AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18421, 30 June 1925, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

J PICTURE HOUSES. GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. 818 HALL CAIXE'S "SAME THE MAX." "THE SIGS OF THE CACTUS." ' Patrons of Greater Crystal Palace Theatre lave been taught to expect tho best that can be provided in pictures and music, but the Most picture-goer will find some- ■■' thing to surprise him in the quality of this 'wreck's programme Tho two big "pictures, one of them a screen version of "Tho Master of Man," Sir Hall Caine's masterpiece and the other "The Sign of tho Cactus " a nhirlwlnd romance of the Vv>st, fenturin- • o ?*' av ? merit, while delightful music ts played by the Symphonv ' ?! : r Che J itr T a ' t?"*" the '•ondiH.torship of Mr Mde last night *nd spent the evening at Greater Crystal I'alace were amplv reVid in enjoyment that lasted-for throe •hours? Sir Hall Camo's "Master of Man" has Wen brought to tho screen under the title il. j °, e Mlin '" '">' (lie m <>st distill- , £uUbcd of European directors, Victor Se-\-UU A m k. ?*" S [" ry J" essentially a drama, and. Seastrom has kept the spirit of the original story, and added to it. that touch of artistry for which his .Swedish pictures arc . noted. Although the director has incorporated some spectacular scenes into his production, they are entirely subordinated to tho jjtory, which deals with the lives of the Doemster, or Judge, and other inhabitants jot tno Islo of Msn. off tho coast of En E land, Conrad plays the role of the vouthful JJeoraster, with Mae Busch in the part of Bcssio Colllster, about whom most of the Jlory centres Patsy ;;,,,„ j; illcr creigliton Hale, Hohart Bosworth, Do YVitto C Jennings, and Evelyn Sclbie have other important parfß in tho large supporting past. "The, Master of Man" tells the striking story of a young Judge, whose first act of office is to pass judgment on u girl he himself wronged. The court-room pcenn. which is one of the intensely dramatic incidents in tho story, calls for some ofthe greatest emotional and drarotaic acting which has ever {reached the screen. It contains t.oraa e.tcitlug "mob" scenes, especially one of tin; Vsleglng of the Castle Rnshen by an angry crowd. .\ daring rescue is tarried out bv Conrad Nagel. The settings in which the "drama is enacted are all the quaint villages and century-old stone castles of the tiny j isle. Castlo Rushen, the largest structure pn the island, was duplicated at tho Goldwyn •Studios for the picture. 1 Clean Bnd refreshing is "The Pijrn of the CactUß," the latest "Western "thriller." fea.turing Jack Hosie. The story is that W tho fight on the part of ranchers to obtain .Water controlled by a big irrigation comJ'any,, which is demanding ruinous rates, anil loxio is tho sclf-coDstituted but lawless hy which the ranchers finally win. One of the most thrilliug water rescues ever seen on the screen is a feature of "The Sign ot the Cactus." Helen Hbhncs, of serial fame, is tho dare-devil.htroine, Tho supports aro excellent. The splendid score played by the Symphony Orchestra is headed by the "F.gmont Overture" (Beethoven). Its dramatic character bUnds with the big picture. "Name the Man." A now number is the "Symphonie Fantastlquc,'' by the master of modern orchestration, Berlioz, whose fondness for drums, and tympani is plainly shown. Another Ji« w item is the solemnly-written "AJcodysscril" (Tremisot), snd it is beautifully played. "Quo Vadis" (Nonjriu'.'s) "is appealinel}' pathetic, Tho brighter pieces include "La Frivole Columbine" (PiileTlstrc), in minuet time. "Andantino" (LcJnere) is a . woll-played 'cello solo; and •'Bigftletto Riggles" is bright and merry. •'The Crisis March" is by the famous marchwriter, Hall. QUEEN'S THEATRE. I»<THE BRASS BOWL" AXD "THfi SON OP A WOW.'