MARY PICKFORD AT QUEEN’S.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 5

MARY PICKFORD AT QUEEN’S.

WORLD’S FAVOURITE • IS AT HER BEST.

“ Little Annie Rooney ” is at the Queen’s Theatre this week, and picturegoers are afforded the privilege of seeing Mary Pickford her best in this production. She excels at portraying the little slum child who is the leading character in a delightful story. The story is one that makes a tremendous appeal, with its gang battles, its hero worship, and its tender whimsicalities The world’s favourite was never so young, so energetic, so tomboyish as she is in this picture as the fighting, ragged daughter of Officer Rooney of the old song. The tale tells of the eventful doings on the East side of New York, with its slums and its gangs, its petty intrigues and its swift retributions. Annie’s father is the constable of the neighbourhood, and incidentally the guide, philosopher and friend of all the ragamuffins that inhabit it. He is killed by an Italian, the tool of one of the gangs with which New York is

overrun, and Annie is thrown on her own resources. llow she battles against her environment and eventually finds rest in the arms of her hero, Joe Kelly, is an intensely virile and human story. The appeal is universal and irresistible. “Classified,” a First National production, in which Oorinne Griffith and Jack Mulhall are the stars, the second picture on the programme, is a problem play of the first order. Occasionally the spectators like to have set before them a film which calls for an answer, and this . is what “ Classified ” does.

The story is that of a girl who works in the classified advertisement department of a big New York daily, and whose struggle to better her position by marrying into the millionaire class leads her into many compromising and sometimes very humorous situations. At last, when the coveted millionaire does make her an offer of marriage, she finds that her heart inclines to the mechanic, whose advances she had scorned, and the wedding bells sound on the East Side instead of on Fifth Avenue. The play deals with many of the problems that beset the modern working girl, and is pregnant with interest from beginning to end. The programme is completed by a sparkling Charlie Chaplin comedy, “ The Pawnshop,” and the inimitable comedian has the spectators in shrieks of laughter from beginning to end. The fourteenth episode of “ Samson of the Circus ” completes an enjoyable programme.

“THE NEW ALADDIN” OPENS SATURDAY.

TALENTED COMPANY IN COMEDY PANTOMIME.

The J. C. Williamson 1926 pantomime from the Palladium Theatre, London, with its magnificent stage settings and wonderful costumes —executed by J. C. Williamson’s Modes, Ltd., is headed by Bruce Green, one of England’s leading comedians and pantomime dames; other leading artists are Gus Bluett, a clever Australian, who has come to the front rank of comedians; Floie Allen, another versatile, talented Australian artiste, who has rapidly made a name for herself; Roma Phillips, a pretty and charming singer ; William A. Ilassan, the well-known anu male impersonator, of many pantomimes and many lands: Dave Loffman, a fine baritone; Roberts; the wellknown musical comedy comedian; Graf tan Williams, character actor; Leslie Donahey, the diminutive comedian, the El Radiants, in a unique electrical novelty. The twelve beautiful Williamson girls, in a surprisingly thrilling novelty act; Lucile Lisle, and Dorothy Dewar, Sadie Pepper, Lilian Nightingale, Harry Moles, and the Williamson beauty chorus and ballet, all go to make undoubtedly one of the best and brightest comedy pantomimes seen for many

The book ,is by Ernest Rolls, and was produced by him at the Palladium Theatre, London, and His Majesty’s Theatre. Melbourne. He is the author and producer of many successhil pantomimes in England. The music is by Hermann and Max Darewski, world-wide-known names; lyrics by Cyril Hemmington; ballets by Miss Minnie Everett; the orchestra, under the baton of Harry Burton; stage under the direction of J. C. Whitfield. The season will commence on Saturday next, May 8, and is limited to seven nights only. Matinees on- Wednesday and Saturday, May 12 and 15. The box plans will open at The Bristol Piano Co., on Thursday morning, May 6.