PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 19803, 29 February 1928, Page 5

PICTURE THEATRES

OCTAGON ‘Man Power’ is all that the name jnplies in the Rich a rcl Dix Paramount picture now attracting large crowds to the Octagon Theatre. Dix has gone in for a new typo of adventure—mountain climbing in a caterpillar tractor. Ho says that he had enough experience driving one oi the big machines after only two weeks to make him feel confident he could operate the tractor up the precipitous slopes of the Malone da id, north-east of Sonora, territory whore pack mules usually furnish the only means of transport. The scenes made form the remarkable climax of the picture, in winch Dix drives his tractor up the mountain, hauling five trailers behind him, and loaded with 'supplies for a crew of men who are desperately trying to save the dam and prevent the destruction of a village in the valley below. ‘Man Power’ takes place in a small town. It deals with the adventure of a former Tank Corps olficcr down on his luck, _ who gets a job into which he puts his heart, because the daughter of the president ot the company is the girl he loves. Throughout there is a strong vein of comedy. Mary Brian appears as Richards’ "sweetheart in ‘ Man Power. Philip Strange is the crooked plant manager. Clarence Badger s direction ensures the picture’s success. The Octagon Orchestra, under the direction of M. Do Rose, will play the overture 1 Zampa,’ with an organ accompaniment by Mr C. A. Martin. ‘ CRADLE SNATCHERS.’ “ Cradle Snatchers,’ the MedcraitMitcheli comedy-drama, which placed over a year on Broadway, and which naif a dozen road shows played in every city of importance in the United Stales, has been given a screen version by Fox Films. It will bo screened for tho first time on Friday next at the Octagon Theatre. This the play which the critic of the New York ‘Times’ said provoked “gabs of hysterical laughter,’ and the New York 1 Journal ’ proclaimed as ‘‘ magnificently funny,” while Stephen Rathbun, ot me ‘Sun,’ said of it: “A hit! A funny American play, with the spice of u French farce.” ‘ Cradle Snatchers ’ is the story of three wives whoso husbands take a tisbiug trip. Ihat is to say, they go fishing, but as a matter of fact "they take three blondes on a little excursion. The wives discover the deception and hire three college boys to play the parts of sheiks to arouse their husbands’ jealousies. The boys are rather reluctant swains, who make love to the wives for purely monetary considerations, each having a sweetheart of his own. The husbands return to their wives and discover what has occurred during their absence, believing it to be real unfaithfulness on their wives’ parts. And while they are at the height of their denunciation and the wives and their hired lovers frightened out of their wits, the husbands’ blondes turn up. The resulting situations are hilariously funny, and as Percy Hammond, in the ‘Herald Tribune,’ says: “It is a sermon.” But a screamingly ludicrous sermon. EMPIRE ‘Unt All Night’ is still proving a popular attraction at the Empire Theatre. There is little wonder at this, because the favorite star Reginald Denny portrays the title role and Marion Nixon tho supporting role. These two stars are ideally cast and give sterling performances. The opening of the story depicts Denny as a young man very much in love, the object of his affections being one of the bright lights of the musical comedy stage. Fate plays into tho hands of the young man, for when he happens to be riding in an elevator which also carries the girl r.he mechanism fails, and they are doomed to spend the night together in the lift cage. Such is the speed of Denny’s love-making that by morning his courtship has reached the final stages, and when the young couple aro released they go straight off and get married. The startling discovery is then made that the girl’s uncle has signed a theatrical contract which binds her to remain single during the course of tho engagement. This situation gives opportunity for several humorous episodes. which contain much that is interesting as well as being funny. The music by tlie Empire Orchestra, under tho direction of Mr Chas. Parnell, adds further to the enjoyment of tho programme. ‘THE FIRE BRIGADE.’ In the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer special production, ‘ The Fire Brigade,? which will be screened at the Empire Theatre, commencing next Friday, one of the many notable incidents is the jump made by the hero from the blazing roof of a five-story orphanage with a child in his arms, to the canvas held for him by his fellow firemen below. The big gest fire scenes ever produced on the screen are shown in the picture, with a mighty line of twenty engines, elaborate fire-fighting accessories, and an army of men. The fire ultimately rages over a whole block of eleven buildings. Fire Chief Stevens, of the Los Angeles division of the International Order of Fire Engineers, assisted William Nigh, the director of the picture, in staging tho mammoth and dangerous blaze. The amazing fire scene is tho crowning incident of an usually gripping story, dealing with the trickery of James Corwin, a millionaire, whp secretly finances the Wainwright Building Company. Corwin poses as a public benefactor until the hero, Terry O’Neill, brings him to justice, changing public admiration to overwhelming fury, In „he meanhowever, Terry falls in love with Corwin's beautiful daughter Helen,

