ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 274, 13 August 1921, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING’S THEATRE. Maurice Tournqur has made of “Tho Last of the Mohicans" a wonderful picture. Tho written tale has not expressed more poignantly than Tourneur's photodrama tho tragedy of the noble lied Man; it is, in fact, doubtful whether the prose of Fenimore Cooper was as adequate as the means at the command of this film-producer to re-create for modern minds the life of the American backwoods in days when English, French, and Indians warred together. No amount of description from Cooper’s pen could evoke such scenes as are here presented through the magic of the camera. Always the picture is gripping; sometimes it touches tho sublime. Tho plot is probably one of the childhood recollections of every reader. Its sentimental interest lies in the romantic love of the white girl for tho young chieftain Dncas. At Fort Edward Cora Munro is first attracted to the handsome warrior when ho brings news of an impending Huron attack. Through shared in the terrible journey to Fort William Henry, where Colonel Munro is besieged by the French Montcalm and Indian allies, the attachment between the white girl and the Indian turns to strong and enduring affection. The success of the stalwart Uncas in winning Cora’s heart spells the final defeat of the effeminate Captain Randolph, who has aspired to wed her. Randolph, a coward to the core, turns traitor when he fears that the defences cf tho fort will not bo sufficient to protect his craven skin, 'io his action in giving essential information to Montcalm is due tho massacre that follows the 'evacuation of Fort William Henry. In that wholesale slaughter, Magua, a Redskin of fiendish duplicity and cruelty, carries off Cora and her sister to the camp of the Delawares. There Tineas and his whit® friends claim the women, but the Delawares give Magua until sunset to escape with Cora in hi 9 power, and only at dusk is Uncas permitted to set off in tardy pursuit. It is in presenting the final scenes that the producer has achieved his most splendid effects. Most readers will remember the terrible vigil of Cora and her abductor upon the ledge of a precipice. Tho girl is determined to cast herself over if the Indian approaches one foot nearer; and cat-like, ho watches her the whole night through. At last, as the dawn is breaking, Uncas comes stealthily towards the pair, but Magua has already seized his prey, and because he cannot keep her she is doomed to be hurled into the depths below. Uncas engages tho murderer; theu is a desperate struggle, and both meng hurtling downwards. ~AA ben the whit mon arrive, Cora lies dead, at the bas of the cliff, and Uncas, outstretched on the. rock beside her, puts forth a dying hand for one clasp of her dead finger . The burial of the lovers is made a touching spectacle. The actin„ a throurii the picture is deseivin„ of noth tog but praise. Specially-selected music accompanies the,.- 6cr€ennlg ’, I ,, ant , ln ncrt ■’really to its effectiveness. Jhe s"PPcrtinif programme includes songs by i ■ Leslie Jcphcott, who last night scored a big success.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. Upton Sinclair, tho brilliant American novelist, invariably gets down to bedrock in hie stories dealing with the b g issues of life, and "The Money Changers,” his latest production, is no exception to this rule. The story is a scathing indictment against luxury, and it loses nothing in the telling when set to moving pictures. Yesterday The Mon y Changers” appeared on the new bill presented at Everybody’s Theatre, and it created a very favourable impression at all sessions. The production is not a “crook” play, a drama of high finance, or a Chinese play, but it is a study deftly combining all three in a powerful story of New York that takes m alike th® glittering splendour of the big city's highest society and the colourful, mysterious drug-laden atmosphere of the Oriental underworld. An assemblage ot well-known players compose the cast for the drama, which opens with Lucy Hogan (Clairo Adams), who is engaged to Hugh Gordon, owner of a wealthy drug corporation. Gordon, unknown to society, conducts an illicit business in drugs in the Chinese underworld. A newspaper reporter, who is trying to trace the men “higher up" in the traffic, falls in love with Lucy Hegan, who works on settlement work among the submerged tenth. The reporter also gets in touch with a released convict and a number of other characters, good, and bad, who arc mysteriously connected with the traffic Later affairs come to a crisis, which ends with a startling denouement. There is a wealth of plot and tense drama in "Tho Money Changers,” relieved from time to time by rich humour, while the settings of the play aro strange and weird. Gccd supporting films are being shown.

