AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17116, 11 April 1921, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

OPERA HOUSE. "Tn* Grand, Hotel" is the title of the 'ighth. production by tie popular Walter •."Jeorgo Sunshino Players, in which ths main comedy element will be supplied by Mr Reg. Hawthorne. Good parts have been provided for. the other principals, .while the musical items will include! a, special sons Bcena' by the quartet. A new act will be *aat of Kddy Slartyn, who will be-'seen in it series of original dancing conceptions. A furtljer selection of delightful_songs will, be rendered by Misa-Gladys Verona,'whose brilliant ringing lias been. such. a. .lea.l-ure of tho pro•miimi) recently. Miller and Rsiney will bo seen in "Joy* of Shopping," Iluley an-I Bent, will present a new sketch, "Lord Brighton," while the Le Bruns will continue to amaze by their daring and versatile performance;" "' Seats "ma v now be booked fit The, Brisjol. . , . : XAZIMOVA Iff "THE BRAT." •AT GREATER CRYSTAL "PALACE. . ><azimov», .the great Russian actress, who will appear.in hex latest screen triumph, "The Br#t,. at Giieater .Crystal Palace this week, | starting to-day. at the matinee, has had a brilliant career and a* rapid- ri&> to false and , fortune. Bom in "Yalta, Russia, near the' shore© of the- Black Sea,.Nazimova was sent . in early childhood to school, at Geneva, Switzerland, to learn tie 'violin, and at the *ge of twelve she made her first appearance at Yalta in .a Christmas concert. Soon after ilio clever little jgjjy abandoned music as a career, and went .to, Odessa, /to t-alto a course in'dramatic art* and'at'tho ago of nineteen she entered the Cora-ervatoire, a school for. the stage in 'Moscow, from which institution she graduate'l as medej winner of her cais>. Shortly after leaving the 'Conservatoire, IteT father's death left Xazimora to her. own resources, and -she took up" a courco instate direction,'- with. a. view 'to becoming a producer;: Hit "soon "after was' offered an engagement as .leading' lady with n # rep?rU-ry comr pany in -North -Russia,: whicn-'ehc accepted at. a salary:of-about t«n : pounds pet month', olaying a. different role every night. This. nought her to the notice of the celebrated Russian manager, Paul Orlenoff, who engagedl her as leading woman in a repertoire "deluding Ibsen dramas,."Camille,"."l'A!g!on," 'The Second"; Mr*--Tanqtrcray;-" and -other*. and- later she .toured,. England with Orlenoff in; "The. Chosen People." In .1905.. Xazimova went to America, with Orlenoff- for the, presentation o£. Ibsen -dramas in the Russian language;, but a-fow r monthe. sufficed for heir to master-English, and e-hc made Iter ,debut in ' New York as an English speaking actress in'a, series of. Ibsen playe.and in which she created' a, furore • From thence onward -mvf.il 19i7 "■ Narimova was one of the leading 6tars on the legitimate stage in America, and she played in many of the most noteworthy sue■cfa«es of'those years, including" "Hcdda Gabte'r." "A' Doll's House," "The Master Build.ftP.'V "Th* Counted.'Coquette," "Tho Comet," "Little Eyolf," "The Marionettes," "Bella n^nna,"''''"War 'Brides," and '"Option Shoals." ' After having decMncd.many tempt- j i^g-inducements, 'Nazimova. finally adopted 'ho .screen' as a medium of her talents, and signed'a long' term' contract with.Richard* A. Row-land and Maxwell Kanger, president- aid 'i-Krector-geneTal,'-. respectively, of Metro Pic-tH»ie-Corporation. Her first screen productton,- "Rovefation," was a- tremendous triumph, which ■ was followed-by other ■ successes • of. the .list • magnitude, the complete list .being : "Toys of Fate," "Oct of the Fog," "Eye foT An Eye," and "The Red, Lantern." And now comes "The Brit," Kazimova's own. adaptation of' Maude Fulton's enormously iniccessful stage. drama .of, that name, and which oven •ourpaasea,'in-elaborate detail and interest ..the previous -successes,of the 'brilliant little; Russian, actress, - In.-addition to. "The U;at,", .which, is a<- seven-reel super-produc-t,:pn, manager Mr V., M. Beebe, will present ■lit the I'ight session de luxe' only, a very fine .TJnivefsal five-part -mining drama- entitled "West is West," starring Harry Carey, who is known, in, 6creendom as .the' human acjor, arid at.allj sessions , an exceedingly *miisirig two-reel drama, featuring the -wonderful monkey, ' Joe 'Martin. At the night sessions del. lux© the. Greater Crystal Palace big Symphony Orchestra, under the distntgu".iilM' of Mr :.Alfred._ _J. Birnz, .will present'a! imaat atti-active-muaical ■.programme; the;.mrin numbers being-:—Over-lure, "Yercingetorix" (Caffot), entr'acte "Ec..tehtric • Bance" -(Hoxne), ; selection, "Rienzi" "'"ballet• music "Faust*. < (Gounod), -■ sy.niphoni • "G-- Major": (Hayden), "Spasimi "Serenatelbi" (Cerri), "Poupee ~A'alsante"-'(Poldini), and Mr Howard Moody, solo .'pianist; .•■ will . play RachmaninaSs "Pre-,-.1u3«." ,'•••■• .-'-The*box plan is,at The' Bristol-, anid ; as tremendous crowds, are : Buoe-;; to at- , -.'tend tljeirught sessions: de' hixe,- those• ,who ■ can aro;.ad«ised to attend the.day sessions,. ,stoe.''aTid book' .tbeir" seats. .