.' , A new screen star is seen on the pro--t" at the Queen's Theatre, which opened yest«M«y. This is Edmund Lowe, who * aeores a great triumph in tho leading feai l ' -tute, "The Brass Bowl." Adapted from the f< Veil known, book of tho same title by tho fc popular author, Joseph Vance, "Tho Prass Bowl" has lost nothing In its adaptation to j> the screen, and the development of the plot * la well preserved. The story tells of a hand-, St. aome bachelor, who is in appearance very ijmaoh 3«ke a notorious crook. In fact, the •Ad the police involvo him in a notorious theft case.. Tho always valuable elemsnt of is introduced and well maintained set that a famous jewel thief also tnlxed up in tho plot. The intered In tho audience is intonso and i many fights and daring escapes thief, who eventually reeeiv-js his The tangled affairs of tho bachelor jhtenod out to his advantage, and ont of romance enters tho story. portion is by no means tho usual era the outcome" is obvious frow the I this adds in no small way to the m and interest kindled in the i. The star has brilliant supportts to bear him out in his various mtg, including Claire Adams, J. lac Donald, Leo White. Tred ButJack Duffy, icond attraction, "Tho "Son of a i of a different character. Tho theme at, the plot different, and, in fact, s play is an opposite, in prosontats predoeessor, as it deals with the f the far north. Written by the aort-storyist. Jack London, *ho talo transferred to tho screen with great The story goes 'into tho lovo two people of a distant country—people who corao from different civilisation. It is the love talc of i.maid for an American, on ultra ]o and modern man. Such a theme e of'mueh fine treatment, and the ueer has lost nothing in the preThe pioturesque end graphic fen by tbo Indi3n3 to vhito , equally with thoir own people, \ the American being called "Son Wolf." The adventures experienced irl and the man before real bap>mos about, make up a very exm. The two important roles aro Edith Roberta and Wheeler Oaktoeso two stars give flno interpre- ; their rcspoctivo parts. supporting programme also ilicro items worthy of recommendation. It of the Earth" is an excellent il number. This film contains much e matter put forward in an attractive i deals with the mining of salt, how it is obtained from the nines lakes, from the latter by evaporabroken up into sizes cotivonient in use, packed, transported, etc., eacSes.the ultimate consumer, jgrammc js rounded off by a comedy soMc. Excellent incidental music is ' tho Qiften's Orchestra, under Mr 3d. STRAND THEATRE. ; the- new bill at ihc Slra.td Thcaire rmvcKal Sim, "Oh. Doctor," with Denny in tho lead. Ettfus Billups, confined to the tender mercies of itor immediately after birth. He manhood, in spito of a youth that ited entirely to preserving his Left a small income, ho wont to an aunt, who eubjected him to orous treatment at tho hands of j. He borrowed from some Shyidging his entire fortune, which, would not be his until tliree years scd Ailer minute examinations by the fchylocks were convinced that Inc. * One canny Shylock, divinan object in life would assure their ;amed a beautiful nurse. That him from a hypochondriac to a daredevil. He sought thrills thorn! Frank Mayo in "Tho •," ''Wolves o: the North" (Ep. wedv, and a News also figure on amme. LIBERTY THEATRE. doa Paradise" and •'Between are the two big attractions at the theatre this week. Tola Xegri, the ho not so long ago took tho world , is alarred in flio Paramount mas"Porbidden Paradise." Eod Ja Adolphe Menjou, and ?™™° lay opposite Pola >cgn- • fc . orD -,-l dw" iTbaaod xtpon »«*»'*» ." af Catherine the Great of «";;"• las been adapted to the ecrecn i well-known etage play «" «.«.a »nta» The story ts enthrall nglike the Court scenes nor the groups imformed mUitary men have, bc.n Chnstchurch sinco tho *"««»«« of tho Dust." -Between Fnends hj) is the second attraction. iws itioa of the novel by BobertO""" he story tella of V*n& »« nc Te X Slock and their loves. ■ f'** 1 nan Kerry, Anna sson, »nJ Ihoun arc the. featured P! tt i crs two big nicturcs there is a llncK somedjr, "£' ho and the Souse, pical "budget.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. LAEGE AUDIENCE GKEETS M-TT BILL. "SAME THE MAX,- BY SIR HALL CAIN'E. Bitterly cold and wet though it was last Sight, scores of the men r.r.d women alighting in the rain-swept Square from trims and huses scurried for the warmth, and shelter of Everybody's Theatre, where enc of the most outstar.dm? programmes of the season was s-:rc*ned for tho first time. Strength, daring, terror, romance, ar.d ad-.