PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19782, 4 February 1928, Page 3

PICTURE THEATRES

EVERYBODY'S ‘Convoy,’ Robert Kane's milliondollar picture of the nayy at war, into which lias been woven one of the most dramatic romances seen on,the local screen in many months, opened last night; at Everybody’s Theatre before a large audience, which acclaimed it a really fine film. A tremendous spectacle of the sea, a war picture that has caught the spirit of sacrifice and courage and tragedy along with the adventuresome romance, ‘Convoy' well merits the enthusiastic endorsements it has received from army and navy chiefs'in Washington and civilian critics everywhere. In ‘Convoy’ -an attempt was made to set down in dramatic form an accurate history of the navy’s part in the World War, through which is woven the story of a girl’s sacrifice in bringing about the apprehension of the head of the German Secret Service in the United States. Dorothy Mackaill, Lowell Sherman, Lawrence Gray, Buster Collier, lan Keith, and Jack Ackroyd are featured with an impressive cast. Included on the same programme is ‘ The Lawful Cheater,’ a rapid-tire action romance which gives full scope to the dynamic personality of Clara Bow. 1 The Lawful Cheater ’ is a picture with punch and action, an excellent cast, and well directed. QUEEN'S The tinsel and glamor of a circus, and the sinister shadows of the underworld, these are the two extremes in Lon Chaney’s latest and most startling contribution to the drama of the screen. ‘The Unknown,’ which opened at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, is a thriller, a mystery, and a wonderfully human love story all in one, with Lou Chaney, master ul weird disguises, in what is undoubtedly the strangest role in his career. Chaney plays an armless sideshow freak, using his iect as his hands in all the ways the human hands can be used —a thing in itself that took mouths of practice. He throws knives, fires rifles, and does other tricks before an audience in his “act”—and, in his private life, eats, drinks, smokes, and even shaves with his pedal extremities. His facial disguise is amazing—but his uncanny use of his feet, after what would seem an incredibly briei practice, sets this role apart from any he has ever done. The story is a grim mystery tale through which, like a golden thread, runs a delicate romance and a remarkable story of sacrifice. Chaney plays an underworld leader, masquerading as a circus freak ami working a series of criminal agencies from his strange hiding place. He comes to love Estrcllita, the dancer in the circus (played by Joan Crawford), and this arouses his jealousy for Malabar, the. strong man, a role handled t>v Norman Kerry. The lesui.ant co u plication, and the astounding sacrifice that marks the climax of the tale arc as original as they are audacious. Tod Browning, who directed the play, is also its author, and Waldemar Young did the scenario. Browning made huge successes, it will be remembered, of ‘ The Unholy ’Three ’ and ‘ The Road to Mandalay ’ among others, but in this play the Hrowning-Clianey combination seems to have reached almost the ultimate in effective portrayal of a mystery stor.v. , The screen version of ‘ The City, the famous melodrama by Clyde hitch, is the second attraction. * The City is a drama of the effects of metropolitan life on an ambitions and prosperous lamilv. Walter M'Grail. Richard Walling, May Allison, Robert Frazer, and Nancy Nash head the cast.

PLAZA AND GRAND Probably all the essentials that go to make a jjlcasint; am! thoroughly enjoyable movie play are _ combined in Hoot Gibson’s latest vehicle, ‘ Painted Ponies,’ now beng screened at t> t}ie Plaza and Grand Theatres, I’ho star, portrays a particularly appealing role as Lucky Simms, champion cowboy ol the north, who blows into Toptown and trouble when be decides to compete with Pinto Pole for the .southern trophy and for the heart of a pretty girl. Much of tbo film was made in the arena of the famous Saugus, California, rodeo, and tlie sequences showing wild horse riding and roping are certainly among the best ever screened Hoot proves again that ho is no “actor” cowboy but a true product of the plains It will be recalled that he was the winner of the three '.world championships in cowboy athletics, and his remarkable stunt riding in ‘ Painted Ponies ’ is unexcelled by_ any of his dare deviltry in former pictures, The girl in tlie case is petite, auburn-haired Ethlyne Clair, who made her debut_ as a leading lady in feature length Universal pictures, after gradnatinog from featured roles in comedy two-reelers and other short-length pictures. William Dunn, a veteran of the stage ami silver sheet, has the outstanding character role us the villain, and Slim Summerville is good as the comical cut-np. Far away from the palatial _ Now York homes of Park avenue and Riverside drive, two favorite movie locales, is Paradise Alley, the setting of the second attraction. Barbara Bedford, a winsome beauty of compelling personality, is the star in this production. KING EDWARD How many men can knot their neckties with their feet? This is one of the strange things Lon Chaney learned to do in practising for his most astonishing role as an armless circus performer in ‘The Unknown,’ his new starring vehicle, which is now- showing at the King Edward Theatre. It is a vivid mystery surrounding a circus, with Chaney as a sinister side-show freak. It took him several months to learn the strange tricks with his feet seen in the new picture. Joan Crawford, Norman Kerry, and others of note are in _ the cast. A no less notable attraction is tlie ‘Convoy,’ which has an alt-star cast, including Dorothy Mackaill, Lowell Sherman, Lawrence Gray, fan Keith, Luster Collier, and others. Based on ‘ The Song of the Dragon,’ a short story by John Tainter Foote, the picture tells with an epic sweep the story of the navy’s participation in the World War.

ROSIYN Betty Compson, playing' in ‘The Belle of Broadway,’ which comes to the Eoslyn 'J'heatro to-night, has the best role in which she has played since ‘The Miracle Man.’ She was so delighted with the part of Marie Duval, a beautiful Parisian actress who wanted to stay young, that she insisted on selecting her own wardrobe for the part. Elaborate staging and beauty of costuming are features of this entertaining picture.