PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19794, 18 February 1928, Page 11

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON Those who enjoy a picture which is permeated with the salty tang of the sea are being well catered for at the Octagon Theatre this week, when ‘ The Flag Lieutenant ’ is being screened. This picture is an ample reply to those who assert that Great Britain cannot produce photoplays equal to the American article, it was produced by Astra National, with the co-operation of the British Admiralty, who placed at the disposal of the him company battleships, destroyers, marines, sea men, seaplanes, and other arms of the service, with the result that the nautical scenes are reproduced with authentic surroundings. The story has the distinction of having no villain, the principal figures being Dick Lascelles, a young lieutenant who is in love with Sybil, the daughter of Admiral Wynne, and Major Thesiger, a Royal Marine- officer who is enamored of Mrs Cameron, a fascinating young widow. Thesiger is sent in charge of a landing party to relieve a fort which is besieged, and Dick goes as interpreter. They are successful in their mission, though Dick makes a bad impression on the colonel in command of the fort by reason of his levity and dare-devil exploits. The fort is again attacked, and as ammunition is running low Thesiger decides to attempt to take a message to a destroyer lying off the coast. He is wounded in the attempt, and loses his memory, but Dick carries through the work, and help is sent. On his return he finds that Thesiger had received the credit for the relief, while he is told that his absence from the fort will be made the subject of a court of inquiry. Finally, however, the truth becomes known, and Dick’s action is officially recognised. Henry Edwards is Dick Lascelles, Fred Raynham is Major Thesiger. Lilian Oldland, the admiral s daughter, and Dorothy Seacombe, an Australian, plays the part of Mrs Cameron. Prior to the screening of the picture the orchestra, under the direction ol Mons. De Rose, renders a selection of nautical airs, assisted by a grand organaccompaniment by Mr Chas. Martin, while Misses Babs Saul and Ins Gordon perform a sailor’s hornpipe. EMPIRE Colleen Moore has returned to Dunedin, and has the featured role in ‘Naughty but Nice,’ which is being screened at the Empire iheatre. In this picture the popular star has the role of Bernice Summers, a shy young_ girl who is sent from the comparative isolation of a Texas ranch to a finishing school. At the school she blossoms from an unnoticed wallflower into the school s most popular girl, and arouses the interest of Paul Carroll, a handsome young bachelor. One day the principal ol the school surprises Bernice and a friend .in the lobby of an hotel, where they have gone to meet Paul, and they say that they are there to meet thenparents. In order to keep up the pretence they are forced to enter a room which is occupied by Ralph Ames. Just as they are about to leave, however, the parents of Bernice’s friend anive, and on the spur of the moment the Texas girl introduces Ames as her husband. Through a series of coincidences they again meet that night at a party, at which Carroll is also present. He is stunned when Ames is introduced as Bernice’s husband. Every effort is made to induce the bride and groom to enter the bridal suite. Finally, however, the tangle is cleared up and Bernice finds happiness with Carroll, in addition to Miss Moore, the cast includes Claude Gillingwater, Hallam Cooley, Kathryn M'Guirc, Eclytho Chapman, and Clarissa feelwynne. An added attraction is the now senes of “Stcreoscopiks.” To the ordinary picture wo have length and breadth, but the figures have no actual perspective or depth With the stcreoscopiks however, tho figures stand out Irom the screen and" walk right into tho audience. Stcreoscopiks arc a screen miracle. Every person—except the blind—will see stcreoscopiks, for they avo actually a new invention. Special colored glasses must ho used to pun the real sensation of stercoscoipks. They will bo distributed to patrons as they enter tho theatre. The Empire Orchestra renders its usual high-standard musical entertainment, under the direction of Mr Chas. Parnell. QUEEN’S AND KING EDWARD ‘Hills of Kentucky,’ Rin-Tin-Tin’s latest starring vehicle, now showing at the Queen’s and King Edward Theatres, is the story of the love between a little lame hoy and a dog. The hoy, played by Billy Kent Schaeffer, is tho little brother of the new school teacher, portrayed by Dorothy Dwan. Intertwined with the story of the boy and dog is the romance of the teacher and Jason Robards as Steve Harley, a young hill man, _ who, on meeting the new teacher, decides he needs a better education. Tom Santchi, as his older brother, supplies the menace. Nanette, Rin-Tin-Tin’s mate, also appears in the story, as does Rin-Tin-Tin, jun., who plays his father in puppyhood. ‘ Hills of Kentucky ’ was adapted to the screen by Graham Baker from Dorothy Yost’s story, ‘The Untamed Heart.’ A! Wilson’s latest effort, 1 Throe Miles Up,’ affords an excellent opportunity for this star-aviator to demonstrate his undaunted bravery and daring. Again arid again the audience gasps as he and the other members of the cast perform their dangerous air stunts. Director Bruce Mitchell has managed to make the story so convincing that at no time_ do the stunts appear as a mere exhibition of aerial skill. Ethlyne Claire, William Mai an, Frank Rice', William Clifford, Billy “ Red ” Jones. Joe Bennett, Archie Ricks, and Art Goebel are the supporting cast. PLAZA AND GRAND The PJaza and Grand Theatres are now showing one of the funniest and most farcical pictures ever filmed, ‘ What Happened to Jones? ’ the latest Universal-Jewel production. That popular favorite, Reginald Denny, portrays the title role, and the star quite lives up to his reputation as a farceur of the first water. While the picture is a photoplay version of George Broadhurst’s famous stage play of the same name, it might literally have been written for the Universal star. It is a Denny story, ‘ Hills of Peril,’ the second feature, is a _ splendid Western thriller, taken against the background

