AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 235, 4 October 1928, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

Machine guns, borrowed from a nearby army poet, were used in a thrilling battle, and real bullet* battered down doors, in a scene unique in motion picture®. For it was not a war scene at ail-but a modern battle between police and gangsters, on a city street, them forth. Thk *u one of the scenes staged in "Diamond Handcuns, Cosmopolitan's spectacular drama of love, diamonds, and the underworld,- which comes to-morrow to* the Majestic Theatre. Police and gangrters waged battle jwith machine guns tnd blank caitndfcfc firing over their head* trained marksmen outside'of the camera ]inee battered down doors with; a hail of ateel-jacketed bulleta. The gangster battle is one of many thrills in the spectacular new picture, in which the adventures of a great diamond are traced from its discovery in the African mines through a maze of theft, intrigue, and tragedy. The players include Eleanor Boardman, * Conrad Xogel, Gwen _we. Lawrence Gray, John Koche, .Lena M.l»n«, Sam Hardy am* many others of note. A reproduction of tue great diamond mines, with a- email army of native workers, the gangster battle, a revel m a night club, with Lena Malena in a sensational dance a shower of jittering rhinestones, and other lavish features embellish the new. picture. A Majestic News, an Aesop. Fable cartoon, and Eve's Review, and a laughable _snort comedy will accompany "Diamond HandcufiEs" at the Majestic, and Mr. John Whiteford-Waugh'sOrchestra will proviue suitable music. HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS.

"Horseman of the Plains," Tom Ma's 1 latest Western thriller, is now being screened at the Hippodrome and Empress Theatres. Mix and Tony again work well together to provide a aeries of exciting stunts and rescues, and there ia alao a charming romance running through the sequence of events. At the Hippodrome the chief support is "Come To My House," a Fox production, starring Olive Borden. This *is the story of. 1 a . though she was beautiful and intelligent, and had all that modey could buy, cohld not master her. own heart, and was continually torn between the man to whom she was engaged: to be married, and another who had flashed across her life like a meteor. Antonio I Moreno plays the male lead, and others in the cast are Ben Bard And Doris Lloyd. At the Empress, the second big picture is Gloria Swanson's first picture for United Artists, "Sadie Thompson." This is a screen version of W. Somerset Maugham's stage play, "Bain." It was directed by Raoul Walsh, who also plays the male lead. Good supports are algo shown at both theatres. LYRIC AND EMBASSY.

A mystery, drama of unusually exciting qualities is "'Lady Raffles,' which opens at the Lyric and Embassy Theatres to-day. The story, which* is filled with a series of breath-taking thrills, has been skilfully handled, and the suspense is well maintained. It is completely baffling until the very climax is reached. Estelle Taylor makes a welcome reappearance cm the silver sheet in the title role, and others in the cast are Lilyan Tashman and Roland Drew, who has become so popular for Us portrayal of the role of Felipe in "Ramona." Entertaining supports have been arranged for both theatres. These include a hilarious short comedy, a scenic film and an interesting news reel, showing 1 recent events of importance from overseas.

\ STRAND THEATRE. . The popularity of "Ramon*," which enters the third week of season at the Strand Theatre tomorrow, seems unbounded. "Ramona" it adapted from Helen Knit Jackson's story of the Indian maid who lived with the hanghtjr Benora Moreno, who, though she baa a sistedy love for' the - aon FeKpe, fell in love with Alcssandro, an Indian, and eloped with him. The stOTy goes on to tell of the tragedy of her life with Allessandro, the death of their baby, 'the burning of their, home by cattle thieves, and fianDy the murder of Alessandro. Dolores Del IJio again rises to the peak in histrionic art as the wistful Indian girl, while Warner Baxter gives a strong characterise tion of Alessandro. Roland Drew's trayal of Felipe is a fine piece of work. The supports include an atmospheric, pro- J logue, in which "Mr. Birrell O'Malley is the soloist, a Strand Magazine, and an "Our Gang" comedy. A' gramophone record of .the popular song "Ramona," actually sun? by Dolores Del Rio, is played, and Eve Bentley's Orchestra provides suitable music.

NEW REGENT THEATRE. ] A city is steeped in crime and two underworld gangs engage in deadly warfare because oup band has encroached upon the other's territory. Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton are on the trail of the crooks. That is the situation in "Partners in Crime,'* the Paramount melodramatic comedy, which opens at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. They have sailed the seas, Beery and Hatton. They have scaled the Alps, braved the terrors of the trenches, and made the happier for lire insurance writers, but they have neverbefore been ae funny as they* are as the Nemesis of the underworld. For the first time since they have been starred as team comedians, Beery and Hatton are provided, in "Partners in Crime," with a straight melodramatic story. A stcry teeming in thrills, abounding in humorous situations and with an interesting love theme woven through it. Beerv takes the part of a dud detective and Hatton plays "dual roles; those of a "wise-cracking" newspaper reporter, and of a savage gang leader. Tbe stars do not clown or wear I ludicrous costumes in this picture. The story furnishes plenty of laughs through legitimate situations, and Beery and Hatton make the most of the comedy possibilities. The stage turn of the new programme will be provided bv Mile. Michel 1 and ner Parisian models, from the Fohes Bergere. Paris, who will present •ii*; Enchanted Web."' Other numbers willl be a Regent Review. a travelogue and a Short comedv. Mr. Maurice Guttridge will play the Wurlitzer orgar.. and will conduct the Operatic Orchestra through an enjoyable musical score.