EMPRESS THEATRE. Hessue Hayakawa, the accomplished tragedian of the screen, adds new laurels io his fame by his appearance in “An Arabian Knigiht,” which was included among the photo-plays presented at the Empress Theatre yesterday, in connection with the weekly change of programme. The story, which has for its locale Cairo and tho Pyramids nnd desert nearby, contains a strong vein of humour, which is capably interpreted by the Japanese actr-, who figures as a mischievous, ad-venture-loving desert Arab. The theme developed in “An Arabian Knight" ia out of the ordinary run. In the brain of the spinster sister of George Darwin, a noted American Egyptologist, who’ lived in a beautiful house near the Kile—was a strange fancy. It was a delusion,' however, destined to save tne lives of her whole family. She fancied that she was the reincarnation of an Egyptian princess, and imagined that Ahmed the donkey boy was the lost prince whom she had loved 2066 years ago. Ahmed humoured her, and one evening he heard the passionate love declaration of a dissolute young Egyptian, made to the beautiful ward of George Darwin. From that moment forth the ex-donkey boy was the chief protector of the household, and in the course of a series of strange episodes he shielded the Americans from the consequences cf their own folly and guided passinns. For sheer beauty of settings and photography, the picture is well calculated to please, the sumptuous interiors and the beautiful scenes of the Pyramids and the deserts being produced' on a lavish scale. The supporting films include Jhe latest episod© of Iho Silent Avenger.”

QUEEN’S THEATRE. Thera is more art and beauty in a story of rural life than in a dozen thrilling,’ rushing melodramas. This is exemplified in "Anne of Green Gables, which heads the new hill presented at the Queen's Theatre for tho first time yesterday. It is r. picturisation of tho famous Montgomery novel, and is or,a of the best picturisation of books that has yet been screened in Wellington. The characters are few. The only scenery is the single street of a little out-of-the-way country village; the old tumbledown house of “Green Gables," and the fresh green fields. And the star whose rays illuminate tho settings is characterised by Mary Miles Minter. Miss Minter is tho most serious rival Miss Pickford ever had. In her acting there is more natural case than ever was shown by tho more famous actress. She lives her part, ns far as tho spectator is concerned; she does not merely act as a mummer. Last evening she miovod tilie jlarge (attendance to gay laughter, and fo tears. Her varying moods were felt ’by those who saw het act; and as tho orphan kiddie, adopted by kindly 'Uncle Andrew and shrewish Aunt Manilla, she was an unqualified success. Under her tuition—for it was not long beforo she became tho real ruler of tho country house —Uncle Andrew became more kindly; Aunt Mai-

