AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20104, 24 March 1928, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS AND MEETINGS.

THE MAJESTIC. George O’Brien, Virginia Valli and J. Farrell Macdonald play the leading roles in “ East Side, West Side,” which opens to-day at The Majestic All of New York’s celebrated sections have a part n the story, the Bowery, East Side, West Side, Hell’s Kitchen, Gas House district, Bed Hook Point, the Bronx, Washington Heights, Park and Fifth Avenues. The leading role is a natural for George O’Brien. O’Brien has never before visited the Big Town. Ho is a California native son, having bv.cn born in San Francisco. Both O’Brien’s travelling companions are familiar with New York. Miss Valli makes it a point to pay it a visit every so often, if for nothing also but to replenish her hosiery supply. Macdonald is a native of New London, Conn., and the first time he ran away from home, at the tender age of fourteen, he landed in New York. He renewed his acquaintance every now and then and once stayed long enough to be made a sheriff in the Bronx. The story of 11 East Side, West Side” is hailed as an epic of life in the big cities. It tells of a youth born on an East River ba-ge who rises through sheer grit, first to become a Ghetto prize fighter, later an engineer. There is a sequence showing the sinking of the Titanic, which is one of the finest things ever done on the screen. 4 4 The Honeymoon Express,” the Warner Bros, film which will also be shown, offers an interesting viewpoint on married life, particularly that dangerous, indifferent age after twenty years spent together. Irene Rich and Willard Louis are the featured playei.i, in the roles of Margaret and John Lambert, who, after being wed for a score of years, have aJmost reached the parting of the ways. The only thing that holds the couple together is the wife’s love of the children for whose sake she disregards her husband’s indifference. The climax is brought about by the revolt of the mother.

For Wednesday Next. More than a thousand native Russians appear in one scene of “ Resurrection.” Leo Tolstoy’s love story, brought to the screen by Inspiration Pictures and Edwin Carewe and scheduled for the Majestic Theatre next Wednesday. The thousand Russians were employed for the Siberian sequences. Many brought to the Inspiration Studio costumes they had worn in Russia thirty years ago. They form a colourful background for the dramatic action, intense .love interest, and opportunity for spectacular acting in 1 * Resurrection.” Besides Count Ilya Tolstoy, Mr Carewe engaged General M. N. Pleschoff, formerly a high ranking officer in the Czar’s army, to supervise the details of. military uniforms and to insure authentic information concerning the Russian army at that time. Rod La Rocque is the star. He portrays the character of Prince Dmitri, and in the role is said to do the finest work of his career. Dolores del Rio. the young actress who has forged so rapidly to the fore in the past year .enacts the role of Katusha Maslova, the young peasant girl who loves and is beloved by Dmitri. The story leads these two characters from

the beginning of their young and innocent love through to the highly dramatic scenes of disillusionment and on to the “ Resurrection ” itself and a logical ending.

Bil«y Hart, so well-known on the radio for his singing, has been specially engaged to sing ” Russian Lullaby,’’ prior to the screening.

THE DUCHESS. PETER B. KYNE THRILLER! The most picturesque region in the world furnishes the background for “The Understanding Heart,” a screen version of Peter B. Kyne’s novel, which Jack Conway directed for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and is showing at the Duchess Theatre to-day at tho matinee and again at to-night’s performance. It is the land of the big timber in California, end concerns the band of faithful guardians who constantly watch over the country to save it from the ravages of fire. Expanses of scenic beauty greet the eye constantly, and the spectator is given several exquisite views of Yosemite National Park. Against this outdoor beauty is set one of the most virile romances of the year. Jack Conway, best known as tho director of “Brown of Harvard,” has endowed Kyne’s story with interest and realism, which reaches its climax in a spectacular forest fire. The cast is headed by Joan Crawford as “Monica,” Francis X. Bushman, Jnr., as I ony, Carmel Myers as “Kelcey,” and Rockliffe Fellowes as “Bob Mason”. The supporting items are excellent and include a two-reel comedy, N.Z. scenic and Pathe News reel.

NEW GRAND. Johnny Hines will be the feature at the New Grand Theatre for three days commencing to-day at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the matinee, in his latest First National picture “White Pants Willie,” produced under the personal supervision of C. C. Burr. The picture is a screen 'adaptation of the Liberty Magazine story of the same name by th© humorist, Elmer Davis. A splendid cast of players appear in support of the comedian with Leila Hyams playing the leading feminine role. Others appearing prominently are Ruth Dwyer, Walter Long, Henry Bur* rows, Margaret Seddon, George Kuwa, and last but not least, Bozo, the educated goose. “"White Pants Willie” is said to abound in humorous sequences, one of the most hilarious being a fast polo match played by crack players with the comedian being mistaken for a polo champion, thrust into the game and forced to win or lose the girl. Naturally the comedian’s white pants play an important role and supply moments of genuine humour, starting the picture off with a gale of laughter that doesn’t cease until the final fade-out. Supporting this picture will be another feature play with human Harry Carey, the popular star in “Drifting Thru” a drama, full of thrills, adventure and romance with supporting Gazette and First National comedy. Intending patrons are reminded to make reservations early as Saturday evening is always crowded. No extra charge is made to reserve. Make sure of a seat by booking or go early.