AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18426, 6 July 1925, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

PICTURE HOUSES. GREATER CRYSTAL PALACE. VIRGINIA VALLI AND NORMAN KERRY IN "THE PRICE OF PLEASURE." "DOLLAR DEVILS'; WITH ALL-STAR CAST. A iiginia , A alii and Norman Kerry find themselves associated and happily cast in "The Price of Pleasure," UniversalJewel, which heads the new programme at Greater Crystal Palace for this week, commencing to-day, and in which they arc costaned. The picture is one of the most entertaining seen in a long time, for it tells a perfectly natural story, replete with j human interest. There is for most persons ' something fascinating in the love romance of Uiose from divergent \valks of life, or. at least when it is a love romance between one of great fortune and social prestige and one from a more humble position. This is the situation in "The Price of Pleasure," for Mis 3 Valli has the part of a shop girl . and Kerry that of the son of a rich, soci- ; ally established woman. The picture opens with a most natural scene in the basement of a great department store, Miss Valli and p. fellow clerk resting a moment between I the rushes of a bargain day tornado, Kerry, in the guise of a mechanic, enters the place i to make a purchase, and overhears Miss j Valli's plaint that never has she had a real ' good time. Immediately interested and impressed by her beauty and' evident fine character, he invites her out. • She consents, and then is shown a scene to make one's heart warm, for the girls who live in the tenement boarding-house rob their meagre wardrobe so that their friend can make a presentable appearance. The young man in the case drives up in a big limousine, much to the surprise of the girls, . and finally drives away with the scarce-believing young woman. From then on her experience is like that of the princess of a fairy tale, for the young man takes her to his magnificent home, has a maid take her to his sister's room, and bedeck her in his sister's gowns. For a week the girl leads this dual life, and then the man|s mother and sistej return from abroad. After that comes stalking tragedy into the lives of these two young folk, anff very human indeed is the manner in which the story is deftly developed by Director Edward Sloman. There is a decided comedy .element, . cared for in competent manner by Louise Fazenda and T. Roy Barnes. Others in the supporting cast are Kate Leslie, ' George Fawcett, James O. Barrows, and Marie Astaire, all splendid players of the screen. "Dollar Devils," a mighty Victor Schertzinger special, is the second big .picture on the new programme. It is a picture that will Bend any audience away well satisfied with their evening's entertainment, as it has the sterling qualities.that mark the work of. a master production. The -very names of the cast are significant of the greatest elementa that go to make up a superb feature attraction of this kind. Joseph Dowling, of "Miracle Man" fame, plays the humorously unique role of-. old Zannon Carthy. Cullen Eva Novak, Lydia Knott, Miles McCarthy, Ney Farrell, and Hallam Cooley ofifer other important char- j acterisations. With names of this calibre the public can rest assured of a capable histrionic rendition of the various parts. Besides the two main pictures there-is a | very funny Century comedy aijd the latest International News film. Incidental to and in conjunction with the screening of the various motion pictures , the j world-famous Symphony Orchestra, under the | distinguished conductorship of Mr Alfred J. Biinz, will present a magnificent musical programme, which includes the following j classical f.nd popular numbers: —Overture, I "Light Cavalry" (Suppe); entr'acte,- "Zigettn- I erwesen" (Sarasate), soloist Miss Gladys Vin- j cent; "Andante F minor Sonate" (Bralims); "Ungarischer Tanz No. 19". (Brahms); ."Two Va-lses cp. 54" (Dvorak); Fantasie "The Demon" (Rubinstein): "Ballad Memories" (Baynes): <'Lazv Daisies Grow" (Friend):. "One Till Two" (Hoover); "Hard Hearted Hennah" (Yellen). The box plan is at The Bristol,- or ; seats may be reserved bv teleohonihg' Greater Crystal Palace, number 3758. . '

STRAND THEATRE. "HEADIN' WEST" AND "RIDIN'' PRETTY." A fine new programme is being presented at the Strand Theatre this jveek and was" screened to crowded houses fo-r the first time on Saturday. The feature is "Headin' We3t," in which Hoot Gibson' is seen in tiotno daring feats of horsemanship. Practically .the whole of Chrietchurch are familiar with this screen favourite's irresistible ■ charm and no better opportunity of enjoying him. could be found than in this new vehicle of fun and breath- 1 less • interest. • : ■ . . Wm. Desmond in "Ridin 1 Pretty," a- kmversal film, is the p?incipal support. .Sky Parker, a cowboy on an Arizona ranch, receives word thsft his uncle has died in San Francisco and left him a fortune. A bunch of cowboys race to the station with him and the five to arrive first he takes to San Fran-, ciscp, where he finds that. to inherit the property he must live for a year fin 'the mansion left by his uncle as part of the estate. The cowboys have a . hectio time, amongst their ladventures being a _ ride through the city on horses borrowed from brewery. Traffic is held up and the boys are arrested for lions.