ATTRACTIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18014, 26 November 1926, Page 5

ATTRACTIONS FOR THE WEEK.

GRAND THEATRE *'•*■ SOW OV THE SflElK ” EVEEYISODY’S THEATRE “ YMJh X.OVXJ THXBY* ” EVERYBODY'S THEATRE “ THE OXBXi EHOH XOimCAXTEB ” O BEATER CBYSTAX. TAI.ACE “ VOLCANO *» OREATE& CRYSTAL PALACE " THE PLASTIC ACE " LIBERTY THEATRE “ DANCE HCALHESS n LIBERTY THEATRE “ BELOW THE LIME’' QXHSXBT’S THEATRE «A BOX OF PLAHLEBS n QUEER’S THEATRE • CODE OF THE WEST » BTRAVB THEATRE “THE TRANSCONTXEEKTAL LTD” STRABO THEATRE ... “THE LAST SSAB OB EARTH ” THEATRE ROYAL FSRRXS JAZZLANB REVUE COX. PULLER’S OPERA HOUSE BEVUE A VAUDBVILLB

“ A fast comedy that holds its own with the best,’* is a critic’s description of “ The Brown Derby,” Johnny Hines’s latest production for First National, which will be the principal attraction at Everybody's Theatre next week. The comedian plays the part of a plumber, a good worker, but prevented from becoming successful on account of his retiring nature. The fun starts when he is bequeathed a brown derby hat by an uncle. The hat is supposed to possess strange powers, and to have been the secret of the uncle’s success. Whatever influence it had on the uncle, it certainly served to give the young plumber a sense of superiority quite foreign to his former good nature. One adventure leads to another, and as the result of a case of mistaken identity the plumber gains entry to the social world, and becomes associated with a charming young heiress. A series of highly entertaining incidents follow, and things become hopelessly complicated. These provide an opportunity for the introduction of many humorous situations. “ Paint and Powder,” the second attraction, is a story of Broadway stage life. It is a drama of midnight madness, the theme of which moves rapidly from the sordidness and pathos of tenement life through the cheap gaiety of the Bowery to the glamour or the stage and its oeople Elaine Hammerstein has the leading role. ♦> »*• 55 “ Sparrows."’ Mary Pickford’s latest picture, which will be screened at the Grand Theatre next week, is the story 61 a group of unfortunate children on a baby farm. An American critic, reviewing the picture, said: “Mary Pickford has never done better work for the screen, and * Sparrows * is, in her opinion, her magnum opus. __ Once more she drops her sweet maturity and becomes the little waif of a dozen years, battling her way through a hard world with strong right arm and ready right foot and with an abiding faith in the ultimate reward for services honestly rendered. As Mamma Molly she takes the measures of her foes, be they big or little, with an unflagging zeal and ingenuity, as Old Grimes (keeper of the Baby Farm, and ably interpreted by Gustav von Seyffertitz), Young Ambrose Grimes (his mean tittle-tattle son, capitally played by Spec. O’Donnell, of ‘ Little Annie Rooney’ memory), and Mrs Grimes (slatternly mistress of the place in the person of Charlotte Mineau), learn to their sorrow. Mary Pickford. clad in ragged dress, a policeman’s coat and without shoes or stockings, is irresistible. While there are any number of amusing incidents worked into the narrative, it remains an essentially serious, drab-coloured tale, rising slowly to the escape of Mollie and her frail crew and then achiexfing dramatic values of sharp intensity in rapid succession."’ “ The Torrent,’* a Metro-Goldwyn production, made from a story by Vicente Ibanez, will be shown- next -week at the Liberty Theatre. The title is realistic and symbolic also, for there is a flood in the picture, a torrent that sweeps away a Spanish village, and there is also a flood in the hearts of the principal characters, a great Spanish singer who has everything in life but love, and a statesman who is madly in love with her, the torrent of their passion finally sweeping them together for happiness. Ricardo Cortez plays the statesman, and Greta Garbo, Swedish screen star, makes her American debut as the .singer. Also a Metro-Goldwyn production is “ The Auction Block,” a picturisation of Rex Beach’s novel. It is the romantic story of an indolent, though likeable young waster who was reformed through the love of a girl, and finally had the whole country admiring his achievements, is told with great charm. The humorous possi bilities of the story are not overlooked, and the drollery of Charles Ray is an entertaining feature of the film. Also in the cast are Eleanor Boardman, Sally O’Neill and David Torrence.

In “ The Untamed Lady,*" a Paramount production, which heads the new programme coming to Crystal Palace next week, Gloria Swanson is cast as a spoilt society girl who, with money, a wonderful wardrobe of clothes and much ill-bred hauteur, displays a temper that is the bane of all her friends. She has been engaged three times, but her fiance number four is a young man of much determination, and he teaches the girl a longdelayed lesson in usefulness and manners. There are some realistic yacht scenes during a storm, when the heiress is forced to shovel coal like any stoker. There is an exciting chase on horseback, and each little lesson does its work; it proves to the girl with the ungovernable temper that there are other things desirable in life. Jack Holt, Florence Vidor, George Bancroft and William Powell have the leading roles in the second attraction, “ Sea Horses,” in which the east coast of Africa forms a colourful background. The story details the thrilling adventuths of a cultured English girl who goes to one of the seldom visited ports on this coast in seaceh of her husband. The development of her romance with the captain of the ship, and the complications that result when she discovers her husband are vividly depicted.

“ The White Sister,” which will be the principal attraction at the Queen’s Theatre next week, is one of the most artistic presentations that has been seen on the screen. It has Lillian Gish in the leading role. As the girl who. thinking her soldier lover dead, joins the order of the White Sisters, only to find, after taking the veil, that the man is alive, and still madly in love with her, she gives a portrayal that will live long In the memories of those who see the picture. The story, opening in the beauty of an Italian castle, where the lovers find nothing but happiness, and ending in tragedy, is shown amidst the most wonderful settings. One of the most outstanding scenes is that in which Vesuvius bursts into eruption, and pours its hell fire on the_ villages below. It is during the prevailing havoc that the hero, played with conviction by Ronald Coltnan, loses his life while trying to save others. The second at traction, “ The Man in the Saddle.” is a universal production. The picture has a delightful light comedy plot, with many funny situations. Hoot Gibson appears as a comedy cowboj*, who continually finds himself in embarrassing and untenable positions because of his love of heroics.