THE THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17410, 12 December 1924, Page 5

THE THEATRE.

ATTRACTIONS FOR THE WEEK. Queen's Th-atre ."Peter Hie Hr-at” Emil .Tannings. Queen's Theatre Held to Answer " House Peters brand Theatre '‘Mont.* « risto ' John Hilbert Everybody's Theatre ... 'Secrets ' Xorma Talmudge breater mstal Palace ."The Reckless Age” Reginald Denny theater t'rvstal Palace . " «'ordelia the Magnificent" Clara K. Young Liberty Theatre "The Dangerous Coward " Fred Thompson Liberty Theatre "A Million in Jewels " Helen Holmes Strand Th-atre " Double Healing’’ Hoot Hibson Strand Tli-atr ■ "A Million to Burn" Herb. Rawlinson Sydenham Pictures ...."The Dangerous Coward" Fred Thompson Sydenham Pictures "St. Elmo." Tohn Hilbert Fuller a « *p**ra House lini Herald Revue <C* Vaudeville. Theatre Royal J. C. Williamson Grand Opera Singers.

Jackie ( oogan nil! lie seen ;.1 Greater Crystal Palau* on Monday in Cong Alary Robert Rinehart * popular novel. As Prince Otto in the picture this wonderful child's personality has cares enough placed on his shoulders, hut the day ho turns care into smiling pleasantries is a featur oof his wonderful work. Ihe picture bristles with romance, mystery, thrilling adventure, ami sensational intrigue; and there is a wide vein of humour running through it. An excellent supporting cast includes Rosemary Theby, Ruth Renick. Vera Lewis. Alan Hale, Alan Forest, Walt Whitman, Robert Brower, Raymond Lee and Sam Appel. Although the locale of “Fighting Fury.” a Universal production which comes to Greater Crystal Palace on Monday, is western, and there is plenty of riding and western action in the story, the essentials of the plot-are not those of the conventional western picture. The story is that of a young man, half American and half Spanish who starts out to avenge the murder of his parents twenty-five years before, trained for the purpose bv an old Mexican servant. Jack Hoxie plays his role in the garb of a fashionable young Don. For all lovers of mystery, drama, and romance the new Paramount production. “The Guilty One/' which will he screened at the (Queen’s Theatre on Monday, Mill provide excellent entertainment. Agnes Ayres, actress, plays the role of Irene Short, the wife of a brilliant young architect, who. through his efforts to attain still greater fame, neglects his wife and forces her to seek diversion elsewhere. She becomes acquainted with a wealthy bachelor, who shortly afterwards is found dead in his rooms. Circumstances point to either the husband or hot- brother having committed the crime. She believes both to he innocent, and the unravelling of the mystery leads up to a sensational climax.

\ iola Dana is the. star in “The Social Code." which comes to the Queen s Theatre on Monday. It, is a- drama, drawn from life, and contains some very powerful situations. The little star has the part of a girl who, to save the name of her married sister, swears in court that the man who has been arrested on a charge of murder, was iri her company at the time the murder was committed, well-knowing that ho was with her sister. The sister is the wife of the judge before whom the case was tried. Malcolm MacGregor and Huntly Gordon are in the cast. Betty Balfour, the young English comedienne, whose meteoric career lm~. lieen one of the events in the screen world, will he seen in her latest picture. “ Mortl F.m’ly." at the Liberty Theatre to-morrow. As a comedy, this picture is said to surpass anything hitherto made in England. Portraying the humour and tragedy of London slum life, “Morn F.m'lv " tells a humorous narrative of the pleasures, joys and sorrows of the London Cockney, with Betty Balfour as an irrepressible bright and charming little Cockney girl. Tn the comedy drama ' What Fools Men Axe.'* which will be shown at the Liberty Theatre to-morrow. Fair© Bin ney has the part of Peggy Kendrick, a flapoer, who allows her brother-in-law, Bartley Claybourne. secretly to pay tor her clothes. .This is kept from her sister tijl she discovers the truth and names Peggv as co-respondent in divorce’ proceedings. Peggy suddenly marries Ralph Deinarest, a youth whose father detests flappers. lie offers her money to separate from Ralph and Peggv runs true to form bv accepting it. \Vhat she does with the money and how she wins the respect and love if all her victims is absorbingly told. The supporting cast includes Lucy Fox, Joseph Striker. Huntly Gordon and Florence Billings.

