EVERYBODY’S THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17545, 23 May 1925, Page 6

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE.

AN ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME. “SO BIG,” STARRING COLLEEN MOORE. “DON’T DOUBT YOUR HUSBAND,” . STARRING VIOLA DANA. Colleen Moore has been called the •‘living library” of Hollywood because she has produced screen versions of so many popular novels. Her latest picture, “So Big.” is an adaptation from Edna Ferber’s ‘best seller,” to be shown at Everybody’s Theatre next week, commencing at the matinee on Monday. Prior to this, she produced “Flaming Youth,” “The Sky Pilot,” “The Lotus Eater,” “The Huntress,” and numerous others. In “So Big,” Miss Moore is declared to have done her best screen work. The story, based on life in the old Dutch settlement near Chicago in the latter paTt of the past century, gets her away from the frivolous flapper roles with she has been associated. It presents her as the wife of a stolid Dutch fanner, toiling amidst the cabbages and radishes of a truck garden. A baby son is all that makes her life worth while, and as she toiis she visualises ■the time when he will become “so-o-o big” in this world of affairs. It is a surprising role' for young Miss -Moore, and it grows more surprising as, with

the passage of years, she is seen slowly transforming into a middle-aged woman. ’ Nothing could be so remote from the gay and giddy flapper of yore. The story permits the mother to all but realise her life's ambition. Her baby, now a man, stands at the portals of fame as an , architect. But as he

does so, a woman enters his life—a married woman of wealth, who would drag him into disgrace and failure through an elopement. It is then Miss Moore, rushing to the rescue of her baby-man, lacing his would-be despoiler, and finally dragging him back to the pathway of her ambitions, reaches the pinnacle of emotional heights. Pre-view critics of the film say nothing like it has ever been screened. First National has relieved the tenseness of the drama

with a world of good comedy, based upon, the rural antics of the Dutch farmers. A notable supporting cast, including Wallace Beery, Phyllis Haver, Ford Sterling, John Bowers, Ben Lyon, Dot Farley, and others, was given the picture to attain this. Viola Dana’s newest Metro picture, “Don't Doubt Your Husband,” directed by Harry Beaumont, is announced as the second attraction. It tells the

1 story of a young couple who have been hitting all the bumps that can be found on the matrimonial road as it exists in smart, swift, suburban society’ - . Miss Dana is the suspicious wife who notices that her husband is more interested in the interior decorator's ankles than in the decorations, and stirs up a storm of racy entertainment. The cast includes Alan Forrest, Winifred Bryson. John Patrick, Williard Louis, Adcle Watson, and Robert Dunbar. As usual, a splendid musical programme will be given by Everybody's Select Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr W. J. Bellingham, F.S.M. f Chief among the items arc the following: Overture, “Belle of Chicago” (Sousa); suites, “Cleopatra” (Oehmler), “Peer Gynt,” pt. 2 (Grieg) : violin solo, “Canzonetta” (d’Ambrosia), Miss Norma Middleton; songs. “Three French Songs” (a) “At Evening” (Debussy); cornet, Mr Herbert Fox; (b) “Open Thy Blue Eyes” (Masseut), (c) “Hindoo Song” (Bemberg) : entr-acte, “Medley” (Bellingham); light selection, “Beauty Prize” (Kern). Reserved seats may be obtained at The Bristol, or by telephone 4925.