AMUSEMENTS

Waipa Post, Volume 31, Issue 1776, 29 June 1926, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE—TO-X[GIIT. THE SCARLET WEST. Real Indians are difficult subjects for motion picture direction, according to Frank J. Carroll, who used 2000 Xavajos and Utes in the production of “The Scarlet West.” an epic of frontier days, which First National will present at the Empire Theatre tonight In this romance of an isolated army post, in which the educated .son of an Indian chief, who holds the rank of captain, and a young lieutenant are rivals for the affections of the commanding general’s daughter. The principal roles are played by Robert Frazer, Clara -Bow, Robert E'deson, Johnny Walker. Walter McGrail and Gaston Glass “The Scarlet West,” in which 4000 people appear, was many months in the making in the picturesque,south western section of Colorado,'and is said to represent one of the finest screen achievements of the frontier of the sixties and seventies.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT,

“REVELATION.” The Empire Theatre has hooked “Revelation,” Metro-Goldwyn’s newest picture, which promises its patrons plenty of worth while entertainment. Viola/ Dana and Monte Blue have the featured roles in the production, and J are well supported by Lew Cody. Miss Dana plays the part of a young French peasant girl who goes to Paris and becomes a popular cabaret dancer. She falls in love with a poor artist played by Monte Blue, and poses for him. From her he gains inspiration and becomes famous. He is commissioned to paint a picture of the- Mad.onna -beside a rose bush to illustrate an old legend dn a monastery garden. While posing as the,Madonna the girl is mistaken for the Virgin by a dying Monk, and the legend again manifests itself. This opens the eyes of the girl to her complete regeneration, at the end of which she listens to an offer ,pf marriage from the artist.

THURSDAY NIGHT

“THE CHECHACOS.”

Eva Gordon, the beautiful blonde lead in “The- Chechaheos,” the first Alaskan made motion picture, and which comes to the Empire Theatre on Thursday night, came to the country 'recently with the Danish Players of Copenhagen. Captain Austin E. Lathrop, producer of the picture 4 .happened to witness the final performance of the company in Seattle and induced Miss Gordon to remain in that country long enough for the production. Her success in films, however, has Avon her a permanent place in the Hollywood colony. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. MATINEE SATURDAY AFTERNOON. “SPORTING LIFE.” Action! That’s what the public wants on the screen or in real life. That's the declaration of Maurice Tourneur, noted ’director, whose Universal JeAvel Maurice Torneur production, “Sporting Life,” comes to the Empire Theatre on Friday and Saturday nights, and at a matinee on Saturday afternoon.

The picture includes prize fights, horse races, physical combats in large quantities, an automobile wreck. Melodrama, possibly, but intelligent, plausible melodrama. Tourneur, in illustration of .his claim, points out the tremendous drawing power of auto races, prize fights, football games, baseball and similar events. A sophisticated drama will draw a few thousand persons into the theatre, a match between Jack Dempsey and one of his contenders will draw 100,000 wild eyed fans from every spot in <the world. We will run to the window twenty •times a day to see a police “fast wagon” or a fire engine whizz by, even if we get only a uash of it, Tourneur points out. Everyone looks into the air when he hears an aeroplane, even if he has seen a thousand of them. For this reason, the noted director explains, pictures which appeal to the public—and by public he means everyone, including himself —are ones w,ith vivid, spectacular action. That he has incorporated every possible variety of action in “Sporting Life” is evidenced by advance reports of the picture. THE OPTIMISTS. Due no doubt to a series of meetings and lesser attractions, there was not a large audience at the Empire Theatre last night to greet the Optimists on the occasion of their first visit to Te Awamutu. The Optimists are a party of seven who possess any amount of individual talent but who seem to lack leadership or rehearsal. With a little more “finish,” as a com. bination they would certainly show to much better advantage. Perhaps the small audience last night Was a serious handicap for the programme was apt to dj-ag. After the interval there was a noted improvement and taken all in all. there was much merit in the performance. The programme covered a wide range and it was characterised by a total absence" of those coarse jokes which so frequently are introduced under the guise of humour. The best of the concerted numbers was a musical extravaganza which, cleverly compiled and splendidly, presented, gave a clear indication of what the Optimists are capable of doing. Sam Stern, is specially good in his Italian sketches, whilst individual numbers by other members were generally of a high order. The Optimists are at Otorohanga on Friday, and their programme is such as to provide a pleasant evening’s entertainment.