of the California hills. Unlike many Westerns, the story of this Fox Films feature is an important part of the picture. The plot is logical and well motivated, and tho. many acts of daring,- hard riding, suspense, and thrills are the result of the picture’s motivation. Buck Jones, as the mischievous cowboy wiio is always in trouble until ho meets the right girl, gives a fine performance not only as a break-neck rider, but as a lover of parts. Jhe cast, too, is unusually excellent, and each one of them is admirably suited for his or her particular role. A love story of unusual interest is a feature, and' the part of tho heroine is played with sympathetic understanding by Georgia Hale, EVERYBODY’S Bravchcart—member of a proud though fallen race—an Indian of intrepid bravery, who loved a white woman, for whom lie sacrificed _ his honor, and would willingly have given up his life had circumstances demanded it—a man -among men. This forms the theme of ‘ Bravehcart,’ one of tho current features at Everybody’s Theatre. Rod la Rocquo and Lilian Rich are together in the human story of tho downtrodden red man. French, farcical, and funny, ‘ The Demi-Bride,’ the second feature, presents an entirely new side of married life. Forma Shearer, the Canadian beauty, has as her leading man sophisticated and appealing Lew Cody, who also appeared with her in 1 The Slave of Fashion ’ and ‘ His Secretary.’ There is no need to remind picture goers of the funmaking capabilities of those two favorites. Carmel Myers, Dorothy Sebastian, Tonen Holtz, and Lionel Barrymore also appear in this frothy story of wedding bells and what happened afterwards. RQSLYH Few motion pictures that have found their way to successful completion have been attempted on the scale with which Whaling Film Corporation has produced ‘ Down to the Sea in Ships,’ which is to b© screened at the Roslyn Theatre to-night. The outstanding fact in conjunction with the filming of this picture, which serves to_ make it unique in its field, is that it is one of tho few productions in the history of motion pictures that has for its locale the tempestuous waters of the high seas, and the principal character in this breath-taking drama of tho Atlantic is a ninety-ton whale. Nature has provided not only a background utterly impossible to imitate through any trick of photography, but it places in this setting an enraged leviathan of the deep, stung to fury by a deeply-em-bedded harpoon. ‘Down to the Sea in Ships ’ is a thrilling tale in which a young couple overcome apparently insurmountable obstacles for the sake of a great love.

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