AMUSEMENTS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17535, 12 May 1925, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

THE THEATRES. ATTRACTIONS FOR THE WEEK. QUEEN'S THEA.TEE " THE MAN WHO CAME BACK " QUEEN S TXEATHE . . " THE CrREAT DIAMOND MYSTERY EVERYBODY'S THEATRE “ LOVE’S WILDERNESS ” EVERYBODY'S THEATRE •• ONE NIGHT IN ROME ” LIBERTY THEATRE . . " JOE ” LIBERTY THEATRE . . “LOYAL LIVES ” GRAND THEATRE . . •• THE STORY WITHOUT WITHOUT - NAME " GRAND THEATRE •• THE MASK OF LOPEZ ” GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE "OH. DOCTOR" GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE .. "TWENTY DOLLARS A WEEK" STRAND THEATRE •• YOU CAN'T GET AWAY WITH IT ” STRAND THEATRE . . . . "IN PAST COMPANY ” SYDENHAM PICTURES .. "JOE" SYDENHAM PICTURES " LADIES TO BOARD ” THEATRE ROYAL THURSTON HALL COMPANY FULLERS OPERA HOUSE . . REVUE AND VAUDEVILLE

A magazine writer, in a recent review of the film career of ('orinne Griffith. referred to her as ‘‘beauty in distress.” Her pictures, he added, almost always showed her in difficultv because of her pulchritude. In "Love's Wildncrncss,” her latest First National production, now showing at Everybodv's heatre, l'orinne faces quite a different distress however, it is not because of her wealth. It. is her comeliness which leads her into difficulty. The story shows Corinne as the belle of a little Louisiana town and engaged to wed an explorer. She tires of waiting for him to return, though, and finally eiopes with a comparative stranger. In the wilds of Canada, where the couple seek to make their home, Corinne is afforded opportunity to display perhaps the most pretentious bit of tensely dramatic acting of her caeer. Later, in a sequence of elaborate scenes depicting the South Sea Islands, again rises to emotional I heights when she discovers herself j bigamously married.

Ihe Story \\ ithuut a Xame," a j Paramount production showing at the Grand Theatre. was made from Arthur ! Stringer's magazine seriaL for which ' 6000 dollars and several big radio receiving sets were offered as prizes for a suitable title to be used on the screen version of the story. It not only features the radio but the much-talked-of death ray’ as well. Antonio Moreno has the role of Alan Ilolt. young scientist and radio expert who is kidnapped by a gang of plotters and whisked away by airplane to a desert; forced to rebi “death ray machine which he had just completed for the L'.S. Government, and which had been destroyed by his fiancee (Miss Ayres) when a band of thugs attacked Holt in an effort to get the invention for themselves, and learn its secret for their own country. Gruel as tlie cynics say the world actually is, there occurs every now and then some incident to reverse the opinion. But then it's an accident - say the c\ nics or a movie. But when a movie comes along with a story so natural and easy going that you live it. as the film unreels, you are more likely to fall in with its idea and to rejoice in the perfection of the picture. The wdrlcl was never more cruel to man than it. was to young Ilenrv Potter, “The Man Who fame Back," in the William Fox picture of Ihat. nam< fn n t novel by John Fleming "Wilson, which is showing at the Queen’s Theatre. But the same world was as kind as it was hard when he played the game right.. The story reveals the earlylife of a millionaire's son. I iis downfall is so natural and the causes so obvious that sympathy is mingled with the candamnation which alway s follows a man on the down-grade. The new screen star, George O’Brien, has the principal role, and Dorothy MacKaill is his leading lady. I Ittvc you ever had heebie jeebics; arc you liable to an attack of them; what would you do il you caught them; would you know if you had them? A girl suffering -if it can be called suffering from a bad ease of heebie jeebies can be seen in *’ Ihe Oreat Diamond Mystery," Shirley Mason's new William Fox mystery drama, running at the Queen's Theatre. The ailment makes her an in a very laughable manner. She shivers, uses slang and wishes for a sweel heart all because of the heebie jeebie. The girl is Miss Jackie Saunders. and she has a very good comedy My stery,” which, bv the wa\, is a verv entertaining liim. While taking scenes for "Joe,” his new picture in the Burragorang Valley. Beaumont Smith, the well known Australian him producer, received plentv of help from local residents. One of the biggest farms in the district was thrown open to him, and he was able to use the homestead and paddocks as backgrounds. A typical bush buggy and its driver were also secured for several scenes, while a four-year-old bo,y proved a born actor. Ihe picture.

