AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19998, 15 November 1927, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS

MUNICIPAL THEATRE Two entertaining films, “The Street of Forgotten Men,” and the first of “The Collegians” series will appear to-night at the Opera House. The logical successor to Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Pictures Corporation is Carl Laemmle, junr. He is the author of “The Collegians,” a series of Junior Jewel productions featuring George Lewis, Hoyden Stevenson and Dorothy Gulliver. Percy Marmont, Neil Hamilton and Mary Brian are featured in the leading roles of the new Herbert Brcnon-Paramonnt production, “The Street of Forgotten Men.” the picture is an adaptation by Paul Schofield of George Kibbe Turner’s Liberty Magazine story by that name which is an underworld romance laid on the Bowcry in the late 90’s. Marmont, whom fans will remember best for his great work in “The Light That Failed” and “If Winter Comes,” is cast as “Easy Money” Charlie in this picture. He is a fake cripple who makes a handsome living out of the gullible public. Charlie “inherits” a baby girl, whom he brings up in the belief that he is a wealthy business man and then, when she is of marriageable age, “dies” that nothing might stand in her way of happiness. Bridgeport White-Eye, another “cripple,” determines to blackmail the girl, and “Easy Money” Charlie is compelled to “come back to life” to save her. It is a great situation, furnishing a “smash” climax for the production. Mary Brian is the girl, Portland Fancy, who never learns that there are such men in the world as her guardian, nor such a place where they fought for her —“Diamond Mike’s” saloon. Neil Hamilton is the millionaire she marries. Included in the strong supporting cast are John Harrington, Juliet Brenon, Josephine Deffry, Anton Bargato, Riley Hatch, Albert# Roccardi and Dorothy Walters. Reserves for this fine programme are at Messrs H. I. Jones and Son ’s. “MABE NOSTRUM” The sense of mastery with which Rex Ingram dominates his photoplay production has never been so marked as with “Mare Nostrum,” his newest Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, which comes to His Majesty’s Theatre to-night. Its drama is a living force that sweeps magnificently to a logical and wholly satisfying* climax. The war years of the Mediterranean supply the motif of the Blasco Ibanez theme which deals with spy machinations and the luring of a Spanish sea captain into the service of the Central Powers because of his intimate knowledge of the sea. in which they are planning an intensive submarine campaign. He succumbs to the charms of Freya Thalberg, a beautiful Austrian agent, who exceeds

her instructions by falling in love with him. It is her battle between lovd and i loyalty to her country that provokes the sensational episodes that precede the big climax. The final scene, a wartime sea mystery, is one of the most powerful sequences ever filmed, and solves the problem of what happened when the armed “Marc Nostrum” steamed into a lonely spot of the Mediterranean in search of a certain submarine and failed ever to return. A particular feature of the cast is the predominance of talented European artists, although the principal parts are taken by Alice Terry and Antonio Moreno, well known to screen lovers. Much greater realism has been secured by using the Continental players, as they fit more naturally into the European backgrounds among which the picture was actually filmed. The New York World writes: —“ ‘Mare Nostrum’ has been constructed in gripping fashion and with precision. It offers a fresh type of entertainment that cannot fail to satisfy, and presents it in a scries of stirringly sensational scenes. It is a really great picture.” The box plans are at Upton’s Music Store and are filling rapidly. COMPETITIONS AT ST. PAUL’S HALL Next Friday and Saturday and the following Tuesday and Wednesday Mr and Mrs J. W. Bailey are holding their first annual Competitions at St. Paul’s Hall. Many entertaining classes areincluded in the programmes—character sketches, character songs, humorous recitations, character recitals, monologues, duologues and stories without words. Altogether 150 entries have been received. The audience is to be invited to act as judge, and should find the experience interesting and entertaining. On Thursday, November 24, ft demonstration recital by priiza winners will conclude the season. WANGANUI BRANCH, LEAGUE OF x NATIONS’ UNION The public are invited to a lecture in St. Paul’s Hall this evening, November 15, nt 8.15 p.m. The speaker is Mr D. Grant, M.A., organising secretary of the Student Christian movement, and the .subject “Post War Europe from an Economic, Political and International Standpoint. ’ ’ HUBERT CARTER’S RECITAL To-niorow evening at the Opera House, Hubert Carter, the brilliant tenor, makes his last appearance in Wanganui this year. The pleasure his previous concerts gave makes this his third operatic and ballad concert in Wanganui, a treat that no music lover should miss. Mr Carter is including on his programme, in response to many requests, Godard’s “Angels Guard Thee.” All tastes have been provided for and a wonderful programme is to be presented. There has been a big demand for seats, and a packed 'house is assured. Mr Carter is being assisted by leading artists, all of whom are very popular and arc singing at the top of thoir form. The box plan is still on view a.t the Bristol Piano Co. The concert will start at 8 o ’clock sharp and patrons are requested to be seated early.