“DANCE MADNESS ” DRIVES HOME SEVERE LESSON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18009, 20 November 1926, Page 6

“DANCE MADNESS ” DRIVES HOME SEVERE LESSON.

“ BELOW THE LINE ” ALSO ON PROGRAMME AT LIBERTY THEATRE. “On with the dance, let joy be unconfined ” —that blithe quotation can work havoc in young hearts to-day, when the world seems to be bound with the silken shackles of Terpsichore. At the present time the world is dancing to the music of the pipes of Pan—dangerous music, for young blood is heady wine, and Panic notes are very alluring. • Dance Madness.” the Metro-Goldwyn picture to be shown at the Liberty Theatre next week, is based on this present craze, and handles the subject in a masterly yet humorous manner. It is useless to become sententious and captious while setting out to entertain, for the moment the pulpit appears—figuratively speaking, of course —the play goes out. “Dance Madness” is all entertainment, merry, breezy, spectacular, one of those rare pictures that hold a moral in the midst of its riot of comedy and piquant sophistication. It has been adequately described as the picture with the sparkle of Paris, the warmth of Africa, and the humour of America, and when a picture combines those three attributes into as brilliant a kaleidoscope as ” Dance Madness.” then the comedy supreme is at hand. The story proceeds with a pleasant attention to details, and it evolves into a romantic farce; the timing of which is perfect, the acting never forced, and the situations never obvious—this last r vital tost. The success of this picture is mainly due to the director, Robert Leonard. lie has a penchant for conjugal farce-comedies, and he instils a delicate suggestion of satire into his marital humour that must c.ertainlv bring to the fore a few sheepish smiles. This exhilarating comedy Is presented with artistic splendour. The magnificence of Cairo and the beauty of Paris had to lend their aid, with the result that it is as beautiful ,to the eye as the story is pleasing to the intelligence. Claire Windsor and Conrad Nagel head the cast, both playing with admirable

taste and a fine comedy sense roles that hold immense possibilities in the acting line. Hedda Hooper. Mario Carillo and Douglas Gilmore are other popular artists appearing in support. Master pictures are represented on the second half of the programme, when “Below the Line,” starring Rin Tin Tin, will be shown. Once again this marvellous animal demonstrates his intelligence powers. There are some serious students who contend that only man possesses intelligence, but that quality which enables Rin Tin Tin to play the parts he does is surely greater than mere instinct. The story is a stirring - drama of the great outdoors, an exciting romance that sweeps to a tremendous climax in which the clog figures prominently. June Marlow and John Harron head the cast outside of Rin Tin Tin.

The Liberty Concert Orchestra, under Mr Ernest' Jamieson, will play a special orchestral .programme, including the. following:—Overture, ” Romantic ” (Koler Belaa) ; “ Meistersingers ” (Wagner); "Der Frcischutz ” (Weber); “ Moonlight Sonata” (Beethoven): “The Mikado" (Sullivan); “Moon Moths" (Kussner): entr’acte, "Always” (Irving Berlin); “Roves et Souvenirs” (Dyck); light selections, “ Barcelona,” “ Just a Cottage Small.” The box plans are at The Bristol Piano Co., where seats may bo reserved.