| which is running at the Liberty TheaI trc. is not entirely a bush production, however. The company returned to Sydney. where the film was completed. Several incidents were filmed at The Ambassador, the well-known Sydney cabaret. Among the players are Arthur Tauchert, Connie Graham. Fernanda Butler. Dunstan Webb. Gordon Collingrirlgc /md Marie Lorraine. “Joe'’ is adapted from Ilenrv Lawson’s book, "Joe Wilson and Mis TMatcs.” "Loyal Lives,” at the Liberty Theatre, is a melodrama based upon the home life, the heroism, the sorrows and the joys of the men in the United States postal service. The story hinges on.the action of a postman who befriends a crook. The latter gives him a bank note in return for his services, but unfortunately for the postman, the note turns out to be one of a number stolen from the mail. A strong romance runs through the store. “Mv accident record is perfect,”

| Reginald Denny recently announced, , " 1 ' in niy past five pictures I liave ■ biid at least one in each.” And the hig. dashing athletic star shrugged his shoulders indifferently and remarked again : “ It s all so delightfully strenu- < I really don’t like to complain. I Playing fasi- action roles, I naturally hare to come in for a goodly share of disability. In “Oh Doctor,” a Uni- ; versa I-Jewel production. Denny's must j recent picture, now showing at Greater , ( rystal I'alace, the accident was caused j by a skidding motor-cycle, one of 1 lie j '''gh points in the story. The skid ! '•nine off perfectly, but Denny slid along ■ lie highway on bis face and shoulder. II«• was seriously shaken, cut and bruisI «?d. and for several days lie could not work and suffered from a shoulder securely bound in adhesive tape. “ | guess I haven't got a non-skid face,” the star mourned. “ T thought 1 was going to have some fun for once, but all I ever get: is hard luck.” In the pical Idete. but kuite the contrary, for the sury had to do with a young hypochonI (Iliac, whose greatest activity is taking J liis own temperature and taking dose i alter dose of some dozen or more paj rent, medicines. LIBERTY THEATRE. i ; lie wasn't much to look at a rough- ; hewn son of toil, he was scarcelv of ; J type that the twentieth century gii I would he likely to lose much sleep over, hut he had a heart through which there coursed the blood of a gentleman. lie toiled out-back, where men arc real men. and there was never any need lor the polished manners that in the eyes of convention mark the period, gentleman. Joe wasn't one of that sort. He knew vorv little a I >out politics, much less of 'women, and would have been quite prepared at any time to have admitted that he was an "ignorant blighter," but. wuen it came to helping a "pal" in distress, or defending a woman's lion- . "•“* lhcr<; »'itl* the eoods. doc is I lie central character in the Australian photo-play of the same name, the principal current attraction at, the Liberty Theatre. Admirably played by Arthur Tauchert, he is a good, kindly fellow, the type that a man would be proud to call a “pa!,” and that every woman admires -for What ho is. “Loyal Lives” is a good >'ory. illustrating the ups and down., °t Dainol O lb-ion, friend of all men Im-cr of all children, and faithful sorv.uu. The Liberty Quality Orchestra, under Mr Howard Moody, plays a magtnlici’iit programme of music. GRAND THEATRE. The latest Paramount picture for Christchurch discards the stereotyped society drama and goes right into one of the most marvellous inventions ' 1 a ts' ; noted lor marvellous inren-