© thieving. Sky's cousin enlists a beautiful young woman to aid in- preventing Sky gaining his inheritance, but she falls in love with the cowboy and refuses to go on with the plot. He asks her to marry him, but she runs away and he catches the train after a wild ride in a motor-car and takes her back to confront his false cousin, who is thrown out of the house. A comedy, a newa, and the first chapter of a new serial, "The Riddle Rider," also appear on the programme.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE, TWO "BIG" PICTURES. "ONE TEAR TO LIVE" AND "IN THE PALACE OF THE. KING." What would you do if you had but one year to,live? The question is asked you in the new First National picture, "One Year to Live," which comes to Everybody's Theatre this week, commencing at the matinee to-day. And the movie obligingly answers, indirectly, by vividly depicting the plight of a beautiful* girl whose physician tells her she has but one year to Jive. It is a sensational theme, ana is reported by pre-view critics to have been well carried out by an elaborate cast, which includes Aileen pringle, Antonio Moreno, Dorotoy Mtckall and ether favourites. The scenes are laid in Paris, and have been given the glitter and glamour popularly associated with gay niyht life of the t'rench capiti.l. There are eome fascinating gliicpßes behind the scenes of a famous Parisiarl theatre, and the panic which ensues when a beautiful, but temperamental, star refuses to "go on" for the paradoxical reason that the audience is clamouring foi her. "If they want me, they can wait," she reasons. And there are some sequences of a bewildering carnival, which climaxes the theatrical season in Paris. Hundreds of beautiful girls, in glorious costumes, take part amidst showers of confetti and a bedlam of music and hilarity. But beneath the tinsel of the butterfly life, ebbs the vital theme: One year to live. Miss Pringle has the role of the girl, and her. problem is dual. While f.cing death herself, she must also provide for the comfort and safety of an invalided little Bister after she is gone. It is in eearch of a dual solution that she plunges into the night life of the capital. And it is there the picture reaches a dramatic climax when she meet 3 the man she really loves. A spectacular .and interesting film is Goldwyn's production of M. -Marion Crawford's novel, ''ln the Palace of the King." It will be seen as the 6«cond picture feature on the programme. It has one of the most notable casts of the season. Blanche Sweet and Edmund Lowe play the two lovers. Sam de Grasse, Hobart Boeworth, Aileen Pringle, Pauline Starke, Ena Gregory, William V. Mong, Lucien Litfclefield, Charles Clary and many others have" important roles. The etory of Crawford's novel is well known; it has been read by hundreds of thousands and seen in play form by countless others. This compelling love story has been told with vigour, dramatic .fire, colourful sets and costumes, and with fine feeling for human drama amid picturesque and spectacular surroundings. The photography is a thing of beauty; the production on a big soale, direction end acting all that could be desired. . A splendid musical programme will be given by Everybody's Select Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr W. J. Bellingham. F.S.M. Chief among the numbers are the following:—Overture, Rigoletto Rigglee" (Black); Suite?, "Japanese Suite (Hoist), "Traumerei" (Schumann); Ballet, "Le Roi I'Amuse (Delibes); OpeTa. "Le Roi TVvV' (Lalo); Symphony, (a) "Adagio, (b) "Allegro Vivace" (Schubert); entr'acte, "The One I Love" (Isham Jones); Light Sele.c-' tion, "Priihrose" (Gershwin); Fox-trot Song«, "All Alone" (Berlin), "April Blossoms" (Youmans). Reserved <?eats niay. as usual, be booked either at The Bristol or by -telephoning number 4925. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "THE ROUGHNECK," FEATURING GEORGE O'BRIEN. What is claimed to be one of the mo9t thrilling and moat entertaining stories of the year will be screened at the Queen's Theatre this week, beginning to-day. This is the super-special adapted from ''The Roughneck," by Robert W. Service, author o£ "The Spell of the Yukon," and combines all the elements that go to,make an ultramodern picture. It is a, story of San Francisco and. the South Seas, love and adventure, moving with the awift rhythm of musical cadence, lavishly produced and played by an excellent cast. George O'Brien, the featured player, has never been seen to better advantage, and has added many leaves to his wreath of laurels. Billie Dove,' in the leading feminine role, is a ndiantly beautiful artist, and .is credited with an. admirable characterisation.