-enf.iic and marvellous beauty go hand in hand«to make "Xante the Han," the Fisst Rational drama from .Sir Hall Caine's wonderful book, _ "Tho itas'jir of ilau,"' which is tho principal picture. Chief oniony tho pain xy of "stars" a.-scmbhd fcr the production aro Conra.-l -Varel, Patsy Ruth Miller (who rose to fame "in "The Hunchback of Kot-ro Dame".!, Mae Uusch, Hohart Bosworth, Crighton Hale, Evelyn SWbie, and I): Witt Jonnin??. Briefly, tho story Ic-'.13 how the first act of a handsome young judge, or Deemster, was to pass sentence en a beautiful girl i.o himself had wronged. The scene* leading rip to the great Courtroom pcone were magnificent. The judge, whose Kr.-o for the meek slip of a girl who st/>od before him. waiting for him to deliver hin spntencc to her on a charge of murder, was thrown agair.st his pledge to his duty. Although his heart was torn with anguish ar.d ho was filled with remorse, ho could do nothing less than announce, "You must die." to the girl who owed her downfall to him. They cried to her to "Jwune tho Man," but she would not betray her lover and her judge. Then on the eve, of her execution tho girl, Bessio Collistcr, eßcapad from her prison, and the r.ngry citizensthousands of them—clamoured at tho Castle I'uahen that tho man responsible for her escape bo found and punished. It is then that tho etorv reaches its smashing climaxThe jntlgo walked out before, tho huge Crowd v.nd confessed that be was "tho man." Enraged, tho crowd prepared to attack him, when a. troop of cavalry charged down the road, splitting the gathering and scattering tha people in all directions. But one small child, crying piteously, remained in tho path of the. oncoming troops, too frightened t: move. It was then that the young Dsemster redeemed his dishonour with on© brave deed. Ho ran under the legs of the horses and fell on the child, thus 6aving its life. In the «yos of tho crowd ho became a hero. Tho ending is superb. Besides the r>rincipal attraction on tho nrogrnmme, there- is a. fine supporting bill, including an interesting news film, a, ecenic, and a comedy.

Tlic. "Select" Orchestra, under the conciuctorship of Mr W. J. Bellinprham, provided a musical entertainment of hi?h order, while at tho same time substantially assisting in creating tho requisite atmosphero for the storv of "Nanio the Man." The entr'acte, "After the Storm," was quite an event. Mr Bo'lingham had introduced clever cffocU which prcducod a moat realistic •torni, and by contrasts in instrumentation obtained a novelty of much merit. Tho reccniiou accorded it was ;nost flattering to the orchestra. Miss Norma Middleton play «1 "Romance," hv Wein, and "Legende," a 'cello solo from tho Ko'.tic suite by Foulds. Por the theme of th o picture "Anathema" was played. It is dramatic, and Mr Herbert Fox obtained a vivid colourir.p: in his performance. Outstanding in tho music arranged for tho feature wft9 a number of operas suitable to tho period. These included: ■"Tnhitrcnio en Aulido" (Gluck), "Norma" (Bellini), "Aida" and "II Trovatorc" (Verdi). The "Adagio Lammtoso from tho Svmnhonv in B Minor (Pathetic) by Tschaikowskv was particularly enjoyable. Modem music wa.q represented by movements from the music drama "Thais" (Colin Mac-k-od Campbell). Act 111.. "Lo%-e Motifs, and No. IV. (Finale). The dramatic effect of tho mrvements added much to the intensity of the picture.

GRAND THEATRE,

"Merlon of the. Movies" is .causing continuous bursts of laughter from the audiences "at the Grand Theatre. Released ty Paramount, this Jnmca Cruzo feature shows, the beautiful Viola Dana and Glenn Hunter as the stars, and other players include among their numbers Do Witt Jennings, Elliot Roth, Luke Cosgrovo, Gale Henry, Charles Sellon, Charles Ogle, Ethel Wales Frank Jonasson, and Eleanor Lawson. ' Merton of the Movies" was originally a novel by Hairy Leon Wilson, and has been cleverly adapted, Tho second attraction, another excellent comedy, is "Squib's Honeymoon,' dealing with an accidental separation" of a young couple on their honeymoon trip. Authors and playwrights have made great use. of this theme both in "straight" matter and burlesque, but tho scenario writer has produced a quite new and altogether delightful comedy" of the heart. Betty Balfour is the etar. Supporting films are also excellent.