AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18221, 4 November 1924, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

fICTUKE HOUSES. GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. "DAV.'X OF THE EAST." A 5 ORIENTAL FEATURE. , r no variety of pictures was screened for ' Eew programme at Greater Crystal I'uilait night. There are no fewer than * front rank features on the bill, the \ i ( "Dawn o: the East," a, tale of "orient, with Alice Brady in tho leading l Ncsl in older is "The Love Letter," tho vivacious Gladys Walton in the olid then comes "The Empty Stall," ' fl I£ t 0 f a new series of complete pictures | b * *„ -ahc raft steppers," which pro- »-■ bo couaiiv it* " OJtl "Tilt Leather vliccl3"dv is a ::lm -star w-th a very wm- • „ ncisonatitv, a:ul a ical histrionic "Dawn of the East" gives her *°' j r «t opportunity to appear in * play »n Eaatern setting, and she takes full *4Arlnnilv „i tho lino scope given Iter for She has the role of a 'Zwin rcfugeo noblewoman who is ennned in a subtle Chinese scheme, which a marriage which is revolting to i*. The plot ot the story is gripping in lu'interest, and a!, no B Uge can the audi- ' » forecast what is to be the outcome of 2 ? affair. The. piay is full of thrill.-, and rivenlu:", and the i,:; ,i..: atmosphere of the Ea?t is present throughout. Cleverly 'cled a-n<l w.ll produced, the picture is one (| ia t makes a lasting impression. Tho Chinese scenes arc particularly good, and thfW is a big cast ot Chinese, actors in addition l<> t'ie Europeans. Indeed, the CVles(iji» »re the principals execptintr, of course, Bradv and Michio Itow, an Eura.-iuu. jt is hard to credit that the. film-was made outside of China, so cleverly are the genuine vitws ot Tientsin worked in with the studio scenes. The street hwic and the Almond Blossom cabaret look like the real thing, j,nd the quaint cuM'-ms of the Chinese arc faithfullv reproduced. Cladys Walton, in "Tho Love Letter," is Tfrv happily cast in the role, of Mary Ann JicKec, who finds romance Ihiough tlic jgpnev of a.ll overall iactory. Mary is romantically inclined, and despite her long days of hard work and her generally drab existence, she drcr.mi gcldcn dreams of a icai movie lie.ro falling in love with her. In a spirit of mischief she encloses notes with the parcels of overalls she sends to "clients," and flic receives some amusing replies. This adds a touch of gaiety to life, for her, hut nothing more until, by medium of a parcel of garments she gets into touch vith...a young man who follows the serioui avocation of blacksn'iithing in a small town. The pair oome together with what results itV.Wt.h'Td *° imagine, but there is a lot of uljcfcsomo laughter and somo good meloAnßbm the working out of this simple plotuBilTyoSullivau shows every promise to atiiin\ widespread popularity" by ~ his acting o/ tb* rolo of "The Information Kid" in the "Fast Stepper'' ecrics. In this week's offerirvj "Tie Empty Stall," which i.i the. first of the series, he displays any amount of flat admir-ible quality known as "p»r." mjt-1 hj» keep? the audience in a. state of alternate Iwgbs and thrills. The story deals with the turf, and is full of exciting situations The eighth chapter of "The East Expre.V Serial), a Century comedy, and tho latest International Xews complete the programme. Tbo Symphony Orchestra confrihuted a delightful musical programme. The overture was "Glenwood March." The first, movement of the First Symphony of> Beethoven TMeived a faithful interpretation. "The Final," a violin-piano sonata, from Groig, arranged for full orchestra., was a welcome addition to tho_ orchestral repertoire. "The Elegie" (Massenet) gave good scope for oboe in opening, and the treatment was most telling;, whilo tho answer by strings made a good effect. Tho "Cradle Song" (Brahms) was played a3 a.muted cornet solo by Mr S. ■Williams. A euito by Chaminadc, tno composer of many charming drawing-room pieces, was played. Tbo first number was "D*dm Orientale,'.' ■which, had nice flowing ffate and oboo passages. Danso der Callirijoa" vas a bright dance for woodwind, wiici} soited tho picture adminbly, as did tl*oiher numbers of tho suite.- The entr'acte was "Sleepy Zuydcr Zee" (David), a tuneful number, which received a, wcll-deservcd j encore.

I EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

"THE I'EIiFECT ELAPPEB." "TWO MINUTES TO GO." "hen if became known in Chrislcturch that "-Jin; I',, r fe C t, Elappcr" was to be screened at EverylAxiy's Thcattc, anticipation amongst, movie followers ran high. That -uch expectations were not misplaced wa> demonstrated ye-stcrday when the film was screened for the first time, and those wh'; wu-h to spend a rjleasant hours enjoyment should not miss seeing the picture. It rchscts ciedit upon the management, for th? discrimination shown :r. its choice for the star position i:i the prc>-in week's programme. to all members o: t':e fema'e. sex the flapper stage is one of r.o little interest. It :s a, comparatively recent invention, for in the A ictorian era the age at which a girl now becomes a full-grown flapper was then merely referred to as the period of adolescence. Nevertheless, girls ot the flapper age even then played a not unimpoitant part in life. Most of the heroines- in last century's books were flappers, or, at least, of flapper age and it is pleasing to note that. thi great rr.ajoritv of them, tven in thoss days, were eventually happily married. "Th; Perfect Elapper. ' as :'.s name" indicates, provides a quantity of material for pleasurable investigation into »:i obtuse problem, and Colleen Moose in tho title role has a part in which she truly excels. Shi has been seen in other big pictures, and has shown iiji to mor; or leas advantage, but undoubtedly her be-st interpretation So far is that, ot the perfect flapper. Those who are fortunate enough to see this film will not hesitate to idace this talented young lady in the very forefront of screen stais, and she well d'.'serves the distinction, especially in the lighter class work. The story is ono which contains all the essentials of true humour. It is one oi those in which one has not constantly to be remembering the name of tho characters. The trouble commences with a huge party which ia being given in honour of the perfect flapper's first season. About -100 guest a are invited and a total of lu appear on the scene. To add something of a kick to the proceedings, the puro ;.;rape juice is treated by several of the guests with something which has been prohibited in America under the Volstead Act. The cpiict husband of ono of the leaders fif society, ar.d the perfect flapper partake liberally of the juice and the result nearly ends in the divorce court, but fortunately for all concerned the flapper proves herself to be a real woman in the end. "Two Minutes to Go," featuring Charles Bay, is the supporting picture. It is a film play of college football days, and is of particular interest, to all devotees of the game as it serves to demonstrate the vast differ- ; er.ee between the American and English types of play. It even takes in a portion of what tho Americans consider should bo tho training of a college team, nnd makes one wonder what would happen "to that fifteen if it met the All Blacks in action. It depicts one of the wildest types of college and besides that contains an entertaining littlo lovo story-of ono of the chief members of tho team. The musical programme this week by Everybody's Orchestra, under the conductorship "of Mr W. J. Bcllingham, is all that cou'd be desired, and fits in to perfection v.ilh the spirit of both pictures screened. The overture, "Raymond" (Thomas), was splcndidlv played and reflected great credit upon both artists and conductor. A large number of popular fox trots were playtd as accompaniments to tile big -picture and included among these were "Xight, Time iri Italv" (Kendi"s\ "Rose of the Rio Grande' (Leslie'!, "Falling" (Collins), and "Yarrawonga.'' Of the standard music played, (Delibcs) and "Gavotte-" (SaintSaen?) were amongst the leading mtmlters, while the suites' included "Summer Lavs" (Coates). and the. "Children's Suite'' (Ansell). Several selections from Edward German's famous opera "Tom Jones" were also included as were a number of tho delightful melodies from the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Tho entr'acte was "Marchcta" (Schweninger). This beautiful selection gave the orchestra full scope for the displav o' its ability, the special arrangement "of tho music for the orchestra by .Mr Bcllingham greatly enhancing its value, and bringing out to full advantage the exquisite melody of the whole composition.