The most original thing seen in comedy for a long time is credited to a Buster Keaton offering. Our... Hospitality.’’ a. Metro production which will he screened at the Grand Hi cat ye tomorrow. This artist of the priceless action and the serious face, has scored a triumph in this, his latest picture, that will go-far in making him the favourite comedy artist on the >in-en “Our Hospitality ’ is a comedy satire on the conventions and the methods of living in the Victorian days. Ihe conception infused with a remarkable, comedy i- excellent and cannot fail to produce a laugh from the most jaded up--1 let ite. The public interest shown in “/I he Fighting Coward." which lias been the main attraction at the Liberty Theatre this week, lias induced the management of the Grand Theatre to give the picture a further week’s run at that theatre. “ The Fighting Coward ’ I s * a story of the West and the hero i> Fred Thomson, recently America : champion all-round athlete and Olym pic champion. .The story starts with a real Wild West rodeo, and plenty of action. Thomson brings his athletic ability into play by competing against the pick of the cowboys, showing great versatility as a horseman and rojior. Hazel Keener plays the feminine lead, and Silver King. Thomson's wonder horse, proves he’s a real equine star. “The Girl in the Limousine,” which will be shown at Everybody’s Theatre on Monday, is Larry Semon’s first venture into the field of feature. The pro duction is an adaptation of a successful Broadway stage fare© and is described as a rapidly-moving, thrilling and "uproarious farce comedy. .The famous comedian has the role of a bashful young man. His timidity causes him to hesitate so long that ?. rival wins the promise of the girl to marriage. And although the marriage is performed, “The Girl in the Limousine" is nevertheless a pic ture with « happy ending, for Larry, the bashful one. is seen in his sweetheart’s arms when the story finally ends. But before he gets there a series of complica-

tions which rival for comedy anything the screen has ever presented, make the. picture sparkle with genuine hu mou r. Bruce- Gueri. aged two. is another cluid of. the films who seems to havu the poise and understanding expected ol an adult actor. This youngster plav.s an important part in the forthcoming Master picture, “The Woman He Loved." W illiam Terriss. the famous Adelplii actor, used to make a tremendous hit as the hero or “ Harbour Lights." the famous London drama now made into a Master picture. Loved by the people, lie was always known as "iSiee/.v Bill." and many will still remember tlie shudder which ran through Blngland at the ! nens that he Intel heen assassinated outside the Adclphi by a jealous miner actor. I‘ or the film Tom Moore has the I leading role. A complete transplanted beauty par \ lour is one of the unusual settings in Husbands and Lovers." a First tionnl early release. There, whiU dramatic- action is being carried on in the foreground, girls get- their hair bobbed, waved, cut and shampooed. The most fantastic and grotesque hgures ever screened appear in "The Lover of Camille." the Master picture version ot the famous plat r>eh„ rail, by Sacha. Guitry . These strungelMHre. 9r V y , b ° ,over] V French iish chd'l Regard them as an English child would regard clowns or au Italia,, youngster marionettes. Many scenes in “Gping Tip,” a forthcoming Master picture, take place m an aeroplane, photographed from anotlrer aeroplane. At one time a dozen aeroplanes flew for fifty-seven hours to provide audiences with a ten minutes’ thrill. Douglas Mm-Lean. Marjory Daw and ltd 11 a Murphy head the caste

