AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18415, 23 June 1925, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES.

GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE

KXTEHTAIXMEXT DE LUXE

SPLEXDID PICTURES AXD MUSIC

"Kulertainmecl .Jo !it S . ; - £ , n ! y describe

this work's r.c>.v programme at Greater Crystal Palace. At- the iultisil night session yesioydsy, the th;atre was comfc-uably filled .villi the usual crowd of '•fust liigbtrrs," and the audience expressed ifeit, by its epnlause and l-.m-faier, a= ':.* m?. highly delighted '"ith the la«&t pictorial offering ct A[ r V. M. Bccbs. Tl:-* Symphony Orchestra, under the ha'.en, <-.; :L- J". Biini, played a r.rcgTaniffic of pleasing music.

The headline- en the tur.er.t bid i* tho

r.v.;ch heralded Univenal-Jcw.l p:odustion | entitled "The Hid Whirl," f-aturia- the : over-welcome Jack Mv.lhall and May Mc- : Avoy. Since the scicening of the "jic-nv- ; ffc-Himnd" nrthtng l:kf tlv? high s:;ci»tv : p.-encs in "The ;.lad Whirl' have' b?cn wil- . tunaed in Chvis'.ohurch. Ih- men and ■ "'omen who ore paitiayed in "The Mad ■ Whirl" are your.jr for the most past and I unmarried, with a y.i nehant for vine and | the opposite sex. 'lh e story is a. screen version t-f Richard Washburn Child's bool-:, "Here's How." Hay McAvoy and Jack Miilhr.ll tiro nb'.'y MjpporUd ty a stronr ca.st, including such popular -'.vtlsU aj Myrtle Stedman, Barbara Bedford. Alec Francis, Ward Crane," George Fawcett, Marie Astaire. and Joseph Singleton. The Laic jb an f.riginal one, v.it'o a go id inoial. 'J'wo entirely cliffsr.r:\l typea ri pnnple t-ppmr in the piclasc. Cue imoily is )"cs'-e?a?d q£ great wealth, while the other i'acii y is typira.i of lhe lu.'ddh-! cias l . The wealth - ,' people have a Kn {played Ivy Jzc'yi Mulh&'l), who is caught in the nisd society whirl, and in order to "protect" thnir "'boy'' the psjrcn'.s jcin in the riotous y.*7.z parties of tho rcunjj folk. B t, apparently it. is not with the object of IcoJr.ng after their bov that the parents join in "th? mad whirl," for in tho eumraer they convert their mansion into a haven for pleasur-'-mad y«iths. Thero baihiner-suit. and mid- : parties are held end generally, th*. "fun'* runs high. Xiar in the. house, of the wealthy, a retired- puhl'can," his wife : and pretty daughter liw. They arc a wars of tho -ways of their neighbours, rr.d because of it, the publican drsyis'H the wealthy enes. Yet, the giil fal's in love with tlr= ycun<r heir, but tho -o'd man forbids his daughter to have anything to do with h'm. In the end, h?wever, the lovrv of the ycun? people triumphs and 'makes the rich parent, live a modest life. . Speed, dash, action, and ptr-rneat-o every scene of tho ercor.d nH.racJicu, entitled "Second Fiddle." (Selzaick). This is a melodrawiitie p.'cturo «f tis- liglics; 1 order, featuring Glen Hunter and yi-Avy The tale tellr- how a- young fellow named Jim Bradley stayed at heme to enablo his elder brother Herb:rt Jo "fini-h off" at a, college in the city. AVhen Herbert reiurnfl homo to h's native country tc-wn in fashionable attire, ht> ignores his younger brother and endeavours to "cut" him outs;f Poly Crawford, the village bglh fp'iayed b\' Slary Astor). But many things happen. A maniacal drunkard kills his daughter, and in the shadow of the night lie Bteals into the Bradley home, where, vnth an empty revolver, Jim hold!) 'him fill he faints. The murderer cacspes, a,nd Jim 13 dubbed a coward ly no other than his brother. However, the murderer is captured and impris-nt'd, but ho escapes again. Ho goes to tho Bradley cittige, from •which Herbert fled in terror, leaving Polly to tho villain's mercy. Then Jim comes on the scene, and alter a, thriling the fugitive bo overpowers him, becomes tho village hero, and wins 'he girl, who, of course, had been in love with, him all the time.

Besides the two "star" attractions, the last of the popular and Win" tcries, featuring Jack Dompjey, heavy-weight boxing champion of tho world, a Century comedy, and a. news film are shown.

