ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 46, 18 November 1926, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE. Eor spine-tingling suspense, clean comedy, gasp-provoking action and tender love scenes, “The Bat," the famous mystery drama, new showing at the De Luxe Theatre is in a class by itself. Roland West has taken the Mary. Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood stage success and made it into a most successful mystery picture. Audiences are kept on the alert from the opening scenes to the startling finish, when the mask is torn from "The Bat” and he is disclosed as one of tne least suspected characters. Fresh complications have been added, which baffle even those who saw the stage play. Such players as Jewel Carmen, jack Pickford and Louise Fazenda are in the cast. Excellent incidental music is played by the orchestra. "THE MIDNIGHT SUN." All the grim bleakness of the Russia of the Tsars is shown in two great scenes of “The. Midnight Sun,” a Universal production... which will commence screening nt the De Luxe Theatre to-morrow night. Dimitri Buchowetzki, the noted Russian director, supervised the making of tho picture, which is acted by an all star cast A military tribunal with a life in its hands is, no matter what its locale, always a gripping spectacle, but given a Russian setting, it takes on all the chill of that remarkable country. Such, it is said, is the atmosphere that hangs about a great trial scene in “The Midnight Sun." The. scene is set in a huge columned room of au old Russian fortress. In the centre of the room behind a desk, on a raised dais sits the tribunal. But for the desk and low bench on which the prisoner sits, the room is bare of furniture. ' The icnseuess of the scene reaches out from the screen and bolds the audience. Another great sequence is that showing the sentence of the court about to be carried out. The firing squad is assembled in the courtvnrd of the grim old fortress. The prisoner, with his back against one of the walls, las received the final blessings of an old priest. The members of the tribunal are there to see the sentence carried out. In this scene is one of tho big climaxes of this picture. Both these scenes were staged under the direction of men who actually participated in similar scenes, Buchowetzki having sought the advice of the various military men who are members of the cast. Laura La Plante heads the imposing list of players that portray the thrilling storv of "The Midnight Sun/’ Miss La Plante plays the part of the dancing girl who has captured an empire. Pat O'Malley is the cold, over-bearing grand duke. Raymond Keane, playing his first big part in his first big picture, is the hero. George Siegmann impersonates the character of a grasping, licentious banker, and rival of the grand duke for the affections of the dancing girl. Tho screening of "The Midnight Sun” will be accompanied by a special musical programme by the orchestra. Box plans are available at the Bristol, at Aitken’s Book Arcade, or at the theatre, telephone S.U-080. “THE UNFAIR SEX." “The Unfair Sex,” a farcical comedy in three acts was again presented to an appreciative audience by John Cunningham’s Company at the Opera House last night. The play provides a particularly lively and • enjoyable entertainment, the plot dealing with promiscuous flirtation, the birthrate, the Divorce Court, and golf. The show at times, is really diverting aud. provides a good burlesque of human foibles, Miss Zillah Bateman again proved herself a capable actress in the exacting part of the philandering wife, Diana Trevor. As Miss Vera St. John (Joan Delisse) showed versatility as an actress, her performance being interesting throughout. As Helen Delisse, Miss Henrietta Cavendish gave an excellent characterisation. Mr. Norman Carter sustained the broad comedy role very effectively, and Mr. Campbell Copelin is of the free and easy athletic type, which readily makes itself popular; while, as the Divorce Court judge, Mr. Frank Bradley gave a really sterling performance. Miss Sylvia Clifton takes part of Pinker, the maid, and Jack Phillips that of the' cabby, very effectively. The filay will be repeated tonight and the following nights. EMPRESS THEATRE. The programme to commence at the Empress Theatre to-morrow is beinj.' heralded as one of the finest shown this year in Wellington. In “The Blind Goddess,” Jack Holt deserts the wide 'open spaces of tho West for the criminal courts of the East. As a brilliant young prosecuting attorney, faced with the ■ dilemma of choosing between the girl he loves and his ideal of duty. Holt has a powerful dramatic role, radically different from any he has previously taken. The story, directed by Victor

Fleming with Esther Ralston, Ernest Torrence, and Louise Dresser sharing featured honours with Holt, was adapted from Arthur Train's widely-read novel of the same name. The locale of the picture is New York, and the action ranges from the grim routine of the criminal courts to the smart, social atmosphere of Fifth Avenue’s exclusive homes. Romance,, politics, mother love, and a murder trial are interwoven in the plot. Horses, men, mountain lions, bears, and wolves pile up thrill on thrill in “Black Cyclone,” a Master picture, featuring Hal Roach's magnificent wild horse, Rex. “Black Cyclone,” says a critic, leaves a deep impression and a sense of having seen something almost miraculous, for it is difficult for a mere spectator to understand how any director or trainer could get a horse to register a personality. A picture of the funeral of Sir James Carroll will also 'xs shown. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "The Grand Duchess and tho Waiter,” starring Adolpe Menjou and Florence Vidor, heads the current programme at the New Princess Theatre. "Gold Heels,” a fast-moving storv of the race track, is the second feature, while No. 4 group of the children’s beauty contest, a gazette, and scenic snapshots are also shown. Commencing to-morrow will he a big three-feature programme, headed bv the Paramount war comedy, “Behind -the Front,” starring Wallace Berry. Rayond Hatton, and Marv Brian. The picture is, according to descriptions, the funniest war comedy vet screened. It deals with the adventures of two American pirates, who unwillingly arrive in tho trenches in France. Wallace Beery and Reginald Hatton are two of the best comedians on the screen, and should provide a continuous series of laughs. The second feature is “Let’s Get Married.” a fast-moving comedy, featuring Richard Dix and Lois Wilson. “The Life of Jack Hobbs,’’ the third picture, gives interesting glimpses of the life of that great batsman, and also gives “slows” of some of his famous strokes. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. “Exit Laughing." this week’s attraction at His Majesty’s Theatre, fully maintains the standard set by the previous productions of. the Hector St. Clair Revue Company. “Exit Laughing" is not a revue, but a clever blending of laughable sketches, songs, music, and dancing. The most amusing sketch is "The All-in-one Police Court,” in which Hector St. Clair impersonates both judge and counsel, and causes much laughter bv his impassioned speeches to himself. The bright snanpy songs and dance numbers of the Three Rodney Girls are a feature of tho piece, while Ray McLean and Dot Cresswell indulge in some strenuous eccentric dancing. Ixirna, Lance and Co., the clever quartet of juveniles provide an excellent song And dance turn. The Carthy Bros, are nt their best this week. Bertini with his violin and Byrne at the piano provide a. first-class musical turn, and Paul du Bur tears paper in an effective manner. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Constance Talmadge’s latest starring vehicle. “The Duchess of Buffalo,” is the attraction now offering at the Paramount Theatre. Miss Talmadge has the role of Marian Duncan, an American dancer, who wins fame in Russia in its brilliant pre-war days. She falls’ in love with a young Russian officer, but her charms overcame the, heart of a Grand Duke, The Duke imprisons the officer, who promptly escapes. Humorous complications then follow fast. A gazette and “Felix the Cat” cartoon, and the second series of Amundsen’s flight to the Pole, are also showi while pleasant music is supplied by the orchestra. “The Wilderness Woman,” the new Robert Kano production for First National, which will commence to-morrow at the Paramount Theatre, tells the story of an Alaskan miner and his daughter, who. having suddenly struck it tremendously rich in the far north, set out for New York. The adventures that befall them when, for the first time, thev came in contact with the conventions and restrictions of modern civilisation, are productive of tho comedy. Eileen Pringle, Lowell Sherman, and Chester Conklin are the featured players. A gazette, scenic, and comedy, will be shown in support. ,

KING’S THEATRE. Irresistible humour, touching pathos, an appealing human note throughout, and all the charm that readers have found a delightful feature of Alice Began Rice’s books, are excellently entertaining features of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production of the author’s novel, "Lovey Marv.” which will be seen to-night at the King’s Theatre for the last time. William Haines and Bessie Love are the principal players, Miss Love appearing in the title role. There is a talented supporting cast. The lesser attractions are excellent, delightful music by the orchestra completing the programme. Screen figures of immense popularity a.nd nroveii brilliance aro the four principals of "His Secretary," the New > Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture to be shown at the King's Theatre to-morrow night. These are Norina Shearer, -tar of "He Who Gets Slapped,” Lew Cody, inimitable light comedian. Willard Louis, and Karl Dane. This attraction is the screen version of a story by Carey Wilson, and is directed by Hobart Henley. "ARIADNE." As is usual after the first night strain of a new stage piece, the second performance of "Ariadne” by the National Repertory Theatre Society showed the clever amateurs under Mr. Leo du Chateau very much more at their ease. The piece, and the pretty little curtain-rais-er. "The Maker of Dreams,” which precedes it, is admirably staged, and when one considers the severe limitations of the Concert Chamber one marvels that fo much in the way of presentation and dressing could have been accomplished. The public is very much indebted to the society for its enterprise in presenting so much of a superior class or dramatic art—and presenting it most capably, A feature of last night’s performance was the marked improvement in the presentatoin of the entertainments, '('be three members of the cast, and especially Mr. Baldwin, caught tho whimsical spirit of the fantasy with more artistic effect than on the first night, with tbo result that tho inherent: charm of the. < onception was more expressively revealed. The performance will bo repeated to-night. " ARTCRAFT THEATRE. It may be said without fear of contradiction that the most aristocratic cast over assembled for a motion picture is that appearing in “Kings of the Turf,” the William Fox attraction, which is to be finally screened to-night at the Art. craft Theatre. This is a story about horses, and among the actors are such oouine princes of the blood as Man o’ War, Morvich, Negofol, Fair Play and L'lie Finn. There are some human beings in tlie story. The kings of the turf require humans to wait upon them Good sunports, including views of Wellington. and special music by James Haydoo', complete the bill. Commencing to-morrow is “The Sporting Vonns,” nnd starring Blanche Sweet, Ronald Colman and Lew Cody. QUEEN’S THEATRE. Mndgo Bellamy and Edmund Lowe have the romantic leads in Fox Films’ “Black Paradise.” one of the most thrilling detective Stories, which heads the current programme at the Queen's Theatre. There are many thrilling adventures aboard a rum-runner, a beautiful love story developed amid the most sordid surroundings, mystery of a tronical island peopled only! by exiles from all the lands of the earth, and comedy. Lester Fenton, Edward Peel, Harvey Clark. Pnu) Panzer, and Marcella Daly, are included in the powerful supporting cast. A news, scenic, nnd a most aniusing comedy are also shown, while a pleasing selection of music is played by the orchestra. COMMERCIAL TR.\VELI.ERS’ CHOIR Ou Saturday nighl the Commercial Travellers’ Choir will give I heir final concert pf the 1926 season. A fine team, of assisting aifisls will he heard, as will ho seen from Hie advertisement appearing in this issue. A faalnre of tlic choir’s iten'is will be the performance of Dudley Buck's fine cantala. “King Olaf’s C'liri-lnms.” and the well-known "Hallelujah Chorus.” specially arranged for male voices. It is staled that llic concert will be flic best (Im choir lias given. an<l the public are advised to book their scats immediately.