AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18416, 24 June 1925, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE.

In "As Han Desire;," Hilton Sills has a fine role. The salt tang of ike South Seas mingles with the mysticism ox the Orient in this strange romance, adapted from Ger.e Wright's novel, "Pandora. La C'rois." Sills a::d Viola Dana occupy the centre of interest. Unlike "The Sea Hawk," however, this production introduces Si'ls as a British army surgeon in the Indian service. Mae Murray is a truly ?reat actress and also a, great entertainer. "Circe the Enchantress," her newest Metro starring picture, which is the second feature on the programme, is without doubt one o: the be3t pictures in which this beautiful blonde star has ever aa^eared. I GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. The pictures and music are of excelling quality at Greater Crystal Palace. "The Mad Whirl, - ' Universal-Jewel all-star production, which beßdj the new programme, is a. colourful vehicle in which players in very evident accoid with their roles give excellent portrayals of present, day life, thahk3 to William A. Seiter. The men and women who are p-rirayed in "The Mad "Whirl" arc young for the most part, but they indulge in e. form of pleasure that a- few years ago -would have been loudly condemned. Thrills, suspense p.nd human interest abound in "Secon3 Fiddle," the second big picture on the new programme, featuring Glen Hunter, Mar.- Astor and other popular screen celebrities. The fact that clothes do not always make the man is most interestingly portrayed.

QUEEN'S THEATRE. Like ''The Ten Commandments," "The Shepherd King" has a Biblical story as its foundation. It is said that every great p'ay and every tremendous novel had its origin in life somewhere down the ages. The dramatic Btory of David, the shepherd boy, who finally became moparch, with its romance ajid pathos, has been reproduced on celluloid with impressive results. J. Gordon Edwards, the director, sought realism and was satisfied cnly with what he found at the base of the Pyramids, where the camera clicked in the sardonic face cf the Sphinx. But the management <-f the Queen's Theatre, with its accustomed liberality, has provided not onlv "The Shepherd King," but "My Husband's "Wives,"' a sparkling comedy featuring Shirley Mason, a- pood, comedy, an educational film and the latest international news'.

LIBERTY THEATRE. "Wanderer the WVstelands,'' the star picture at tho Liberty Theatre, has been adapted to the screen, from tho widely-read book of tho samo name by Zane Grey. Nothing. like it has been seen in Christ-church since. tho screening of "The Bidcra of the Purple Sage" end the "Rainbow Trail." The whoie of the "Wanderer of the Wastelands" lias been screened in natural colours, which aid considerably in making tho picture realistic. In popular parlance, Betty Balfour's latest "All-British picture," entitled "Squibs's Honeymoon," a Master picture which is the second attraction, is a scream. In this domestic "shriek" Betty Balfour is undoubtedly at her test. In the same bill there is a Patho Gazette and The Mj stcrj Man," featuring Snub Pollaid.

GRAND THEATRE. "The Garden of Weeds" is a screen version of Leon Gordon and Dori3 Marquette's big Broadway hit. "Warner Baxter, Bockli2o Fellowes, Charles Ogle, and A 1 St. John appear in featured roles. As Dorctliy, a sbowgul, Miss Compson is confronted with accepting the attentions of two men. The sensational Master picture, "Three Women," is tho second attraction. May McAvoy, Marie Prevost, and Paulino Frederick share the stelhr honours, supported by Lew Cody, Mary Carr, Willard Lewis, and Pierre Gendrcn.

STRAND THEATRE. Tom Mix iu "Tho Heart Busier," a Western romanco of unusual interest set in the heart of the cow country in Arizona, LoaJS the bill at tho Strand Theatre. The plot centres round' Mix in the role of Tod Walton, a young ranch owner desperately ill love with Kose Hillyer, daughtfcr of his poighbo'ur. Lionel Barrymore in "I Am the Man," "Wolves of tho. North" (episode 9), a Sunshine comedy,' and a News are shown in support