EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17569, 20 June 1925, Page 6

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

“AS MAN DESIRES,” STARRING MILTON SILLS, VIOLA DANA, AND RUTH CLIFFORD. “CIRCE,” STARRING MAE MURRAY AND JAMES KIRKWOOD. Captain Milton Sills brings tho good ship Drama safely across the shoals of tragedy once again in his latest First! National picture, “As Man Desires,” which comes to Everybody’s Theatre next Monday for a week’s screening. The salt tang of the South Seasmingles with the mysticism of ’ the Orient in this strange, romance.-adapt-ed from Gene Wright’s novel, “Pandora Le Croix.” Sills and Viola Dar.'a occupy the centre of interest.- Unlike "The Sea Hawk,” however, .this production introduces. Sills as a British army surgeon in the Indian service. It shows him falsely enmeshed in a. murder by a woman who- had failed in forcing her love upon him, and compelled to flee for his iifo. It picks him up again as a swashbuckling captain of a dingy pearl fishing schooner in the South Sea Islands, giving two-fist-ed, six-shooting battle for pearl bed rights and hating all women because of: the one who had betrayed him. Then, into bis life stepped a duskv, beautiful and coquettish native done-

ing girl of Tahiti, enacted by Viola Dana. Driven to the depths of human degradation. Sills marries the sportive creature, contemptuously promising to make a “fine lady” of her. Meantime, however, his name has been cleared of the Indian murder and search instituted for him by the girl he really loves, the daughter of a fellow officer. How they finally meet, and their pathway to happiness is cleared by a bullet which pierces the heart of his dancing girl bride comes as a. dramatic climax to the vivid story. Included in the supporting cast are Ruth Clifford. Rosemary Theby, Tom Kenned- Paul Nicholson, Lou Payne. Hector Sarno, Anna May Walthall, Ed rich Altemus and Frank Leigh. Mae Murray is a truly great actress and also a great entertainer. “Circe the Enchantress,” her newest Metro starring picture, which is the second feature on the programme, is without doubt one of the best pic- | tiires in which this beautiful blonde j star lias ever appeared. “Circe the Enchantress” is an original story, written especially for Miss Murray by Vicente Blnsco "Ibanez, and it was directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Ibanez has based his story on the mythical 1 goddess Circe, who, according to legend had the power to turn men into beasts. This legend lias been transferred to. the screen in all its colourful detail. In the real storv Miss Murrav is a modern Circe, who is likened to the goddess of the legend. But there is one man who refuses to he swayed by her powers, and from that time on Ibanez lias developed a powerful romantic story. A notable supporting east, including James Kirkwood. William Haines, Charle3 Gerard, Thomas Ricketts and Lillian Langdon appear in support of Miss Murray in “Circe the Enchantress.” Under tho conductorship of Mr W. J. Bellingham. F.S.M., a fine musical programme will be given by Everybody’s “Select” Orchestra. Among the items aro the following:—Overture, “La Fontaine do Jouveiice” (Lautenschlager) : suites, “Hymn to the Sun” (Rimsky-Korsakov); “Thais and Talmade” (a) Prelude, (b) Religious ernes, (c) Love Motif, (d) Death of Thais (Campbell): entr’acte, “Caprice Vienoise” (Kreisler); Slavic Dance, “No 10 Opus 72” (Dvorak) ; ’cello solo, “Berceuse” (Grieg), Miss Doris , Middleton ; classical dances (a) Pr.vaiie. 1 (b) I’assepied, (c) Courante (Chamin- ■ ade). Seats may as usual either be reserv- j ed at The Bristol, or by telejihoning 4925.