tions li is .t story of a stolen invention in the radio world, of a young inventor, and of his sweetheart. There is sufficient romance in radio for any story based on it t ( > stand on its own. In Ibis case, the Paramount studios, with the thoroughness for which they are lamed, have set themselves Mie task of adding romance to romance, with results that all who know anything about these studios might expect. The most dramatic incidents in ibo story are associated with the •‘death-ray. ' reported to have been discovered not long ago. the most til riling are in the climax, and the most pleasing are those in which the villains get all they deserve and in which the hero and the heroine are united. The second feature. “The ATask of Lopez." is remarkable on account of the reappearance in Christchurch of Mr I'rod I hoinson. whose daring “stunt.**” cause the heart li> beat bister. Mis name always will be associated with the name of the famous white horse Silver King. The pair are not separated in ’’l he Mask of Lopez." The work of the orchestra is delightful. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "THE AI AX WHO CAME BACK.” SHIRLEY .MASON IN DIAMOND -MASTERY. I lie two big pictures screened at the Queen s Theatre last night are equal in merit, hut widely different in tlien.c and treatment, providing an agreeable contrast in an excellent programme, which all may enjoy. Patrons of picture theatres are making positive demands for realism on the screen. All their desires in this respect should be satisfied by the "William F'ox special production, ‘‘The Man Who Came Back,” an artistic adaptation of a popular novel and play with the same title. The story is a human one. It centres around a reckless, high-spirited .son of a wealthy resident of New York. The young fellow makes New York too hot for him, and is sent to San Francisco, to work lin a. shipyard. Shanghaied by roughs,” lie finds himself in the romantic and very diwty Orient, where he meets with amazing adventures. He tails until it seems that lie can fall no further, and can never rise. Like many other black sheep, however, lie has good stuff in him, and after the glow of youth has become somewhat dimmed, he rises again, defeat and degradation only stinging hint to courage and to success in life. In the end lie does the prodigal son 4 ‘ stunt.” is ■j united to his father, takes his proper position in the world, and marries a charming girl after lie learns the- extent of the sacrifice she is willing to make. It will he seen that the story provides almost boundless scope for iiighlv dramatic and ’thrilling incidents. As a matter of fact, those who saw '• The Alan A\ ho Came Back " did' not have a. dull moment as long as the film was running on the red. The success of this story on the screen is due largely to the acting ot Mr George O’Brien, -who takes the part, of Harry Potter, the man who goes ami comes hack into his own. The story shows Young Potter at different age-. Air O’Brien takes him in his early manhood. Two boys, of the requisite ages, both .sufficiently like what ATr O’Brien was in 1 1 is boyhood, were engaged to satisfy the artistic demands of the production. All the picturesque, work is taken by Air O'Brien. Me i° fairly new to the pictures. He studied medicine in liis early youth, then entered the United States Navy, found himself without a job in San Francisco when the war ended, drifted to Hollywood, carried the camera for Air Torn- Alix, took small parts in stories, and finally was starred. The naturalness and dramatic force of his acting should guarantee him a notable screen career. Miss Dorothy Mackaill. who plays opposi e Air O’Brien, was with Mr Richard Barthelmess in “ Twenty-one” and “ The Fighting Blade,” and was in “His Children’s Children.” Air Edward Pi el, who has made a special study of Oriental characters, appears in this piece as a Chinese gambler, a scheming, cunning, plotting, clever villain. Mr Cyril Chadwick, an English actor, as an English officer, knows how to toy with iced drinks and smoke pernicious cigarettes with an air of wellbred boredom. Amongst the other players are Miss Emily Fitzroy and Messrs J. Gordon, D. Kirby and Harvey Clark. “ The Great Diamond A Ty.stery.” another William F'ox production, is notable for the fact that dainty little Miss Shirley Alason takes the leading part. In this story she is the author of a murder mystery novel, in which she puts forth an original theory in regard to detecting crime. She finds that a. tragic situation, not unlike one she describes in her novel, comes into her own life. She is forced to play the part, of a detective in order to free her sweetheart from prison, where ho awaits execution for the murder of a diamond merchant. Although drama predominates in “The Great Diamond ■ Mystery.” it is tempered and relieved by sparkling fun. The iclement of mystery is well sustained throughout, so much so that those who see the story are puzzled to solve the mystery until disclosure comes in the last few fed of film. Miss Jackie Saunders is responsible for most of Mie humour, but Miss Shirley At a son is the great attraction. Mr Harry von Meter, Mr P. Af’Cullough. Mr H. V. Sarno. Air .T. Cossar and Miss Eugenia Gilbert are in the cast. Comedies, educational items and topical subjects completed the* picture programme, which was matched hv pleasant incidental music. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. , A GOOD PROGRAMME. •• TOY ITS AY LL DIOR NESS ” AN D ON E NIG HT J N ROAI E. ” She wallied to he kissed. lie was at her service, and that night, while her two maiden aunts slept peacefully in their old-fashioned home, .Linda i crept out on to the balcony and gazed ! at the stars. It was not really her j 1 aull that Paul happened to he pass- j ing with his guitar at that very mo- > ir.cnl. and in fairness it must he said 1 hat she asked him to go quietly home, but Paul staved. lie sat on the verandah well into the night and talked of love, ot that litth home in Canada. and of the happiness I lint, would 1»m (heirs. Hi: told her of liis love for Tier, bow he could not I possibly live, without her, and how true { and faithful he’d he to her if she | would only say “Yes.” She was only | a girl, and where perhaps a more experienced member of her sex would not have made such a blunder, she ■tumbled head over heels in a whirlpool of pa !‘»n. At first Lie stole .j"M

