AMUSEMENTS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17343, 16 July 1924, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

Bert Harrow. the mile-a-minute comedian now at Fuller's Opera House, appears in a brilliant cricketing, .burlesque this week, and he shows off his versatility to advantage. • An Old Sweetheart of Mine} ’, at Greater Crystal Palace, is a picture with an unusual heart appeal. Helen Jerome Eddy, who plays the leading part, creates a new sort of heroine, and brings to the role the fine emotion that it demands. George Storey, who. with his company is now at Fuller s Opera House, is one o i the most original and most popular vaudeville comedians on 1 the Fuller circuit. His current production is “The Man in Possession,” which is proving a strong attraction. While Frank Lloyd was producing “Black Oxen.” a First National picture now at Everybody's, three members of the company enjoyed their waits between scenes in conversation over old times. Thomas Ricketts, who plays Dinwiddie ; Tom Guise, who plays Judge Trent, and Kate Lester, who assumes the role of Jane Oglethorpe, were all horn in England, have all been in theatrical life for more than forty Beauty, the celebrated witch, is not so deserted in these modern days as some people picture her. Tf one doesn’t believe that, one doesn't know the number of poets who, of late, have been inditing lyrical apostrophies to Olaire Windsor. The latest offering to the screen beauty was written by Albert Lewin, of the Goldwyn editorial staff, who saw Miss Windsor working in “Brothers Under the Skin,” which is now' at the Queen’s. He rushed back to his office in a fin© frenzy. Strongheart, the wonder dog. is now at the Liberty, in his latest First National picture. “The Love Master.” It derives its title from the fact that in this play Strongheart selects his own master without regard to who has legal title to him. The story is laid in the sparsely-settled regions of Canada, and centres about the mystery of the young man who has arrived with Strongheart and ends with the solu- > ion of the mystery and the love victory of the young belle of the settlement along with the boy from the States.

Claire Windsor, wbo is playing in "Brothers Under the Skin,’' a Goldwyn picture, directed by E. Mason Hbpper, now at the Queen's, says that ihe most famous of all married men— Bluebeard, not Adam —has never had his side of the case presented. Furthermore, she doesn’t believe that married men should beat their wives, but she wonders if some wives don't deserve the stick “no thicker than a thumb” which English Common Law prescribed as good medicine in the hands of a husband. "Merry-Go-Round,” now at the Grand, is a dramatic love story involving a poor girl of the Prater, the Coney Island of Vienna Austria, and a high-born count, who goes to the Prater and courts the girl while pretending to be a “necktie salesman.” War, sublime and terrible, wrecked the imperial glory of Austria, but it helped free the jurious thought and military philosophy which kept its under classes tied down to misery for centuries before 1914. It is on the basis of the social change just after the recent world war that the plot of “Merry-go-Round” is built. Everyone is invited to hit the high spots for a sparkling hour in Paris, the capital of the empire of pleasure, to explore its apache dens, its Latin Quarter, the famous Moulin Rouge, and all that glittering midnight-to-dawn district with Martha Mansfield, the famous Follies star. She leads the revelry as “Queen of the Moulin Rouge,” in the Master Picture of that name, and a story will be unfolded i hat will touch every emotion just as life itself. The picture is now'* at the Liberty. In the ranks of the street-sweepers in Vienna to-day, there is now a former count, who was a favourite at the court of Francis Joseph before the war. But with tlie nobility a thing of the past, and nothing else to turn to in an effort to secure food enough to keep from starving, this former noble., whose knowledge and training had to do with war, was only fitted for this menial work. Truth is stranger than fiction, yet this exact condition of affairs was foreseen when Universal began the filming of “.Merry-Go-Round,” claimed to be one of the really great pictures of the year. The aftermath of the fall of the nobility from its snobbish heights is pictured most dramatically in this great photodrama, now at the Grand Theatre. Enough thrills for a full length serial are incorporated in the George Meltord Paramount production of “Flaming Barriers,” which is now at the Queen’ll Theatre, Jacqueline Logan, Antonio Moreno and Walter Hiers are featured players, and in the portrayal of their respective roles they accomplish death defying feats such as would put fearless circus performers to shame. Miss Logan pilots an aeroplane over a flaming forest and drives a fii'4* truck over a bridge, enveloped to flame*.

