ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 124, 23 February 1928, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING’S THEATRE. “The Loan Eagle,” a thrilling Universal production, is the current feature at the King’s Theatre. Raymond Keaua portrays the American youth attached to a veteran unit of British Flying Corps. His portrayal is excellent, and he is to be reckoned with as one of the coming outstanding stars of tho screen. Barbara Kent, 1927 Baby Star, is delightful as his little French sweetheart. The scenes in which the two of them trppear leave nothing to be desired. Jack Pennick, Nigel Barrie, Don Stuart and th e balance of the capable cast give sterling performances. Good supports are also iormances. Good supports are also shown, and delightful incidental music is supplied by the orchestra. “BEN HUR.” Box plans at the Bristol for the return Wellington season of “Ben Hur,” which will start at the King’s Theatre to-mor-row afternoon at 2.30, are already tilling rapidly. Since “Ben Hur” played its memorable season at the De Luxe Theatre, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s epic has had a wonderful run elsewhere At Dunedin the film screened for two weeks in two theatres simultaneously, a record never previously achieved by any motion picture. The season at Auckland extended to seven weeks, and there is a rebooking for a further two weeks at Easter. Five nights at Wanganui, five nights at. Napier, and the same period at Hastings, Masterton, Hamilton, - and Invercargill, resulted in overshadowing records. The cost of “Ben Hur” is stated at .£1,250,000,. It was between three and four years in the making, over 150,000 persons, each properly costumed in dress of the period, took part in the production, forty camera men were employed during the picturing of the chariot race, and thirty-six miles of negative film was used. From this huge negative the 12,000 feet seen in the picture as shown was selected. The screening will be preceded by au introductory prologue, entitled “The Star of Bethlehem,” with Mr. William Goudie as soloist. Special music by tho King’s orchestra, under Mr. A. H. Jerome, will accompany the unfolding. Special matinees will be presented every day at 2.30. DE LUXE THEATRE. “Paid to Love,” starring George O’Brien, sujjported by Virginia Valli J. Farrell McDonald, and William Powell is the current picture at the De .1 aixe Theatre. The story deals with a mythical kingdom, the crown prince of mliicli is more interested in mechanics than women. The old king would have his elder son marry and produce heir's, rather than remain single and produce strange noises in the royal garage with his machinery. Good supports are also shown, and the usual excellent musical programme is supplied. “GRANDMAS BOY.” Harold Lloyd again gives the public another legitimate comedy with a dramatic theme, on the order of his memoable ‘Grandma’s Bo‘y.’ With producers once more resorting to the brand of comedy that was popular five years ago, Lloyd feels that the typo of fun staying longest with theatregoers is the . wellmotivated, human kind, with a solid story foundation. Tho comedian has just, completed “The Kid Brother,’’ which deals with a wholesome, everyday type of character. This picture will be screened at the Do Luxo Theatre for the week commencing Friday, March 2. “ VERY CONFIDENTIAL.” “An adorable fraud” might well be the title for “Very Confidential,” Madge Bellamy’s new Fox Films production directed by James Tinling, which will commence screening at the De Luxe Theatre to-morrow. In this picture, Miss Bellamy set her heart upon winning the love of a stalwart football hero and she is kept busy inventing new excuses to keep in his good graces. She starts by posing a's a. courageous biggame hunter and finishes by doing an amazing stunt that would be a credit to the world’s champion automobile racer. It is said to bo one of the best comedy-dramas made in recent month's, and Miss Bellaniv’s portrayal of tho sporting goods salesman is convincing and hilarious. The supporting east includes Pat Cunning, Mary Dunean, Joseph Cawthor, and Marjorie Beebe. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Starring Ben Lyon, "For the Love of Mike,” is the big feature now at tho Paramount Theatre. It. is about a foundling who is discovered by three bachelors living in a notorious district in New York. The men are an Irishman, a German and a Jew, and all three claims the little youngster, but compromise at last by agreeing to bring him up co-operatively, so to speak. Ben Lyon has the part of the boy, with Georgo Sidney, Ford Sterling and Hugh Cameron as his "fathers.” Claudette. Colbert and Mabel Swan provide the feminine interest. A prologue is staged by Colin Crane and Miss Kimbell. Good supports are also shown, and the usual excellent music is supplied by the orchestra.

