PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19802, 28 February 1928, Page 2

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE

Reginald Denny pictures are always extremely popular attractions, and ‘Out All.Night,’ his latest effort, is no less notable. Large audiences ore nightly visiting the Empire Theatre, where this delightful comedy production. is now being screened. Flaying opposite Denny in ‘Out All Night’ is Marion Nixon, whoso work in this picture is considered to be the best she has ever done. 'No more suitable feminine lead could havG # been found for the role, and tho remaining parts are also well filled. Tho opening of the story depicts Denny as a young man very much in love, tho object of his affections being one of the bright lights of tho musical comedy stage. Fate plays into the hands of the young man, for when he happens to bo riding in an elevator which also carries tho girl the mechanism fails, and they are doomed to spend tho night together in the lift cage. Such is the speed of Denny’s love-making that by morning bis courtship has reached the final stages, and when the young couple are released they go straight off and get married. The startling discovery is then made that tho girl’s uncle has signed a theatrical contract which binds her to remain single during the course of the engagement. This situation gives opportunity for several humorous episodes. which contain much that is interesting as well as being funny. The music by tire Empire Orchestra, under the direction of Mr Chas. Parnell, adds further to the enjoyment.

OCTAGON

In ‘ Man Power,’ now being screened at the Octagon Theatre, Richard Dix appears in a smashing story of a man who saved a town by driving a caterpillar tractor into the breach of a crumbling dam. Dix has appeared in many big productions in many roles, but he is said to give the best performance of his career in this thrilling picture. Briefly, the story tells ho* Tom Roberts, an ex-officer in the Tank Corps, is out of work, and in the course of his search for employment he meets Alice Stoddart, tho daughter of a wealthy manufacturer. Ho obtains a job as a mechanic in the magnate’s em ploy, and shortly finds himself in love with his employer’s daughter. In tho course of his work he makes some wonderful discoveries in connection with motor tractors, and, though he docs not meet with success at first, his courage and indomitable perseverance finally bring him his opportunity, When a clam threatens to break and flood a large area of land, and the wagons which are conveying explosives which are to bo used to mare protective works become bogged, Tom appears with Ids tractor. He hauls the wagons clear and the situation is saved. Tho love interest is not forgotten during these stirring happenings, however, and the final scenes go to prove that Cupid still has an unerring aim with his little bow. The feminine lead is portrayed by Mary Brian, who also gives a sterling performance.

Another special orchestral presentation by the Octagon Orchestra is an additional attraction.

QUEEH’S

A picture with the story dealing with the underworld and “ bootleggers ” is 1 Bed Dice/ starring Bod La Bocque, at the Queen’s Theatre. Marguerite La Motte plays the feminine lead opposite the star in this absorbing drama. ‘ Red. Dice' is illustrative of an important epoch in the life of a young man named Beckwith, who gets mixed up wth bad companions, and falls in love. He falls into the hands of bootleggers in the first instance, and into the arms of his lady-love in the second and last. One or two get killed, and others have narrow escapes. Bed La llocque and Marguerite De La Motte occupy the leading places in the drama. There is both action and comedy in * Dance Magic,’ the second attraction, which has Ben Lyon and Pauline Starke cast in ideal settings.

‘The Man They Could Not Hang,’ which deals with the life story of John Lee. should prove a big attraction next week.

EVERYBODY’S

‘ The Ten Commandments ’ is the major attraction at the Everybody’s Theatre this week, and it is truly a wonderful production. Many striking incidents occur during the screening of the picture. There are, for example, the commandments upon a tablet of stone while a terrific storm is going on, and the passage of the Red Sea. Maria Corda aud Harry Liedtke sustain the main characters in ‘ Dancing Mad,’ the supporting picture, and, with the assistance of others, extract an immense amount of fun from the ludicrous situations that arise. 1 Dancing Mad ’ is a Fox film, and belongs to tho joyous-comedy class of picture.

PLAZA AND GRAND

One of the most gripping and enthralling pictures of this year is ‘The Bugle Call,’ Jackie Coogau’s new starring vehicle, in which he appears as a bugler attached to a frontier post. This powerful human interest story of the days of the early West is told against a background of action and stirring drama. Jackie plays the part of a boy bugler of a frontier cavalry post who cherishes a deep and loyal devotion to the memory of his dead mother. His father remarries and commands tho boy to call his stepmother “mother” and try hard to love her. The ensuing conflict of emotions, which ends happily in the boy’s capitulation to the young woman’s courage, tenderness, and beauty, provides many tensely dramatic scenes. Beautiful Claire Windsor heads a notable supporting cast as the stepmother who triumphs over Jackie’s strong-headed views on re-marriage, and Herbert Rawlinson plays the part of the father, a cavalry officer in charge of the post, with skilled restraint. I’om O’Brien is humorous and convincing as Sergeant Doolan. ‘ The Bugle Call ’ is now being screened at the Plaza and Grand Theatres. ‘ College Days,’ a vivid picture of university life, is on the same bill.

‘ Orphans of the Storm ’ is the attraction announced for presentation next week.

KING EDWARD

Patrons of the South Dunedin Theatre are being favored with an unusually _ attractive programme of pictures to-night. ‘ Mons ’is billed as the major feature, and it is a graphic description of the famous retreat. It is a picture which should appeal to every Britisher, for it deals with the heroic deeds of some of the world’s most famous regiments. ‘ Dancing Mad,’ on the same bill, is a joyous comedy of modem times.