[hayed by May M‘Ayoy, and the denouement which O’Neill brings about in the course of his duty is also responsible for the humiliation for the adoring daughter. There are many very touching and dramatic scenes, which Miss M'Avoy enacts with powerful realism. An unusually strong muster of favorite players supports the work of the two distinguished stars, making the. picture one of outstanding merit, which will long be remembered by all who see it. QUEEN'S Anyone interested in the intricacies of “bootlegging,” as practised in the United States, should see ‘Red Dice’ at the Queen’s Theatre. There is a good deal of villainy running through the story, and some oddments a little blood-curdling, but the story is just such as might be born of a keen light by smugglers not inclined to stick at trifles against tho law. The hero, Bockwith by name, has a perilous time of it, and his peril is increased by his love for a girl who is, to somo degree, mixed up in tho illicit smugging in of liquor. Not that she is a willing victim : she acts as she docs under compulsion. The additional attraction is ‘ Dance Magic,’ in which Maria Corda and Harry Liedtko play tho leading parts very capably. ‘The Man They Could Not Hang,’ which deals with the life story of John Lee, should prove a big attraction next week. ‘The Tender Hour,’ starring Bon Lyon and Billie Dove, will also be shown. PLAZA AND GRAND Jackie Coogau, now starring in ‘The Bugle Call ’ at the Plaza and Grand Theatres, was literally born to theatredom. His father was Jack Coogau, the famous vaudeville star and dancer, and his mother also of the vaudeville stage. Jackie was born in Los Angeles, and made his first hit in ‘The Kid,’ with Charlie Chaplin, who had been a friend of his father’s during their stage days. Among Jackie’s later triumphs were ‘Peck’s Bad Boy,’ ‘My Boy,’ ‘Long Live tho King,’ ‘ Old Clothes,’ ‘ Johnny Get Your Hair Cut,’ and others. On the same bill is the vivid picture, ‘ College Days,’ which has a football match for one of its big scenes. ‘ Orphans of the Storm,’ a D. W Griffith production, is billed as the feature attraction, commencing on Friday EVERYBODY'S ‘ The Ten Commandments ’ is the major attraction at tho 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, tho commandments upon a tablet of stone while a terrific storm is going on, and the passage of the Red Sea. Maria Corda and Harry Liedtko sustain the main characters in ‘ Dancing Mad,’ tho supporting picture, and, with the assistance of others, extract an immense amount ot fun from the ludicrous situations that arise, ‘ Dancing Mad’ is a Fox film, and belongs to the joyous-comedy class of picture. The return of that screamingly funny picture, ‘Behind the Front,’ is announced by the Everybody’s Theatre. Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton, one of tho screen’s greatest comedy teams, appear together in this production, which commences screening on Friday. ‘ Wild Beauty,’ starring Rex, the king of wild horses, will also be shown. KING EDWARD ‘ Mons,’ the picture which deals with the famous retreat, is now being screened at the King Edward Theatre. This production is entertainment of the most stirring kind, and is well worth seeing by everyone. ‘Dancing Mad,’ which is a film dealing with modern life, is the second feature. .It is a picture belonging to the joyous comedy class, and stars Maria Corda and Harry Liedtke in the leading roles. ROSLYH ‘Paradise For Two,’ described as a rip-roaring comedy-drama, and featuring Richard Dix and Betty Bronson, will be shown at tho Roslyn Theatre to-night. There are complications in the plot that form situations to make an audience hold its sides with laughter. There is pathos enough to add spice to the comedy and bring it out to tho best advantage. To-night the final episode of tho ‘ Riddle Rider ’ will also bo screened.