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

A THOMAS MEIGUAN PICTURE. "THE CONFIDENCE MAN." Ar.o'hcr brirht programme submitted yesterday at the Queen's Theatre, and me; with instantaneous .v:cc.e;s. -The Confidence Mar..'' which Loads the 'oil;, is a l'.sramount piodtietion starring that favourite actor "- manl >* ro!o5 » Thorn us .Vicighan. The story it tell* is one that docs not put any test ou one's credulity. It concerns tf.c d-jing* c: a certain financier, who ceM • lc't bv any shady means he can en )!-v- ta.-iing :irst the prccaiilion ot kee_pin/juM ".-ttua the law. " Such a theme has 'tor/ ir.-'.de u-e of on many occa-sions lor plavs of the stugo and the cinema, and pro-vui'.-d thev maintain the etandard reached in Mho Confidence Man" the-,- arc justified in reing u.-cd again and again. Meighan is der-n°ai <->:;e who is commissioned by it ahucly nnanc.er to relieve a wealthy man of some of his iic!K-;. Proceeding to the little countrv town in which the prospective victi n live?. *n alleged millionaire, Corvan i'M"i"haiO '**?-- up his abode in a, pretcntiou=~ hour" at:d straightaway commences !o imiie.-s t-'e 'oca! inhabitants by acts of charitv. One of his deeds is to remove the inmates of an old people's home, owned by Godfrev Queritt, the man who is to be "fleeced," to his own residence, to give them better shelter than the home affords ow-in-" to it being in dilapidated condition. Corvan's conscience is temporarily stirred when the woman who acts as his housekeeper mentions to him that it, is due to the vil'.ainv of Robert "Wade, his employer, that, she i.* forced to live in such humble ciicurnstances, Wade having duped her husband of his savings and sent him to an eorlv grave. A letter »cnt to Queritt, by V.'adc Informs him that certain oil shaves aro rising in value, -and offers to "place" a parcel of them for him. Queritt, as a matter of fact, has no such shares, as Wade well know?, but the letter serves the. purpose for wliich it was written. Learning thai Corvan has a lot of the Fought-after shares, Queritt plans to buy them from him at a low figure. The shares sre really valueless, but Queritt is not awaro of the fact, and the plot, gives every indication of working out u* intended. Corvan, however, determines i<-> cany out the deal on his own behalf, playing traitor to his rascally employer. A« the same time he plans to leave tho town with a, beautiful girl whom he promises to marry in New York. Unfortunately for tho success of h.i 3 scheme, Wade, a suspicious man, comes along- unannounced and is quick to seize himself of the fact, that Corvar is about to double cross him. A hi? ecenc follows, in which Wade is defied, Corvan's conscience having at last been touched. The story ends happily, Corvan deciding in futuro to go "all 6o,uare." Supporting the star is beautiful Virginia Valli. The photography is in Faramouut's best style, and the direction o£ the picture leaves nothing to bo desired. Viola Dana has the leading part in the second big feature, a drama of mystery and lore, entitled "In Search of a Thrill." One of tho best travelogue seen for sorao lime is the Burton Holmes picture of Shanghai and Macao, and to those who have not visited China tho Occidental Appearance of the firstnamed cify, with its imposing "Bund," comes as a big surprise. A Paramount Gazette is al=o screened. Under Mr Harry "Kllwood. the Queen's Superb Orchestra plays a delightful" programme of rau^ic. STRAND THEATRE. "Danger Ahead," a, brand new Universal attraction now screening at the Strand Theatre, starring tho talented actress Mary Philbin, is a lively melodrama cleverly handled by players and directors in a manner that holds the interest from beginning to end. The supporting films arc "MoGiiire of the Mounteds," chapter 6 of "The Ghost City," "High Kickers," a Century Follies Girls* comedy, and an International News.

LIBERTY THEATRE.

Last week the management of the Liberty Theatre was aula to preeent pictures showing the arrival of the All Blacks at Plymouth, and it has now gone & step mrtber, the. new programme, which was screened on Saturday fur the first time, shoeing the team in action against, Devon- " esiey Barry, -whose freckled, fac* is so familiar to screen fans, is given the stellar ro'.c m '■George "Washington, Junior," tho 1"S P>°\ ture this week. Weslcr has crown considerably since he made his debut in. the pictures, and in this, his latest success, he has attained to the dignity of & boileu collar, but he is the "same entertaining 1 Wesler as of old. "Vengeanco ol too Deep" is a film of the ••thrill" variety, unfolding a story of the South Sea pearl fisheries, and "showing how the ushers ro about their work at the bottom ot the Eca. The Liberty Quality Orchestra, under the direction of "Mr Howard Moody, can always be relied upon to provide the best iff- orchestral music, and this week is no exception. The most hardened critic could not fail to enjoy the excellent and well varied programme of music submitted. GRAND THEATRE. ''Tog Bound," one of Paramouni's latest pictures, featuring the versatile- Dorothy Da.l- - is the headliner on the current programme at tho Grand Theatre. The scenes of the story arc laid in Florida. "The Exiles," John Gilbert's interpretation of Richard Harding Davis's notable story, forms the second attraction on tho programme. The Grand Orchestra, under the direction of Miss Agnes Shearsby, contributes a most delightful and admirably played musical programme.