The latest Priscilla Dean Univer-sal-Jewel production, “The Storm Daughter,” which is now at Greater Crystal Palace, has a. strong supporting cast. Tom Santschi, who has the male lead, plays a vicious-tempered sea. captain who hates all women—but one. J. Parrel M’Donald, William B. Davidson. Cyril Chadwick, Alfred Fisher, George ELuwa, Bert Roach are in the crew, directed by George Archainbaud. "When the script for “The Storm Daughter,” now at Greater Crystal Palace, had been appjroved, it was believed that the dramatic situations of the story had been surrounded by enough of the spectacular in the way of settings. The company, under direction of George Archainbaud, went to sea on the vessel on which many of the scenes were taken, and when they came back the camera had recorded so much real action that an additional sequence was written to take advantage of Dame Nature’s contribution. • * Production has been completed :it Universal City on the sixth and last of the “ Fast Steppers ” scries of race track stones, starring Billy Sullivan. The pictures, made in two-reel length, are based on Gerald Beaumont’s famous Red Book magazine stories of •‘The Information K.id.” with their setting at Tia Juana. They are be lievecl by Universal officials to exceed in interest even the popular “ Leather Pushers ” series, in which both Reginald Denny and Billv Sullivan scored heavily. “ Pied Piper Malone,” a Paramount offering coming to Christchurch shortly, is adapted from a specially-written yarn by Booth Tarkington, and the author took a personal part in the i production. Although several of Mr ! Tarkington’s works have been produced | for the screen, this is the first time he j has actually had a working part in any of them. This is also the first I time that Lois Wilson has played with i Thomas Meighan, and she does some j very fine work as the girl who sticks i to the man who is ostracised by the (people of his town, through alleged cowardice in the wreck of his ship. Tn “ Dick Turpin's Ride to York.” ' a Master picture, to be screened in t Christchurch shortly, Matheson Lang j is in the guise of hero, as well as highwayman. and the famous ride is con-

verted into a thrilling attempt to save a beautiful damsel in distress, as well as an effort to escape the Bow Street Runners. Dick appears as an outlawed gentleman rather than as a. thief, and tor once in a way law' and order become, so to speak. the villains of the piece. Matheson Lang makes a magnificent Turpin, while Iso be l Elsom is the sweet but harassed heroine. Huntly Gordon and Myrtle Steelman who appeared together in the screen version of “ The Famous Mrs Fair.” hgve two of the featured roles in “ Wine,” the Uni versa!-Jewell production now being filmed at Universal. Gordon and Miss Stedman are man and wife in the film, ultra society folk who join forces with a notorious boot-legger to save their elaborate home from ambitious mortgage holders. Clara Bow. one of filmland’s newest and most popular ingenues, plays the role of their flapper daughter, the featured part in the production. Other principals in the cast are Walter Long, Forest Stanley and Robert Agnew. Jesse L. Lasky is the authority, for the statement that over 42,000 scenarios and original stories were submitted last year to the motion picture studios of Hollywood, and only a handful of them proved acceptable. “ Material of genuine worth for motion picture purposes never will go beggins:, for there is always a dearth of brilliant ideas for transference to the screen.” said Mr Lasky, who, as first vice-president in charge of production for Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, passes upon the suitablity of thousands of novels, stories and plays annually in the course of his work. There is no doubt that strong stories are what the public desires, rather than elaborato