"The Roughneck" is the story of a man who had been abandoned in infancy through the machinations of an evil admirer of his mother, and who in his early manhood became a fugitive from justice as a result of a prize tight in which he participated to right a wrong, and not only defeated his opponent, but, according to the police, killed him with a blow. Upon the advice of his life-long protector,' a San Francisco dock clerk the young man became a stowaway in an outgoing- ship, and thus, after many thrilling adventures, landed at Tahiti, where he became a .principal in one of the most remarkable love affairs ever filmed. • There is action from- the word go, and despite it a length of eight reels, there is not a slow ■moment in it. It would be impossible to enumerate all of the thrills, but among them are a ' collision of a boat and a steamer in a fog, a sailor falling from a high mast into the sea, an unusually fine ring 'fight • the' hero'fl jump into a shark-infested sea and rescue "by a native gill' after excellent -underwater scenes, showing the kill"in" of the shark, the leap of the native girl from a cliff, and finally the terrific fight with the -villain to save his sweetheart and avenge his mother. - Supporting ; this splendid picture is a strong collection of shorter subjects. There will be a clever comedy, an educational, Gazette, and a Pathe Review. Specially arranged incidental music will be rendered by the Queen's orchestra under the direction of Mr H. Ellwood. GRAND THEATRE. VAUDEVILLE ' A'JND PICTURES. A FINE NOVELTY ACT. Quite early on Saturday, the "house full sign was displayed at the Grand Theatre. ■ Perhaps the. greatest attraction on the programme is the number supplied by La Ventura, appropriately billed as "The Venus of the Flcwers." Essentially spectacular, this act contains a wealth of art - which cannct be but appreciated by even the. most blase. The brilliant aeries of tableaux are enhanced in spactacularity by wonderful lighting effects and the classical hallet and dances are alao distinguished w'™ novel effects. One of the most splendid ecenes ia "Venua Among the Flowers," . m which a profusion of delightful colours is blended in pleasing harmony, while \ cntura s representation <f a eea nymph in the depths of the oc-ean forms a medium for everchanging scenes of- beauty and fine colour The 'picture portion of the programme is headed by a Paramount production, featuiing Agnes Ayres in an entertaining picture of the first year of newiy-mamed life— Aomorrow's Love." When it was decided t n-.ake this picture devoted to the perfect husband," ' bachelor director, Paul Bern, was selected to direct. > who made "Worldly Goods," in which Miss Ay res appeared but a short time ago, s P ec " ialises 111 domestic dramas, and his latest embodies a humorous sequence of ©vents in the life of a young couple, portrayed by Miss Ayres and Pat O'Malley, leading man. In "To-morrow's Love" there is perhaps the most realistic and dramatic story of modern married life that the screen has presented. While being true to life, amazingly so, in fact, there is not one dull moment in it. The action is swift and tense, there are thrills for thoee who want them, humour al. the way through, and a plot exceptional.> well handled and worked out with a c;ist u players who livo the parts more tnan meie y •play them. Agnes Ayrea is ideally cast as the young wife who loves her husband, bu cannot bring herself to overlook ihe s ® el "' iugly compromising position in which she nn him. Piu- O'Malley, as the braggart band, plays one of his best parts, while prominent in the oast are Raymond Hatton and Ruby La Fayette. . Excellent supports include another 01 tlie popular Christie Comedies entitled "Grandpa's Girl." This week the Harold Beck string tet gives a, polished interpretation of the slow movement and minuetto- from Mozart 3 "14th quartet," the simplicity of tho style receiving careful and musicianly treatment. A number which appeals to all is the q uar " tet arrangement of IBairnby's wel'-I",nown song, "Sweet and Low," which, is based on tho words of Tennyson's poem. The stirringly bright "Rondo Alia Zingareae" from Brahms's piano quartet, goes with a swing, the vigorous nature being temporarily relieved by a more lyrical middle section. The entr'acte, "Mellow Moon," a waltz by Hall, proves a fine number. Some very interesting new music, of which a mazurka by Dvorak ib worthy of special mention, is also played, as is "Ucrainian Suite" (Rubinstein-Morena) and "Jolly Entrance to tho Inn." A numbex of fox trots and waltzes appropriately 6uited to the pictures are "Honeymoon Chimes" (Earl), "Honey Dear" (Bell), ''Vamp Me" (Gay), "If I Don't Get Some Money" (Rule and Castling), "Listen to Me" (Sanders).