one boyish kiss: she was carried away "iih Jii ss apparent sincerity, and when lie gathered her in his arms she surrendered herself to him-. Paul had ■"'on. lie told her that she was a woman. ,\'o one else had ever paid her that compliment, and when he capped tl)is off by adding that she was a beautiful woman at that, she just simply lost her head. That night., while the two old maiden, aunts slept peacefully m their little country cottage, Linda and Paul stole front the verandah, comrades in a great- adventure. It was a. great risk that she was taking. and the girl knew it, but they went straight away to the parson’s house and had things put right without delay. Then they left for Canada. I was there that the young wile iound that- promises are easier made than kept: not that she was failing 1o keep her side of the bargain—far from it. She was an honest, industrious little woman: but Paul, like many another of hU kind, soon forgot the promise he had made when lie took her to be his wife. He had an unconquerable passion for gambling, nil ungovernable yearning for adventure, and lie soon forgot the ties that bound him with his little wire in their Canadian home. Olio day he went away and forgot to return. Linda was told that he was dead, and still that passionate little girl she was when she surrendered herself to Paul on that little verandah back ill the old home town, she set oui to make fresh conquests. She was not. frivolous: she did not- frequent jsi zx parties, for there were never any where she lived, but she bad an old flame with whom she used to spend much of her time prior toiler marriage to Paul. If it bad not been for that little - interlude on the old verandah that- night while the maiden aunts slept. she . would no doubt have married him. but Destiny had so arranged things that the aunts slept more soundly than usual on this eventful night. Her old love returned and told her of his undying affection for her: it was a story such as they always tell, very similar indeed to that of Paul, he who was going to do so much, but who when the test came, did so little. She fell again. David was the winner, for. believing that Paul was dead, she considered herself free to marry again. They went away to live on a small island just off the coast of France. Here their lives were free of care and worries that fall to the lot of the townsfolk. But one night a familiar figure loomed in the darkness, and Linda was brought face to face with the man whom she had thought dead. It was a great shock to her, and things took a strange turn on the little island home. There were mrr/.v matters to be straightened out b'/fore everything was set right again, but there came a day when two young people emerged from love s wilderness, bright with the knowledge that they' had at last struck the path to happiness. “Love’s Wilderness” is the title of the production. “One Night in Rome” is the title of the second feature on the programme. 1 t. is a drama of society life, misunderstandings. a false accusation and a wronged wife. It is a pretty tale, prettily acted, and those who like wholesome drama, with the additional quality of being new in theme, should not miss it. A splendid musical programme was

