GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18239, 25 November 1924, Page 13

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE.

"■ RAILROAD SPECIAL. "THE SIGNAL TOAVEK." An exceptionally fine programme is Doing .Presented at ihe Greater Crystal Palace Theatre thi 3 week, a, iact. which was more than prove,-I by the appreciation of the largo i ■'"•'lionce which witnessed its initial ecreen"l7s a L that house of amusement, yesterday. Ihe nc.v bill is headed by "The, Signal lwtr ,' a, Universal production, which will ind.-rrl lake a lot of beating. It is a. railroad story, and h.is with it an atmosphere which cannot.fail to grip all tho3c who" eco it- As a matter of fact the story is one which li;m an attraction all rf its own, and provides a refreshing change from Iho i "inside" cl;isoi serpen prcdnction with I which w.r ire all familiar. The American railroptk have lurmshed the material for [ n,-t a. feiv e.xcitin;: ?torir.», but that of "Th» Sena! Tower 1 ' is a a powerful as any that has been drawn from the- livc3 of the men w!v> are lespon.'ib'.e for the running of the I rails-continental tr.jins. Despite the fact that everyone i* not intimately connected v. ith the workings E the railways, they " mean a great deal to most of us, and a. picture which deals with them conveys, an appeal which is almo-H irresistible. Virginia Valli is the. -=t:ir. and she is ably supported by a ru=t including such well-known piayers as TiocilifTe l'ellowes, Wallace Beery, and V'rankio I)an'o. The theme tells of the I'fc of a. signalman, ]i s wife and little boy, who are stationed at an out of the way spot ill ono of the ureal American railways. Long hours and responsible work are the signalman's lot., and his condition is not improved bv the worthlcssne"s of his fellow emplovee, who ta.kcs alternate shifts with him. Tlier.i are just the two or them at this particular station and the other man turns his "attention to his fellnw-cmplovee'a wife. However, in this case there is no ta : nt, and the woman uses common !'cn?e in her successful endeavour 1o save the happiness of her homo. Besides the interest of the story, there is a quaint vein of humour running; light throughout the piece—the villain being responsible for no small part of it- Thero is 21 ho plenty of excitement—enough, in fact, to satisfy tho mo?-t exacting. It. is particularly well worked out, and tho train wreck, the narrow er-eape of the express, nnd the successful effort of the signalman to save the papser.erer (rain during a terriblo storm are realistic to a decree. All these incidents begin from apparently ordinary happening.*. and this is one of tho great points which makes the picturo so attractive --it is true to real lite. It is extremely doubtful if a better railway story has ever , been produced. ' ' Included in tile supporting programme is ■ a fine Metro production, "Your Friend and Mine." It. stars the famous Australian act- . ress, Knid Bennett, and dea!s splendidly with an exceedingly delicato subject Tho story is of a woman whose husband neglect 3 her in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. ' A bogtis artist, who is causing a stir amongst, society women, appears on the scene and endeavours to secure ths lonely wife's affection, but through tho agency of a couple of true friends ho fails disastrously in lm attempt. "The Shooting Star," tho eleventh chapter of "The Fast Kxpress," a Century Comedy and tho latest International Kewa film complete the picture i/rograuime. An excellent musical programmo is supplied by the Greater Crystal Palace Orchestra under the conductorship of Mr A. J. Uunz. The overture last evening was "The Sew Colonial," a fine march by Hall, in which the spirit of the piece was well interpreted. The first, movement of Beethoven's second symphony was also played. It commenced with the beautiful allegro con brio movement, the woodwind sustaining the passages against tho quaver movement of the 6trii!fra. The whole waa beautifully played, and tho orchestra deserved special recognition, for its splendid interpretation. "Don Carlos" (Verdi) blended well with the spirit of +he big picture. It ' opened with great breadth and the cornet calls were especially well played. "Wayside Sketches" (Minchin) was also included and proved a fine accompaniment for the star piece of the evening'. Tho second sketch. "Coquette,'' is a very daintv composition and received full justice at the liandß of tho orchestra. The third and fifth sketches wore also particularly well playe.d. A selection of songs from thio works of Landon Ronald proved a decided acquisition to the programme and wore indeed a pleascre to listen to. They were played at tho commencement of tho first picturo nnd harmonised well with its general atmosphere. Tho entr'acte was tho plaintivo «nd beautiful Marcheta (Schcrtzinger), the solo, or roico part "being played exquisitely by the 'cello (Mr Bate). It received a well-deserved encore, and interest was added to tho piece" by tho words being thrown on the screen. "Three Famous Pictures' (Havdn Wood), "Maytinje" (Sylva) and "Juno Night" (Baer) were also included.

LIBERTY THEATRE. John Barrymore, famous actor, has the title role in "Beau, Brumincl" at the Liberty Theatre this week. Barrymore, in his interpretation of this difficult character, has made file 3oau iivo onco more. His characterisation of Brumrael's arroganco and cleverness has yet. with_ it a touch of pathos which make 3 tho wholo a, masterpiece of character sfudy. Moreover, ho traces his character's Hfo until its tragio end in a French madhouse, the wholo part giving him a scop© of which he takes full advantage. The story is as aimplo as the acting i 3 difficult, but, tho two are combined amazingly, and without doubt "Beau Brummol" i 3 one of the best pictures which lias boen produced up till tho present day. The theme tells of tho lovo of the Beau right from tho tirao of his insignificance, through his successful conquest of the Court of his patron, till tho time of .his death. Despite his other amorous adventures ho is consistent, but there lies R tragedy in his lovo of which nono but a Barrymore could make advantage. In support is shown an amusing comedy-drama The Cradlo Buster."