.- ''•; \Z: , \;, A MBERTY-THEAIRE. •■;■■-- ; ; of 'boxing-' contests', actual' as' weHl'ius'-baUtA that have Ix^ri-staged--ss.part• ,qf some drama, have '\»eeji ,'witrieisod..on.the-screen in this.city at different!, .periods; and considering "tii* difficul-'t-Jes such uisplays, they were (.'disaiclered. Wghly eatisfactcjry.' They am, Hp\TOV'^. ; uridoiubtedly excelled by'tho'motion prictiire presentation ql the boxing'';battle which .'forms'' 'tfar centri of. interest, in' "T3ic Wonder"Man,'", Ahe^ieadliner.of the'rHsw pro?ramma shovhi'before Tirg'e audiences at- th* Lihertv •_ The fight'is detail, and every blow can be followed irrt«J'lig*ntay. The onlooker is soon dieabused of the ide.t that it is' a mei*. eihibitioii.' of boripg. . The etory has; prepared - the. audience --for a- ..spirited ljiattilo between ,meri-who aie rivals in love, , and then. the., contestants wt-to Hhero is no tlbub.t thiteacji is .opt,,to ,win.. '.Wis battle is.in no «nse. all-ohe-«3ed Qearges Car- . pentfeoy the' !FrenoJx ; pngilaft,- whose fame is world-TOde,V in. the, opening •ronnds appoais to-be boxing Iralf-beavrtedly,. and yet not giving' mariy openingß, but.in "the finbj oho 'is selen, to employ a turf exl.reasion,' "fully' extended." . His opponent, Kobgrt Baijrat, i*,'*wij excellent match for .-"■MinY.aad boilJi men give a fine and exciting : display of ' "the-nobl» art." A noteworthy. "feature, of this part of; the film is a close-orp of: tho fighters at the. hottest period: of ■tie contest. ■'.' Also ndbeworthy art the portions picturing- the excitement 'in the anwience; ■ these scenes, 'sure' aa vivid end.realistio - as .those of-the Actual flight.- The p : oturo is not [nil -"stbulm," and a. well-constnioted story, admimbly acted and oxceMently pnodaced, keeps thei .attention .. ; oonoen-tr9,tcd'on the n.nTavel-meni-of a-puzzHng .'-mystery. Patrons of m'Sticji pictures will,hail with pleasure anew •'Har!' in-'Falre • Bmrtey, - whose ' girlish..bea-nty, ia. certain to arouse admiration.- - : Oa'rpentier. aa am : actor is -shoTra«*po4BßS9iil&rno*r<>nly a fine stage .bu]t a, gpod;doal-of talent. . The settings-,,are-magnificent,..and the swimming • • pool - scene... is; an, especially novel.. feature. Th.are wereseveralrpxcellent siupporting films, the,comedy, 'fAn Overall " Hero" (feahirin? "Sfiooky")',, "Betting a New Angle," v nnd ; -a further episode of.tlie. serial, '.The Inviiifjfo'?- -Hand.'-' Eea.tiires" in " the' Plat-he ••'Wazette'-ana jTepical fiudget were scenes -pic- ' taring''tlie;-arrival- of .the '-, Governor-GerieraJ, ' 'lipid'^Jellicojp,; 1 at"- 'Wellington', . and : ' ■ Lloyd'GeXwge's first "visit'tb v "Cheoii*ts," mnnsidn.presented to ; tbd ; Britiarh Prime' Minister •;' The. vocal items given by Mr W^ttr, : HedHnd,',who possesses, a very pieas-voice';-were "Alice, 'Where Art Tioii". and; "Mary of .Airgyle," and-in both he ].w'as.,hi<dtlv The-same pro- ■ gramme wiirbe given dining this-week. . k - kvjjryb6dt:s,_ '- Replets k with the colourful' t& moaphere of the old - Soujh is Donald. Crisp's production ■of "Held by the. Eneiny," a- Paramount-Art-or«f^ v -pictilriMfioix pf William. Gillette's {am-. oiis-pSjy shown at Everybody's , TJieatre this week, : c6mmeneing at-the tinatiiieci to-day.-.The jgreatest care was employed .in eeledting the. eoetajmes, fiiTnishings, ami ihdreVsing the setting's so as to surrunhd the players -with an "atmosphere typical of -tie times. The .pic*ure is .a'-lTama .of eome of the b«ttre<i witchwere not'walged' on a* bttttlefield—a drama of -the ,hearj*ches' that .ireie. suffered by the ''folks at home," in - the South, during *h.» Aznericari Civil War'. There are many thrilling jn the action. The <M4it..is exceptionally, fine, and includes Wand* Hdwley, Liliiari .ieigh- j ton,- Slack "Holt; Lewis Stone. Robert Cain, ! Walter Biers,'; amiVothers. The'pictivi-e -wa? directed-by Donald Crisp. In the simnorting- ittraction, :"An OW-Fashioned . iioy," j which-; stars 'Charles Ray, .a. new sirticlo of I