“BRIGADIER GERARD.” “Napoleon kidnapped!” Imagine what .1 furore this news would have created had it been flashed across France in the early eighteen hundreds. This occurs in "Brigadier Gerard." a screen version of Conan Doyle’s ‘Adventures of Gerard,” which opens at the Paramount Theatre to-morrow. . Rod La Rocque, in the title role, is a young officer in Napoleon’s army. Circumstances have brought about the unjust sentence —death at the hands of a firing squad I La Rocque, whose bravery and daring are conspicuous even in bis death cell, is willing to die. but feels that the most should be made of his execution. To have his Emperor present, in La Rocque’s eyes, would make the event an important affair. Mitli the help of a beautiful and clever countess, portrayed by Phyllis Haver, he escapes from his cell, jumps astride a waiting horse, and gallops away to intercept the coach of Napoleon. He is successful in his attempt, and after overpowering the postillion ot the coach, dons his uniform ana drives the coach at break-neck speed to the scene of his execution. This senes pt events leads to a tensely dramatic climax in which Napoleon plays no small part. The cast embraces, in addition to La Rocque and Miss Haver, Max Barwyn, Samde Grasse, Julia Faye. Sally Rand, Clarence Burton and Alphouse Ethier. “Brigadier Gerard will be proceeded by an elaborate prologuo arranged by Mr. L. D- Austin for his Orchestra Paramount, box plans at the theatre daily from 10 a.m. Icl. 21-842. EMPRESS THEATRE. The programme commencing at the Empress Theatre to-morrow should prove a big draw, seeing that the HeeneySharkey fight picture will be shown in addition to "Millionaires.” JI his fight again caused much discussion in the American Press, and no wonder. The picture seems to show that Heeney won by all British standards. He forced the pace from start to finish, and although Sharkey outboxed him at times, Heeney kept boring in, and refused to let him settle down. Sharkey time and again rocked Heenev with blows, but Heeney took them all, and kept coming in asking for more; in the fifth round Heeney landed a blow that shook Sharkey badly, and landed him against the ropes. Sharkey slipped later , on,, but no damage wag done. “Millionaires” is .a delightful Jewish comedy-drama with a strong cast, which includes .Geotge Sidney, Louise Fazenda, Vera Gordon, Nat Carr, and Helen Costello. The story tells of a poor Jewish family who buy supposedly worthless oil shares, which suddenly become exceedingly valuable. It is filled with many laughable incidents, for which George Sidney is mainly responsible, in his experiences whilst mixing in "select circles.” The titles arc particularly good. In addition to the above pictures, the latest Pathe Gazette will be shown. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. “Keep Smiling” is the title of the morrv concoction of songs, dances, and sketches which Joo Brennan and his company aro now presenting at His Majesty’s Theatre. Joo Brennan is the principal comedian of tho company, and he has only to put in an apnear-veo to create riotous laughter. Dell Barnes ami Peggv Sharpe, two nretfv girls, provide a clever song ami dance turn. George Corclii, tho possessor of a beautiful tenor voice, sings "Because” and

“When Autumn Leaves Are Falling.” Gus Dawson, assisted by Dell Barnes, provides a clever singing aiiil novelty dancing turn, while G. W. Desmond introduces another of his eccentric dances. Maisie and Keitha Somerville do a sailor’s hornpipe, and Muriel Willin, the young Wellington daixer. again scores heavily. “Tho Inaudible Actors,” "The Woman Over the Road,” “The Huggins Give a Musical Evening,” and “Joe’s Marriage,” uro the best of the humorous sketches, while the pretty ballet of six help to make things go with a swing.