ilia less shrewish. To the fat, gossiping Mrs. Dio the little freckled-face, gul had poked out her tongue and said hat old thing,” whereupon Aunt Manilla had Indulged in secret mirth and outward admonishment. “Little Ann, with an o , please, or else call me Geraldine Cordell t Fiztgerald," passed from hoyden to demure high school girl, and thence into womanuoed. Time was when Uncle Andrew crossed the Divide, when there was trouble and strife in Arcady; when Aunt Marilla, groping, cried out she was blind. The conclusion surpasses everything. In addition to the principal film, 'William Russell is seen in "Tho Midnight Trail." comedy-drama. Other films aro screened and good music is supplied by the Queen’s Orchestra. MARCELLE AT OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT. Equipped with most modern mechanical and lighting effects, together with special scenery, Marcelle and his company of American vaudeville artists promise un original and unique vaudeville “bill” at tho Grand Opera House tonight. Coming as ho does from America, with a "Broadway” reputation, and the very latest New York song successes, quips, and dances, Marcello expects to have no difficulty in filling tlio Opera House to-night. There are twelve acts on the programme, and each act is presented with special scenic and lighting effects. Tho stage setting of Marcello s illusion “Tho Palace of Pekin," is a faithful replica of that famous palace. Marcelle will be supported by George Edward Barnes (burlesque character singer and dancing comedian, who was featured for two years on Broadway, New York), Margaret Ctarance (in a repertoire of popular and classical Ne York song hits). William M'Dougall (“The Scotch Highball" piper and instrumentalist, introducing an satire, "A wee bit of Scotch"), Robert Marshall (in the novelty act, kun in Toyland”), the Marclacos (cartoon artists) Chief Spotted Horse (a character Indian impersonator), and Madame Maerne (in the "Mysteries of the Great Bevond”). The box plans will, be’at.the Bristol until noon, after which tim they will be at the Opera House. ENGLISH PIERROTS. One of the best known companies of its kind appearing in Au^™ 11 . a 18 * “English Pierrots," who will visit Wellington, commencing on Saturday esjt in the Grand Opera House. During their recent season in Aucktond which is record of seven weeks, most ÜbeTol P was bestowed on the combination, ihe “Herald" says: "With the presentatwn of an excellent programme the Lngtis Pierrots immediately established themselves as favourites, the initial which ° 3l>resi,e<i demanded tho programme, a dcon slant > mmB the male quartet- Their singing was harmonious, and ,t\ cir^r^ nt the "Soldiers’ Chorus" from matic items, and -usement ■l.™’;nights only.

harmonic society. The second concert of the 1921 season under "the dondluctorship °t M ’. ria jjttiicelcy, 60P ia » Harmonic SE” p Sar n prices' are being charged, and the box plan wil open at seats.

SUNDAY NIGHT’S ORGAN Following is the programme for Mi. Pago’s organ recital to be givenjt the III) "Parsifal.’

SUNDAY CONCERT. concert at IDs J * rinc i pa l items morrow evening. Ji he p t , iro include AVagnor a t roO vementa Lighter pieces viU be. tn f] be ’ s nPSO AVedding Procession h X‘” .2SW!,

“PA.OLO AND FRANCESCA.” The famous poetic will the action „ f th. Spe ±" y h„:‘'& th : period , nave oue Kirk, and supervision of jlks has been n 1700(1 cast or local I J selected- Maltbs ' L " ria." Afiss Linda M'lntyre »ca, Mr. Theodore Tresizo 1 Paul Latham Glo ' a ? n . ’’ in the hnn ds balance of the east w p[nn th® Bristol on Tuesday.

JASCHA HEIFETZ. Jascha Heifetz vSnfston season Eusfiian genl ji a to hare earned in in America impresarios comnioro than £Lrt),9Oi>. as i i alren dy pete for his enhanced by h£■ am»z „ - 3 goes up by leaps a ™ - Tait aTB stated that Messrs. J. and • paying him for his brief th“n a hrte n hitherto been’raid to any o ther STL “5 ”'.S wnt n-enarin l ’ to take his place in Russian ann? when there came tlte dramatic fall of the Tsarist regime, and. after a Pf 0 ' 1 Kerensky. Heifetz, d/inaroum try that had made the manun the ideal citizen in an alniort too . world, took the first o PP"£" l^, a a e escape, and he and a few o J « ’ Their wav by slow and painful stages through Siberia to Vladivostok, where ho cau-ht an American steamer. Hie privations and adventures which l:o n d his companions went through would pro Vido material for an exciting look, ine Imx plans for the three AVeflington ctncerb' are now open at tho ilr .. , intending patrons desiring good seats are advised to book early.

COIDSSEUM RINK. Patrons of tho Colosseum Koller Skating Kink in Vivian Street assumed of excellent entertainment. Iho ilooi r s one Of tho finest in the Dominion,

and th-'ro aro trained instructors present to give assistance to those who need it. There is a balcony cafe, and a band plays during evening sessions.