settings, and the fixed objective for the future is to get punch into the . story instead of into the set.” GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE Miss Priscilla Dean is at her best m highly emotional screen work—in that particular branch of her art she proqably is unrivalled—and she never has had greater opportunities for her unusual talents than in the storm at sea, and the storm in the heart of a kidnapped girl, which are the outstanding features of “ Storm Daughter,” the big picture at Greater Crystal Palace. The story goes back to the days of the sailing vessel. They were less safe, less comfortable and less luxurious days than the days of the steamer, but undoubtedly more romantic. “An Old Sweetheart of Mine” is an adaptation of a poem by James W. Riley, a homely- and affecting story, which appeals to everybody. Miss Helen J. Eddy appears as the pretty heroine, and Mr Elliott Dexter as the hero. Another chapter of “Beasts of Paradise,” a Century comedy and an , International News film are shown. » The Symphony Orchestra under Mr j Runz contributes au admirable pro-j jpamins.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. "Black Oxen” —the name itself suggests something sinister. I he story is one of the most modern that has yet been seen in Christchurch and deals with a subject that is open to great possibilities. But, although, as is shown in the picture, the body can be rejuvenated, so far no method has been found of restoring to the mind its youthful thoughts and ideas. The plot of “ Black Oxen” is based firstly on Gertrude Atherton’s great novel of the same name, and secondly, upon the recently discovered rejuvenation treatment of Dr Steinach. the famous Austrian surgeon. The two leading players are Conway Tearl© and Corinne Griffith. There is an admirable supporting programme of comedies, topical and scenic pictures. A fine selection of music is contributed by Everybody’s Orchestra under the baton of Mr W. J. Bellingham. GRAND THEATRE, ‘‘The Merry-go-Round" is the chief attraction at the Grand Theatre this week. The story revolves about a merry-go-round in a Viennese park. The characters are mostly workers in the various concessions in the park; a villainous fellow who operates the merry-go-round, a picturesque side-show clown his beautiful, pathetic daughter and her lover, a hunchback, who is entrusted with the care of the menagerie ape. Into this scene stalks a staff officer of Emperor Franz Josef’s court, a swaggering unscrupulous fellow. The Master production entitled ‘"The Mystery Box'* is now in its second week's showing. This picture explains in a graphic manner the mysteries of the art of broadcasting music and speech by wireless. The incidental music is. as usual, capably and brightly pla}-ed by the Grand Orchestra. QUEEN'S THEATRE. “F laming Barriers,” the main attraction at the Queen’s, is packed with thrills. It is the story of an inventor, Patrick • Malone, who mortgages his factory to get money to carry on his experiments on a motor fire-engine which he is perfecting. He and his daughter. Jerry Malone, are the only ones in Burbridge who believe in the fi re -©ngine. with one exception Joseph Pickens, the richest and the meanest man in the community, who hopes to get possession of the factory,

the fire-engine and Jerry herself. Under the pretext of helping Malone, he sends to the city for an efficiency expert to come down and superintend the factory. Sam Barton, rich and idle, is literally driven into the country by his father, who hopes that some work will make a man of him. Pickens explains to Barton what is wanted, but unfortunately for the plan Barton spoils everything by falling in love with Jerry. “Brothers Under the Skin” the second feature, is a highly ' diverting comedy of married life. LIBERTY THEATRE. The setting of this week's big feature, “The Love Master," at Liberty, is on i the snowfields of North America, i The famous dog actors Strongheart and Lady Julia, take what Americans call a “man’s-size job." As well as being a picture with a good story and making good entertainment, the film is one which is eminently suitable for children, teaching one of the great lessons of life—‘‘Be kind to animals.” The “red mill’’ quarter of Paris, that portion of the city where art. and vice live together, yet are things apart, is the location of the second feature, “Queen of the Moulin Rouge." As Rosalie An j ctu. a little country girl who becomes a “queen" „of the cabaret in order to help the man she loves, Martha Mansfield has a heavy part to play, but acquits herself with honours. The Liberty Orchestra contributes a fine musical programme. FULLER'S OPERA HOUSE. George Storey and his revue company, who have commenced a season at Fuller’s Opera House this week, ore being enthusiastically welcomed. Alt* Storey is one of the most original vaudeville comedians on the Fuller circuit and at the same time he is one of the most popular. His company, too. can always be relied upon tor excellent work. The revue this week is *'• The Alan in Possession,” a splendidly staged production in three scenes. The vaudeville half of the programme is well up to standard. Bert Harrow, the mile-a-minute comedian, sings new songs and finishes up with a brilliant cricketing burlesque. George Edwards. Elsie Sylvaney and Mattie Hughes put on a comedy sketch. “Off on Their Holidays.” The Rev Frank Gorman sings new songs and tells entertaining stories. The incidental music is plaved by Mr A. Bidgood’s orchestra.