| LIBERTY THEATRE. *• MORI) EM'LY " AND “WHAT FOOLS MEN ARE." | Commencing with the cluing© of progi amme. at the Liberty Theatre tomorrow is the all-British production. ’ Mord Em'ly/’ with that tin© little ac tress Dotty Balfour in the cast The picture, produced by Mr Georg* Pearson, depicts a phase of London life. It is full of delightful humoiu, tender sentiment, and pathos. The story deals exclusively with the struggling poor of the London slums- then | pleasures, joys, sorrows, and tragedies The picture has caught them all. aun I brought to life on the screen thogc | simple folk about whom Dickon.-, de lighted to write.. Morel F.m’ly. an iri repressiblv bright and charming little i Cockney, lives with her poor mother in tbo shadows of the Walworth Road She believes her father dead, whereas he is serving a. lengthy term of imprisonment. Brimful of life, fun. aiul harmless devilry, .-lie capers around the slums with the agility o.f a. cat, so that v.hen she is pressed into the service of three staid old maids of Peckham, feels her tied position very keenly, and so does Fnery Barden, a railway worker, whose heart had been captured by tli 3 boisterous yet fascinating young Cockney. Eventually success brings him money, and with Mord as the prospective Mrs Enery they leave the shadows of Walworth for the rays ot sunny Australia. In addition to Betty Balfour the easu includes Rex Davis, Mrs Hubert Willis, Edwards So r ley and Elsie Craven. “ What Fools Men Are." the second 1 feature, tolls of the ways of a pretty •society flapper. who' is not- above getting men to pay bet dress bills. Peggy Kendrick, the flapper in this story, plays battledore and shuttlecock with men's hearts, but her better ratur<> brought her safely through all dangers, and she tinned out true in the end. Tn the role of the flapper. Peggy Kendricks, Faire Binney is vivacious, charming, misehievious. Ola, the flapper’s maid, played by Lucy Fox, starts' out to be ali that a lady’s maid should T>c but in the end is utterly demoralised by the example sot by her aristocratic mistress. Florence Billings as the wife, the flapper's married sister, is a capital actress with dignity and charm. The masculine side of the ca-t holds its own by reason of the presence of Joseph striker. Huntley Gordon, J. Barney Slmrry, Templer Saxe, and Harry Clay Blaney. The supports include “Where is Mv \\ andering Boy This Evening." a Mack Sennett comedy, featuring Ben Turpin, who plays the role of a country swain who jilt bis rnunirv sweetheart after becoming infatuated with a “vamp" from the city. As a simple, cross-eyed rustic, laying siege to the artful, sophisticated miss from the ritv. Turpin proves very amusing. The Liberty Quality Orchestra, under Mi Howard A foody, will play appropriate incidental music.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE In these reckless days when caution seems to be thrown overboard ir? many channels of life the public will appreciate the satire as well as the whirl of furious comedy, in the leading big picture screened at Greater Crystal Palace. “The Reckless Age" holds up the young people of these /times—some of the young people, at least- to delightful ridicule. Mr Reginald Dennv takes the leading part. Miss Clara Kimball Young appears in a blackmailing mystery story which is given'second place on the programme. ‘'Cordelia the Magnificent" is a drama depicting incidents in the life of a girl who first had money and wanted love and finally had love and no money. “The Faststeppers" continues to interest and amuse patrons of Greater Crystal Palace. It seems to increase in quality as it goes along. Tn addition to these firstclass items, there are a chapter of the “Fast Express" serial, a Century comedy and an International News film detailing recent important events. The Symphony Orchestra is as admirable as WILLIAM FOX 1924 5 SCHEDULE. INCLUDES FT FT A TWO COMEDIES. A new comedy for ever- week in the year is the policy of the Fox Film Corporation, announcing its plans foi fifty-two productions for 1U24-2d (says the •• Motion Picture Wor’d ">. Two new groups of comedies are added to the Sun-hine cud .Imperial brands for the new reason. There will be Seven Monkey comedies—a reply to the exhibitor dem.nd for more pictures with the clever Fox annual actor* and a series of eight pictures based upon the Van Bib’er stories of Richard Harding Davis Twenty Fox Sunshines are on the Fox schedule Seventeen or them will be made this year. Ralph Spence continues as cditor-ni-cliief of all Fox. coinedi< s. .Among the*, directors on the comedy staff are George Marshall, who is making, the Van Bibber series Lewis Seiler and Benjamin Stoloff, who are directing among others the? Monkey comedies: George “ Slim " Somerville, Henry l.ehrman. Roy Del Ruth and Albert Ray. Two of the Van Bibber serjes have been completed by Mars) all. They “ Lily of the Dust." with Polo Negri; Cecil' B. Do M tile’s “Feet of Clay"; “ The Alaskan." with Thomas Meighan, from -fames Oliver Curvood’s story; “Sinners in Heaven," with Bebe Daniels and Richard Dix : " 'Forbidden Paradise." with Pol a Negri ; Zane Grey’s “ The Border Legion"; " Merton of the Movies.." a -Tames Cruze production ; Rodolph Valentino in ' Sainted Devil" ; " Peter Ran." -Tames Barrie’s immortal story, and featuring Betty Bronson : " North of Tliirtysix." by Emerson Hough. Then there is “ The Ten Commandments." a production which has set a new standard in moving picture production—a picture which has established entertainment records recently in New Zealand. Listed among the releases' through Paramount is the Metro £uper-feature “ Scaramouch©," from Rafael Sabatini’s. novel and featuring Ramon Navarro. Alice 'Terry and Lewis Stone. Jri looking through the list of film productions, it cannot be denied that Paramount has gathered together the greatest line up ol material, stars, directors. authors, famous stage plays and subjects possible to conceive in providing entertainment for the mass-

PARAMOUNT’S FAMOUS FORTY. FEATURES FOR 1923. The reception already accorded the group of pictures now known nationally as “The Famous Forty" lias far exceeded Paramount’s fondest expectation-*. Exhibitors have been quick to see the value of each of these pictures, based on their knowledge of the drawing power of the .-tars and the directors represented, and the entertainment value of the storie.-, all of them famous books ami novels. Some of the Famous Forty have been tested in pre-release runs. Outstanding among this remarkable group of thriving pictures, tli" issue of which startled the American film market. are the following which a\ ill be released in all probability throughout New Zealand in Bt‘2-5: ' .Man Handled, with Gloria Swanson; " "Wanderer of the Wasteland," by Zane Grey, executed in colour ; “ Monsieur Beau caire," with Rodolph Valentino, front the story by Booth. Tarkington : “The Enemy Sex.’’ with Betty Compson ; are “ The Fight " and “ The Hunt." Th<* third of the series, now in production, is “ The* Race." This will be followed by “ The Chase " leaving four to be made. Earle Fox plays the lead in this series. F lorence Gilbert i< bis leading lady and others in the cast include Uallam Cooley and Frank Beal. " In-Bad the Sailor" and “ A Monkey Romeo" will be the first releases. Three Imperial Comedies have been finished. Sid Smith and the seal that made the hit of “ The Gaßoping Fish " are in “Sweet Papa." and Clyde Cook in '' The Pinhead." " Blows and Dynamite ’’ is the third Sunshine on tin* list. Charles Conklin and the Fox comedy dog appear in it “ Stretching the Truth " i.s the first Sunshine Comedy on the release schedule. “ Slim " Somerset i.s the director responsible for “ Unreal News Reel N‘i. 4." Bobby Dunn appears in the fourth of the Somerville series of mirth makers. The third Sunshine to be completed i.s “ The Diving Fool."