fnarnitere, .lrnown as the "Bungalow Cha-van-ab]e,'''majtes'its'r.ppeaj-anco. • Tlie "Bxingalow. Cha>van-ibl&";is a coihbination of chairdivane.ttc arid Salde.'as the:hastily, concocted : Christioei Johnston, the author of the story, poolesl wits'to draw aketrihes of flie strange \ (irt!cle"for the 'benefit'of the studio'teebnioal • force" Aaioae,:of'the carpenters examined tire sketches, one after the-other,- he grew more and -more wild-eyed, and finally wenf into seclusion to draw Ms pwn.conojution of the which, w'h-'n seen in the new- ! est Ray offering, will "demonstwrt*- tbo'n* of bein? modern andfyet'. "old-foshibntd:" "An OM-Pashioned Boy" .is «a pleasing com?dy. w»U directed, well photogra-obed, and vrfj acted... Eyerybody'sf "Select'' Orchestra- will I sxrppiy, an .entirely new musical prolamine. I ReserVedrs«at»-may be obtained at The Bris- ' or by .'phoaing 4925.

• . STRAND'THEATRE. ' v/'Cheßkersj'; a Fob production, is the star film .in- the new programme at • the Strand .Thfe»tre.- : The screening of this story, brimful, of lacing episidea and intriguing-,, ■ was wttnoeed by a large attendance on Saturday. Checkew is -a, racecourse tout, and his partwqlat friend is Pu-sh'Miller. .-' Arthur Kendall jj to Alva. Rbmaine, but breaks the. .engagement because ho has an eye on Pert Barlow;-a southern beauty, and daughter of Judge Barlow, owner of a racing stable. Pert does, not fancy Kendall, -and seeks aid of Checkers. Thoir constant companion-; •big Wsda'tojove, but'Jucige Barlow.orders'

Checker* off the premises, and locks Pert in her room. This complicated matters, as Peri's horse, Remorse, i 3 entered for a big race at New York. Checkers helps Pert to escape whik Push takes Remorse from the stable. Kendall, who has heavily booked another horse," discovers the position, and with some hirelings goes in pursuit. They overtake the train •vJiich is conveying the little party to New York, and uncouple the car wltich contains Kemorsc. A terrific fight takes .place. The car catches fire, narrowly escapee a collision, and finally plunges through an open diawbridge into the river. All escape, however, and Pert and Checkers elude Kendall and his gang. They reach New York, where Pert i? kidnapped, but is .escued by Checkers. .Aj the races they find that Pert's jockey is unable to ride. Pert takes hia place and win? the race, and secures tho judge's consent to receive Checkers a 6 a son-in-law. The supporting films include a Suns-hind comedy, a cartoon, a World's News, an Australian News. and a Ford Interest film. GRAND THEATRE. The new programme shown at the Grand Theatre on Saturday was quite up to the standard shown at this popular theatre. There were 'wo star feature?. "Tjie Invisible Divorce" presents en nll-6tar cast, and is a. very fine adaptation'of' Leila Burton Wells's poignant 'irama of domestic doubts; "a notable addition, without question, to the silent drama.'" Skilfully worked up situations and excellent, acting distinguish "The' Invisible Divorce" from the ordinary run of photo-plays. The story is a strong one,- and. depicts tangled lives and misunderstandings. It is a briliianf, fascinating, and emotion-firing picture, full of situations that are life-like, yet picturesque and totally devoid- of dullness; one of the most absorbing photo-plays rfiown for some time,, departing as it 4ops from the .beaten pat.h.. The climax is finely presented by Walter McGrail,' Bontrio Joy, "Grace Darn.ond, and Walter Miiler. who have never appeared on tlw'fecrcon'-rcr-'greater-advantage. The second attraction is the fanums photoplay, '"The County Fair," adapted from Maurice Tourneur's celebrated drama. It ia- a big special, full of the jay of living, and Wes-Berrv ia seen jri his best characterica■tion. . Tnero is the.big race, scene, which, requires, to be seen to lie appreciated. Another sensational episode, of "The Moonrcders-" was also shown. 'llie box plan is at The Bristol until 12 noon, afterwards at the Grand Theatre, 'phone 2934.