The Symphony Orchestra, delighted the hc-uso w;th a pleasing program me. The overture was "Jolly Robbers." (Quppc), which mado a bright opening. Tho principal item was Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, which was played for the firßt time with tho composer's "BRtt'.e Symphony" (which was -written fcr tho Duke of Wellington at a concert for disabled soldiers at Ilavati, Germany, in • 1813). Tho symphony opened with tho first movement, beginning at the vivace, -which commenced with tho fluto and oboe, while tho stringpassages -wore well played; the whole movement was vory fine. Tha second movement, tho allegretto, a quieter movement, including eomo very charming melodies, was also veil played. The third movement was a, prcstoj played one in a bar, and proved a rollicking number. Tho fourth movement, the Allegro con brio, was full of rhythm, ■which pleases the modern ideas. Tho whole symphony received a remarkable interpretation by the orchestra. "Faust" (ColeridgoTaylor) and "Chirmita" (Fernandez), which is a Spanish danco number, were also played. The entr'acte. "If T Get Money," a popular one-step by Kule, was encored four times.

QUEEN'S THEATRE,

I a Grj&Axnc phoductiox. I , "THE SHEPHERD' KIXG." | This week's bill at the Queen's Theatre U» headed by what is claimed to be "the greatest and imost costly picture aver produced." There have been spectacular films before: "Intolerance," "Tho Birth of a Nation," "Tho .Queen of Sheba," all have umazed with their splendour of setting and artistry of production, and "Tho Shepherd King" ig on the ea.aie lavish eciilc. But the ma,nagement of tho (Jueen's Theatre, with its accustomed liberality, baa provided not only "Th* Shepherd King," but "My Husband's Wives," a sparkling comedy featuring Shirley Wison, a good comedy, an educational film and the latest international news. The Queen's Superb Orchestra plays' a special ncoro brilliantly. Like "The Ten Commandmmsts," "The Shepherd King" has a Biblical story as its foundation. It in said that every great play and overy tremendous novel had its origin in life somewhere down the ages. The dramatic story of David, tho shepherd boy, who finally beoamo monarch, with its romance and pathos, has been reproduced on celluloid witn impressive results. J. Gordon Edwards, tho director, sought l-eaJism. and was satisfied only with what ho found at tho base of the Pyramids, where tho camera clicked in the sardonic faco of the Sphinx. More than 5000 extras, with 500 camels and as many donkeys, form tho sorrowful army of tho children of Israel being led out of Egypt by Moses. This scene the director has used as a, prologue for the reason that from the house of ilcscs camo the house of David. As Princess Michal, youngest daughter of Saul, who eventually becomes the queen cf the 'Shepherd King, Violet Mersereau rises Ho the emotional peak of her career. She has the superb support of the oast that nude "Nero," consiatinrj of continental srtiots whose work ia beyond reproach. Massive sets and impressive mob scenes, add to the beauty of the picture at <rvery turn. Tho* interiors are remarkable enough, but the desert scenes, filmed in the shadows of the ancient Pyramids, are even more to. Tin picture was entirely produced in -Egypt and took more than a year in the making. Tho main. incidents in tho story of D*vid, bis fights with the lion and with Goliath, tho Philjstinic giant, have not been lost. There aro seme immense battle scenes, in which Israelites and Philistines clash, and some huge "ensembles" ci warriors. Strict attention has been paid to tho reproductions of temples and palaces, even of whole cities. en f „ Embarrassing moments, many of them, fill tho doliehtful comedy drama, "My Husband's Wives," starring- Shirley Mason, which wiil be the second attraction of this big nrogramme. As tho title suggests, if is the ex-wives who caiura all the trouble in this fast and clever comedy. During the honoymoon an ex-wife happens to bo stayins at the same hotel. From this point tho story takes on many thrilling and exciting- incidents and not till Miss Mason; who !« playin? the part of tho bride, manages to get rid- of the former wife, do things "move s'ongr in a normal way. "Mor.kfv Romeo" is the title of an amusing comedy.

STRAND THEATRE. Tom Mix in "The Heart Buster,*.' a Western romance of unusual interest set in the heart o£ the cow country in Arizona, heads the new bill presented at the Strand Theatre. Tho plot centres round Mis: in the role of Tod Walton, a young ranch owner desperately in love with Rose Killyer, daughter of his neighbour. Esther Kahston play* the part of Rose Hillyer, and the cupportins cast is a very stronp one. Lionel Barrymore in "I Am the Man," "Wolves of the 1 Xorth* : {episode fl). a Sunshine comedy, and a News are shown iu support.