[ LIBERTY THEATRE. ENJTERTAINiTENT DE LUXE. PICTURES, MUSIC, SINGING. "Entertainment do luxe** aptly describes this week's new programme at the Liberty Theatre. At the initial night session on Saturday the "Full HOUB2" sign was hung on a pillar at the entrance to the theatre at any early hour, and a number of latecomers were disappointed. Thero are four attractions on the bi'l. THa first of the four attractions i 3 a Metro Super-Special entitled "The Eternal Struggle." It is undoubtedly one of the best "Glories of life, romance and adventure in the great Canadian North-west yet seen in Christchurch. The story tells how a beautiful French girl, resenting the attentions of a vulgar fur trader, injures and apparently kills him after a struggle. Terrified she flees for her life into the Arctic wilderness. But she "was trailed .b\ a trocper of the ,North-A\ T est Mounted Police and captured in the snow regions. On the way back to headquarters the girl falls deeply in love with the trooper, and her love is partly returned by him. They were joined by the trooper's superior officer and the struggle commenced. The officer saw the love between the young couple, and how the trooper was bound to perform his duty and- hand the girl over to the authorities. The second attraction is a first-claS3 comedy entitled "Listen Lester," flouring Harry Mvers, Alex Francis, Louise iazenda, George O'Hara., Eiva Novok, Lee Moran and Dot "Farley. In popular parlance it is a "scream" "and on Saturday night it literall? "brought the house down/' Signer Preboni Hansen, T.ie Danish tenor, provides a musical treat. He h.-.s a neb, warm tenor voice and his singing of a number of excerpts from grand opera tlioroushly delighted the house. Besides these three attractions there are a number of excellent supnortin l ? pictuies, including a comedy and a news film. The Liberty Qurlity Orchestra., under the direction of Mr Howard Moody, provided an excellent pro-r'amme of incidental music. The entr-acte this week is the "Intermezzo" from "Cavallerie (Mascagni). It forms an effective prologue to the sincer and proved a verv popular number. Mr Arthur Gordon plays Sarasate's "Gvpsy Airs." This work abounds with technical difficulties, which were easily overcome bv Mr Gordon, who gr.ve an excellent interprctat'oT of the so'o. The "Surprise" Symphonv (Hadyn) was played in its entirety. T!ie slow movement probably appealed .more t.o the large audience. A new suite T>hved this week is "The Shoe" Ballet. The work is delightful throughout. Perhsvns the most popular movement was tli» "Court Shoe." which was written in the old passified style. Two new f.-x trots thiß week are "No Wonder'* rnd "Paddy Malone." Both fire rags pnd at onco favourites. Mr Hownrd Moetly plays Chomn's Nocturne in T> Flat, obtaining a fine" tone quality and giving the' solo a rhnrraing interpretation Other numbers irnlude* —"0u r "Mirs (Oaryl'l; "Conpelix" (Delib"«); "Three Son~s" 'Brahmsl: "Fr<~m the Country Side" (Coates); < "The Geisha" (Jones). x