played by Everybody’s Select Orchestra under the conductorship of -Ur W. .[. Bellingham. The overture was "The Crusader” (Sousa), while included in the other items were “Etienne Marcel” (Saint Saens from Faust” j (Gounod), "Lc Cid" (Thoma®), "Carmen” (Bizet), “Scenes Rustique** (Moilton). “Legende" (Wieniawski), “Iris (Mascagni), and “Slavonic Rhapsody” (Friedmann). jGREATER CRYSTAL PALACE I REGINALD DEN N V IN “OIL j DOCTOR I” geouge aiujss in ‘-twenty ! DOT.LABS A AYEEK.” .Mr Reginald Denny, who mvo nas j appeared on the screen at Greater i Crystal Palace without drawing large j crowds, must be credited with the pleasurable anticipation with which a large attendance in that theatre last night awaited the first big item of Ihe evening's entertainment. .Tlis name was made when he took a prominent part in the first series ol “The Leather Rushers,” which had a long and successful run at Greater Crystal Palace. That paved his wav for “The Ab.vssinal Brute." “Sporting Youth,” “The Reckless Age," and “The East Worker.” and now lie is shining as a bright particuluar star again in a delightful comedy-drama that suits his talents perfectly. “Oh, Doctor,’’ may be described as j of man who is obsessed with the idea | that he must live in an endless round of medicines and thermometers. Rufus Ilillop suffered from this mental malady sadly. When he reached manhood his aunt, a big. brawny woman, with a. mind as strong as her body branded him as a hypochondriac, told him that lie must quit coddling nimself, and insisted that he should eat steak and. chops. Ho protested that such a die* would poison him, but submitted to it. After the first dose, thinking that his end had come, he shouted, “ Oh, Doctor!” A lady doctor, answering the S.O.S. signal, went in and examined Rufus, told him that his ailments were imaginary, and ordered he taken raw. When three Scotsmen enter into an arrangement to insure Rufus’s life, for a. large sum for three years, they take a hand in his affairs. They find that his old nurse is known as Death-watch Annie, and immediately dismiss her. i.er place is taken by the most charming young nurse in the town. She prefers to spend most of her time reading novels. I Rums, getting hold of some of her ; literature, becomes engrossed in it. I Because she. thinks he is a coward, he (is stung to action, and decides to emulate some of her fictional heroes. "When Iho Scotsmen discover that Rufus has bought a fast roadster and starts on i a. race track with a notorious speed i demon, thev became frantic at the risk jon their investment. Rufus, Diking •; the wheel, crashes into a fence, wrecks the car, and all but wrecks himself. ! T he charming nurse, seeing him carried j i" «"i a stretcher, bursts into tears, j and threatens to give up her job, but. i on bis promising to he more careful, consents to nurse him back to health. Jfc no sooner recovers than he leaps on lo a motor-cycle and speeds alorm

the country roads. Back in hospital , again, apparently more dead than alive, there is more nursing. Finally he replies to an advertisement to paint a flagpole on the very building owned by the three canny Scottish investors. This is his last mad exploit. The Scotsmen are glad to get rid of their bargain, the nurse threatens never to many Rufus unless he iinmediatcly comes down from liis perch, and he slides clown into her arms. Those who have watched Mr Benny's career, and have been diverted with his acting. will understand how all these incidents are used by him with great effect . He seems to “have en joyed every minute of the work in front of the camera, and those who see the result ou the screen smile and laugh all the time. ‘ (Hi, Doctor!” is a good antidote for the blues and the dumps ; ii. chases-away dull care, and creates an atmosphere of good humour. Chief amongst Mr Penny's supports in this Universal-Jewel production is ‘Miss Mary .Aslor. a bright young, actress, who conies from Illinois, and who has put good work into “Beau Briimfnel.” “I'urffan Passions. ’ and “The Fighting American." Miss Ducille "Ward, and Messrs "W. Along. Otis Harlan. George Kiiwa. the Japanese, and T. Ricketts, actor and director, are in

