AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19994, 10 November 1927, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE The colourful background to “The Beautiful Rebel,” Marion Davies’ new starring picture now showing at His Majesty’s Theatre is a war between Royalists and’ rebels. The story of the picture takes the form of a delightful romance of young lovers, one the daughter of a wealthy landowner ann the other a dashing soldier. The play- ; ers in these respective roles are Miss Davies and Harrison Fond. The girl shows a romantic interest in a band some slave her father has bought, and as a punishment is packed off to the city, which is seething with open rebelI lion. In the exciting events that follow rhe breaking out of hostilities, the lovers arc first brought together and then separated by a succession of enthralling adventures. Until their final re-union comes the suspense is intensely exciting. Thrills —laughs—spectacle —drama—these are the things Unit go to make “Slide, Kelly, Slide” on tho same programme, one of the outstand ing pictures of the year. Thousands of yelling fans in grandstands; the nation’s two foremost teams at death grips—this is the beginning or postulate of the picture. In this is woven an intimate story of American baseball; the story of a young “busher” who learns to pitch, make the big team, becomes a star, gets the “swelled head” thereby—and then learns the greatest lesson of life. It is just life itself — told amid the surge and thunder of the great American game. “Mare Nostrum’’ Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s release of Rex Ingram’s latest and most celebrated picture success, “Mare Nostrum” (Our Sea) will take place at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday next for four days- While tho war was in progress, Blasco Ibanez, the popular author, became possessed of some wonderful facts of real dramatic character which he later used as the ground work for his novel, “Mare Nostrum.” The book hit the public taste, had an enormpus sale, and the author has proclaimed it to be his own favourite work. When Rex Ingram was making F picture, Ibanez pointed out the ■ xact localities referred to in the novel and otherwise assisted the producer. The narrative has been described as “thrilling—no less.” It deals with one of the most sensational pages of the war—the tense months when Italy was deciding on which side to throw in her aid. Previous to the publication of “Mare Nostrum,” little was known to the general public of the vast network woven by the secret service emissaries of the Central Powers over and about the Mediterranean, in which sea numberless submarines and mystery ships had been planted. The motion picture is credited with exposing all this in truly great fashion. Alice Terry and Antonio Moreno head a big and powerful cast of continental players of distinction who are entirely fresh to New Zealand. The box plans for the season are now ( on view at Upton’s Music Stores, where i intending patrons are advised to book early. MUNICIPAL THEATRE. In addition to engaging featured players of the first rank to portray the principal roles in his series of Junior Jewel productions, “The Collegians,” Carl Laemmle, junr., the author, has spared nothing in the way of expense in the making of this brilliant set of comedy-dramas of student life. In the series, which commence on Tuesday at the Opera House, some of the scenes in and around the campus would do credit to a major production. The entire personnel engaged in making “The Collegians, ” from the director down to the extras in the east, has been soelected from the best available talent. High salaried “gag men,” title writers who are proven mastery of the craft, and many others who contribute materially to the success of a picture, althouj.li their names do not appear on the screen, were chosen with the greatest care and with secondary regard for expense. Hollywood, noted for beauty, was fine combed for types to play minor roles and atmosphere in the brilliant series of laughable, breezy films. So exceptional is the group of extras engaged for “The Collegians” that many of them are looked upon as future star stuff. On Saturday “Rubber Heels” and “Glenister of the arc the features.