AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18233, 18 November 1924, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS.

GRAND THEATRE,

PICTURE HOUSES.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. A TOP-NOTCH PnOGB.A"M"Nm SPLENDID PICTURES—DELIGHTFUL MUSIC. In this week's programme at Everybody's Theatre, Mr Harry "Waters, the enterprising' manager, has indeed set a very high standard of excellence. The management's previous efforts have been fairly eclipsed in the snippiness and in the variety of thi3 week's offering. Last night a crowded and enthusiastic audience (enjoyed every minute or the long programme of splendid pictures and delightful music, and the applause vtsls frequent and spontaneous. "The Galloping Pish," First National's latest stver.-reel farce comedy, is one of the big attractions on this week's new bill. The audience almost laughed itself into hvsterics while witnessing the screening of this production, which was produced by Thomas H. Ince. It is undoubtedly the most hilar.rus Sim seen in Christchnrch. It is a screamingly funny comedy, with Sidney Chaplin, Louisa Fazonda, Ford Sterling, Chester Cor.klin, Lucille Bicksen, not forgetting Ffeddie the Seal, to keep the wheels of comedv amove. The run commences when Undine, a lovely diving Venus, who shares Orpheum headlines with Freddie, her trained and petted seal, refuses to pay a bill. Then the trouble begins. A determined sheriff, with an attachment order for the seal, starts things rolling, and it takes all the wit of George, Undine's manager and fiance, to 6ave her and the seal from gaol, and the act from ruination. Freddy Wetherill, a reckless young newlywed, who is miserably weathering his first serious quarrel with his bride, accidentally becomes the storm centre. A flood, the esc&pa of the invaluable &eal, and his mad pursuit by Freddy, who has a catlike fear of water, brings a harrowing hour to a mirthful and exciting climax. "A Self Made Failure," .starring Patsy Ruth Miller and XJoytl Hamilton, i 3 the featured film of the big programme.- The picture was produced by J. K. McDougall. the renowned director, who made "Penrcd and Sam" and "Boy of Mine," and it is safe to say that it is one of the best fiims screened at Everybody's Theatre for some little time. The picture is thoroughly human and natural, and there are a number of humorous and dramatic situations. It is thrilling in parts and has just enough suspense to keep the audience interested all the time. A feature 01' the film is a troupe of beautiful diving girls, who figure rather prominently in one of the scenes. The theme of the picture ia gripping, as well as being a wholesome one. The plot moves about the adventures of Ben Alexander, the boy who played "Penrod" in "Per.rod and Sam," and the well-known oomedv star. Lloyd Hamilton. Penrod s dark-skinned playmate, Joe McCray, is also in the picture, and ho provides many a laugh. Others in the cast include such popular players as Mat Moore, Mary Carr, Sam de Grasse, Pri3cilla Morgan, "Chuck' Riesner, Victor Portell, and ''Cameo," the dog. The supports include a comedy and a gazette. The "Select" Orchestra played a very pleasing prognmme of fine orchestral musio incidental to the picture entertainment. The, r-vertura was the popular "Ole "Souvh," by Zamechik. Other numbers were a suite of five dances by Montiqjje Ring, including "Dance of Bayaderes" (Rubinstein), "Grasshopper Dance" (Bucall<jssi), and three Irish dance 3by Ansell. Selections from light opera and a number of'fox-trots were also played.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. "THE BEDROOM WINDOW," AND "TTfTr HEART BANDIT." \ - A cast of noted players, headed by May McAvoy, Malcolm MacGregor, Ricardo Cortez, and George Fawcett, interprets the star attraction, "The Bedroom Window," which commenced at tho Queen's Theatre yesterday. This feature ifl a particularly good one, as it traverses a wide range of exciting scenes in which mystery, melodrama, and heart appeal play a strong part. _ The picture is a Paramount production, directed by the veteran of the screen, William, de Mille, and is an adaptation of Clara Beranger'a mystery' story of the samo name; Rupert Franklin's name does not appear in the roster of players. All that Franklin had to do was to lie on the floor in the opening scenes and pretend that he was dead; yet for nearly six reels the cast was- involvea by what ho did, either suspected of having committed murder, or keen to p'.ay the part of amateur detective and solve tho Many photoplays start off very promisingly, but after the first or seoond reel, begin tx> lose in interest, and Blow up generally as thny progress. Not so in the ease of "The Bedroom Window." The production is well nigh the perfect screen entertainment. If starts with a great climax and ends with a greater. It can be said.to be the most exciting photo-play seen locally for some time. A man is found dead in his bedroom and suspicion falls on his daughter's lover, who is arrested. Convinced of his innocence, the daughter sets out to prove it with the aid of the family and her Aunt Matilda. Matilda follows up thrilling clues and discovers that the fatal shot was fired from an adjacent window, thus establishing the innocence of the lover. How the. culprit is discovered and the revelation of his motive for £he murder ooine in a dramatie finale. "The Heart Bandit," for which the popular Metro people are responsible, is the second big feature. It is interpreted by a splendid caßt, which includes spch a famous actress as Viola Dana, with a strong coterie of supporting artists. This story is bright and decidedly interesting, and gives the little actress considerable scope - for her proved ability. Other pictures are: "Fool Proof," a snappy comedy; the latest Paramount Gazette. and a Burton tr->rc]opue. The incidental music is pleasingly played by Mr Harry Ellwood's orchestra.

"Fair and Warmer," an excellent comedy film, heads the bill at the Grand Theatre this week. It is a screen adaptation of the well-known stage comedy of the; same name, by Avery Hopwood. " Those who saw tho stage version, which was presented in Christchurch recently, will remember what a deliriously funny comedy it was. All the humour of the original has been preserved in the screen version,-and those who: like a picture with a laugh in every foot should not fail to see the film. The cast that interprets the stody is a strong one. It includes May Allison, Pe'.l Trenton, Eugene Pellette, Christine Mayo, William Buckley, and Effie Conley. The second attraction is "Riders of the Dawn," an adaptation of "the novel, "Tie Desert of Wheat," by Zane Grey. On the supporting programme there is an industrial film. "China Clay," a Pathe Gazette and a comedy enlit'ed "Fast Male." The Grand Orchestra, under the baton of Miss A. Shenrsby, contributes a fine programme of incidental music.

LIBERTY THEATRE. "When tho Desert Calls," a picture .adapted from, a story by Donald McEibeny, heads this week's film programme at the Liberty Theatre. The cast is a very good one. Violet Heming plays the. leading' role in pleasing style. Her.part is one of more than ordinary interest, and she is the central figure in a most absorbing story. The other characters are all well sustained. Another highly interesting picture is one of a melodramatic order, entitled "More to be Pitied than Scorned." As the title suggests to a very grea<i extent, the story is one which plays a good deal upon the emotions of the olflookera. It concerns theatrical lite. The supporting pictures are a comedy depicting family life, and a slow motion film, "How to Dance the Tango." The Liberty Quality Orchestra, under Mr Howard Moody plays no small part in tho success of the entertainment.