flic cast. Mr* FT. A. Pollard directed 1 ‘•Oli. Doctor!” I Mr George Arliss is as great a draw as Mr Denny, but his talents run in another direction. Tie has done some of the best and most finished work on the screen in any country. In "Twentv Dollars a Week” he is a millionaire who cuts off his son with that sum, and tries* himself to live on it. taking a job as book-keeper. Starting there, the story goes forward rapidly through a series of comedies and sterner conspiracies. humour being intermingled with drama. Mr Arliss is remarkably good in this Selznick release, beautifully produced, with splendid setting and photography. Amongst his supports are Mr Taylor Holmes and Miss Edith Roberts. In addition to those two attractions. Mr V. M. Beebe screened last night another of the “Fight and Win” pictures. with Mr Jack Dempsey in the ring, swinging the gloves merrily. Mr Hayden SUvcm-m apnvar.: a< vhc manager of the fight. This is Mr Dempsey’s best screen effort, so far. It, is better than any other of the

“Fight and Win" series. Finally, there J were a Century comedy and an Inter- j national Xews item of outstanding t The Symphony Orchestra had a particularly good musical programme. The overture, “\ eni, \ idi. Veci” march, by Hall, was played with martial spirit. The best item was the last movement from the "Surprise Symphony” of Haydn, which was taken up with refinement by the violins. The quick passages were played well. The answering notes of wood-wind and strings was well done. The first movement from Mendelssohn’s “Italian Svmnhonv” was another notable item. The middle section of that number was | played with delicacy. “An Angel's Song.” by Albert Sammons, was well received. The composer is one of England's greatest violinists, and this piece is marked by the delicacy of touch that he uses on his instrument. The piece was excellently arrangd by Lottcr. A charming item was the “Scene et Valsc" by Guiraud, which opens splendidly with an allegro. Of the lighter music weie "Puppet o -.” by Ivor Xovello, a portrait, and “Who’s Hooper?” by the same composer. The i tntr'actc was “After the Storm.” bv Nelson. )

FULLER’S OPERA HOUSE. A BRIGHT PROGRAMME. There was a large attendance at the Opera House last night when an entirely new programme of vaudeville and revue items was . presented. The entertainment was well up to the high standard that the P'uller management invariably maintain, and the whole show went with a swing from start to finish. The first half of the programme was occupied with vaudeville items, chief among which were the pieces played by Linn Smith's New Jazz Band. Aluch was expected from this combination, for it came from Australia with a great reputation. Last night these talented artists showed that they fully justified all the praise that has been bestowed on them. Their work was a revelation of the musical cftects that can be obtained from such instruments as the piano, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, banjo and drums. I hey produced a weird and wonderful medley of Sounds and they put into their work an abandon that went a long way towards the success of their items. Linn Smith’s work at the piano was a revelation. The band roused the audience to a great pitch of enthusiasm, and they were encored again and again. Another very popular turn was that of those clever children, Fullers’ Eleven Wonders. These children arc well known to Christchurch vaudeville patrons and they are very warm favourites. Besides being entertaining, their turn is also extremely clever. Their acrobatic work and tumbling is especially good and would do credit to much older artists. In addition they show that they have been careful!v trained as dancers and -there are also one or two singers in the company. Jimmy Norton, the clever comedian, was warmly applauded for his humorous songs and witty stories. He had to respond to an insistent encore. The second half of the programme was provided by George Storey and liis revue, company. This talented band of players can always be depended upon for good entertainment and the ; show that they gave last night, enI titled “Listen In,” was no exception to this rule. As usual the bulk of the comedy work fell to George Storey and he performed his task in his wellknown capable manner. All the time he was on the stage he had the audience in fits of laughter, and, as his appearances were fairly frequent, it may be imagined that the piece was a rollicking one throughout. One of the most successful items in which he took part was a burlesque entitled "Lost. In this he was assisted by Dttlcie Milner. He also appeared very successfully in a number in which he took the part of a barber. The other members of the company performed their tasks well. Songs were sung by Mark Erickson, Afabelle Morgan. Fred Monument, Dulcie Milner, and Rich Butler and these artists, with Frank llaining and Ada Scaddon. also took part successfully in short, bright comedy items. The principals were ablv supported by the ballet girls and the whole show' went with a swing from start to finish. The incidental music was capably played by the orchestra under the baton of Air Albert Bid-