. C. YYilliamson, Ltd. A visitor to a rehearsal at Her Majesty's one day was amazed to see Mr Shurley, with his coat off, performing various steps and movements in front of the ballet ! The visitors wa-s still further astonished to learn that Air Shurley himself was the “ Ballet master ” and wag teaching tlie ballet everything, including the dances, marches, groupings, and the various evolutions that play so important a part in the manoeuvring of the chorus and ballet in pantomime. " I have always don© this in London, in musical comedy as well as pantomime *’ said Mr Shurley, in the course of a chat regarding his methods “ Some time s.go I went, to Faris. taking a troupe of girls I had trained for the Folies Bergeres, and the manager was amazed when I told him that everything they knew had been taught by me. ‘ Why.’ he exclaimed, ‘ here, we have a. staff of six to teach our girls. Oh, you wonderful English! ’ ”