THE THEATRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 7

THE THEATRES.

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Zane Grrvs story. “Wild Horst Mesa." transferred to the screen by I'.tramouut nvill head the new programme coming to <»rentet Crustal I'alacc on Monday. It is a thrilling story ol the great out-doors. woven round a mol) of wild horses which fre quent a wide, ruckv plateau. The leading roles are taken by Jack Iloit, Billie Da\e and Noah Beery. The hero in t hane Weymcr. who attempts to capture a bunch of wild horses, headed by a remarkable white leader. \\ renter is opposed by Macpherson, the head of a rival gang, and soon tint Is himself placed in a number of extremely difficult situations ami has to exercise much ingenuity to make his escape. It is by making good use of his wits that he finally secures the leader and a large number of other horses from the band. MatPbNfon is naturally annoyed at this turn of events and makes his way to the hero's camp where he finds the father of the heroine preparing a barb-ed-wire stockade to accomodate the captured norses. A vigorous fight results and has just reached a conclusion when MacPherson's men ride up and prepare to drive oft' the captured horses. The incidents leading up to their final rout are full of excitement, and make a thoroughly satisfactory climax. Many thrills are also provided by a stampede of a mob of thousands of wild horses, which is one « f the outstanding episodes of the storv. The grandeur and beauty of manv of the photographic effects greatIn enhance the value of the production. Groundless jealousy is the theme of “The Trouble with Wives.” the second attraction. The storv revolves around one of those blithering idiots who insist upon telling brides stories about the little goings on of their husbands in pre married life. Florence Vidor is the wife, Tom Moore is the good-natured husband, Esther Ralston a prettv boot designer from Paris who though solely bent on business is al most compromised by the interfering friend played by Sterling. •* The Narrow Street,” which comes to the Grand Theatre on Monday, is a Warner Brothers adaptation of Edwin Morris’s story of humour and mvsterv. generously mingled with a fascinating love storv. The hero and heroine, in the opening stages of the story, get into the most embarrassing positio nof being husband and wife in name only. The girl invades the man's bachelor quarters, and. while she refuses to disclose her identity, she admits, very candidly, that she is hiding from the police. While he is harbouring her the man falls madly in love with the unknown girl Being unable to confess his love because of the awkward situation in which they are placed, the man simply aids the girl in her mysterious occupations. The film works on to a highly original finale. Thrill follows thrill in quick succession, and those who see the feature are assured of excellent entertainment. Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore have the leading roles. The supporting attraction is “ Wreckage,” which is based on the narrative “Salvage.” by Izoia Forrester, with May Allison and Holmes Herbert in the principal roles. The story tells of intrigue in America, gem smuggling on the Pacific and love in the South Seas. The piece de resistance is a storm in the Pacific with a vessel going down. •' Little Annie Rooney." Mary Pic k frod's latest release, brings Mary back to the screen as a ragged little imp of the East End of New York. Mary is the daughter of a New York policeman and the leader of a gang of boys. She romps and battles with them, then suddenly is the victim of a tragedy when he* father is killed. The transition from the first sequences of the picture to the dramatic scenes is said to mark Miss Pick ford’s greatest work on the screen. " I have never enjoyed

I making a picture more than l did I this last one.” Miss Pickford said. "If [it gives one half the pleasure, to others that it has to me I will feel well satisI lied “ The greatest aggregation of in--1 vrnile talent that has been gathered for a single picture aided in the support of Miss Pickford. A societv story, "Classified.” with t'orinno Griffith in the load, is the supporting feature. Hubs i omet comes of humble parents, but she longs for the luxurv and idleness which a wealthy husband ccntld give her. It is her boast that she never rides to town in a srtect car, but is always offered a lift by members of the idle class, who are attracted bv her good looks. Babs goes off with an unscrupulous millionaire, and, as is often the way with such people, her family imagine the worst when she does not arrive home until late the next morning. However, the tangle is straightened at last. " The finest scenery in the world," as Rudyard Kipling sai dof New Zealand manv years ago, is exemplified in no which the Government is presenting under the title "Glorious New Zealand.” and which will be shown at the Liberty Theatre on Monday. It is calculated to make every New Zealand heart beat a little faster with patriotic pride. The wonders of our uncanny thermal districts, the Maoris, the flora, fauna, and avifauna all have their places in this unique film. Industries have been purposely put aside for another occasion and instead we have presented to us a scries of clear-cut gems of scenery varied from mountain to glorious caves, from the clear waters of beautiful rivers to the fantastic icefalls of stupendous glaciers, from the palm-fringed Leaches of smiling Samoa to the icebergs of our mandatory antarctic territory known as Ross Land. Interspersed is the thrill of deep-sea fishing and studies of rare native birds in their bush haunts. The beautiful womanhood of New Zealand is shown by the screening of several of our most exquisitely charming girls. Here on the screen are shown scenes which the average New Zealander has not hitherto seen. The toning and colour tints are done by the latest process, and the result is a gorgeous feast for the eve. The film shows all the well-known tourist resorts of the Dominion, as well as glimpses of out-of-the-way corners of bush, mountain and fiord that arc amazingly beautiful. A picture which provides something new in comic effects will be screened at Everybody's Theatre on Monday. It is a Metro-Gold wvn production, “The Way of a Girl," starring Eleanor Boardmmi and Matt Moore. Remarkably skilful and puzzling trick photography enables some of the principal

characters to appear in miniature on the scenarist’s desk, and leaning against his typewriter assist him to unravel the complexities of the story. The conversation and the actions of the miniature figures arc said to be extremely amusing. The story is full of exciting incidents mingled with an abundance of good comedy The tale centres round the trials of a husband who believes that a wife should be trained in the same manner as a horse. His wife, not unnaturally, disagrees with him on this point, and her rebellion leads to some extremely and amusing adventures. “Although there is plenty of action, comedy and thrills,” says a critic, "it is the exceedingly novel handling that puts this picture in a class l.y itself. It is something different that is so eagerly sought, and any audience should enjoy it immensely. The second attraction. “What Fools Men." A First National attraction. is a business story of a group of financiers organised to “put over” a new kind of linen invented by Joseph Greer, played by Lewis Stone. When he scorns the amorous advances of the wife of the head financier drastic complications end in his losing his fin-

Troubles loom darker when his daughter elopes with his former chaffeur. From this point, the film is an intere,sting psychological study of Greer, with a new perspective and a different sense of values lighting back to selfreliance and contentment. It is a very human story, presented with nice restraint Shirley Mason. Ethel Grey Ten v and Joyce Compton are included in the cast.