THE PICTURES--NEW PROGRAMMES

Evening Star, Issue 20061, 29 December 1928, Page 6

THE PICTURES--NEW PROGRAMMES

, AN EPIC PICTURE EMPIRE THEATRE PRESENTATION Some pictures are destined to linger iu the memory long after the last scene has faded from the screen, and ‘The Foreign Legion’ is one such, lb is a Universal special, and had its initial presentation at the Empire Theatre yesterday, the luxurious theatre being packed to the doors lor the evening session. He would indeed be hard to please who did not derive genuine enjoyment l from the unfolding of the dramatic story that comprises shis film - - •The Foreign Legion’ may well be classed as one of .the epics of its kind. The story- itself revolves about the doings of piie' of the moSt famous military units in the world, ..the Foreign Legion of France, which is comprised of "soldiers drawn from many of the nations of Europe, and is stationed m the heart of Morocco. There, this brigade, famed for its discipline and efficiency, .plays its part by preventing unrest among a turbulent people, and it is not difficult to imagine that the commander of such a body should be a man of outstanding personality. Such is Colonel.Destinn, English commanding officer of a French regiment. The picturised story is a most unusual cue. Richard Farquhar, British army officer, returns home to marry his fiancee, only to find that she has just returned from her honeymoon with Captain Markoff, a French army olicer. Then, by a queer twist of fate. Farquhar stumbles upon Markoff in the act ot Tilling the despatch box of their host, but to save the good name of the girl lie loved the Englishman shoulders the blame, and is forced to resign from his regiment. Only Markoff and the sister of Farqubnr's former fiancee, herself in love with Farquhar, are aware of the heroic self-sacrifice made by the Englishman. 1 who swears the girl to secrecy. At this time Farquhar has just learned that his father, too,_ has resigned Irpm the army, and disappeared f v om England. The scene changes and Farquhar, now a member of the famed Foreign Legion,- assumes the name of John Smith, and (unknown to either of them) finds himself under the command of his own father, now known as Coloiiel.Destinn, famed far and wide for his bravery and remarkable efiicienev. Fdtdier and colonel are destined to cross each other’s paths, how.ever, and the tensely dramatic situations that arise when the son appears before the father charged with insubordination are evolved in absorbingly interesting _fashion. His former fiancee arrives with her sister at the outpost where her husband is an officer, and the manner in which the picture moves to a remarkable climax goes to make a production that will be recalled with pleasure for a very long time. Lewis Stone has had many stellar roles, but few in which he has had greater srape for his., ability as a chanrter actor than that of -Colonel Destinn. It will rank as one of the greatest character portrayals of his caree". Destinn is a martinet, but beneath his grim exterior lies a vein of humour which makes him the soldier he is. Stone’s wonderful characterisation reached its climax in the scene in which the colonel determines to make his greatest sacrifice to save the life of his son. Norman Kerry plays the part of Richard Farquhar, and his effort is little less convincing than that of Lewis Stone. Indeed, the acting of both these stars is one of the features of a truly splendid picture, in which there is a strong supporting cast. It may be added that ‘The Foreign Legion ’ is not one of the “blood and thunder” -type of pictures—it is a drama/ic production in which from start to finish the interest is sustained by the skilful manner in which the story. i$ tbld ; ‘ The Foreign Legion ’ stands out on the Empire programme, but the supports are pood, and deserving of a little more than passing mention. The Empire Newsreel is a topical, illustrating events of the day, principally within the British Empire, while the International News is another good gazette. Charlie Chaplin has not made many comedies lately, but it is pleasing to record the fact that some of those films' which made him famous have been revived, and one such is ‘The Floorwalker. 1 which was shown last night.... Charlie Chaplin is shown in some indescribably funny antics, ami after some feeble atteraipts at comedy that have appeared lately it is refreshing to be able to laugh at a genuine comedian such as the original Charlie.

The Empire Symphonic Orchestra rendired • much-appreciated selections under the conductorsliip of Mr Charles !Aves,, ; musical director, the tuneful numbers from ‘Rose Marie’ being especially pleasing. The programme will be repeated every afternoon and evening during the coming week.

SEASONABLE FARE OUTSTANDING ATTRACTIONS AT THE REGENT Pantoulime exercises an unfading fascination for young and old, a fact (that was' strikingly exemplified at the Regent .Theatre last evening by the reception accorded the second edition of ‘Dick Whittington.’ The presentation, which was exceedingly colourful and elaborate, was thoroughly enjoyable in every respect. It was specially written and produced in condensed form by- E. Warrington, who also played the part of the “ Dame ” with great success. He was ably assisted by Jack Gerrard, and these two bright comedians kept the house in a continual, roar of merriment with their ludicrous antics and clever patter. Connie Harris made a charming principal boy., and captivated the audience with her characterisation. This young lady has personality and “pep,” and performed .■ most delightfully. Gene port Was excellently cast as the bluff Alderman Fitzwarren, and Mildred Harris made a sweet Alice. The presentation,, was liberally interspersed with breezy songs and attractive dances. The eccentric dancing of Freddy Hodges .which was of an exceptionally high standard, was one of the features of the performance. The ballet danced as attractively as they looked, i and a number of talented young pupils of the Otago School of Dancing postured gracefully in the background. The whole production was lavishly mounted, and was presented on a scale that one does not usually associate with a picture theatre. The children expressed their appreciation" of the performance in no uncertain manner at the matinee, and in the evening the grown-ups endorsed it heartily ns a distinctly entertaining novelty; True Christmas generosity has been shown by the management in providing, in "|on junction with the panto-

mime, a first-class picture programme, ‘ The Sawdust Paradise,’ with Esther Ralston, the blonde beauty of tho screen, in the starring role, heads the pictorial bill. Something new in motion pictures—a street carnival with its scores of side-shows and novelties—forms tho background for the romance of a girl of the sawdust ring and an itinerant showman. Tho powerful story deals with the conversion of the girl and her lover from their low associations to a life of belief and faith. Esther Ralston essays a new role in this picture, and demonstrates her versatility by giving a delineation of the utmost sincerity and conviction. She is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful stars in the movie firmament, and her performances are invariably distinguished by artistry and charm. Hobartßusworth, well known formally fine characterisations, heads a strong supporting cast. Other notable film personalities included are Reed Howes, Mary Alden, and Alan Roscoe. Tho minor films amply sustain the standard of the more elaborate offerings’. A Bray Magazine, which is as interesting and educational as it is enjoyable, an hilarious Jack Duffy comedy, and a gazette, which depicts recent events of international interest, conclude the picture, programme. The playing of the orchesfa was particularly enjoyable all through the entertainment. Mr Neville Ravel bad his forces well under conti'o;,_ and the appropriate orchestral selections ccntributed in no small measiro to the enjoyment of the programme. _ 'The famous ‘ Hienzi ’ overture of Wagner was accorded extremely virile treatment by all sections of the orchestra. Matinee penormances wIT be fan daily, when both the pantomime qnd the picture prog-.'a’iuuo will lie piovided for the d ■leitali-m of IV children. The evening sessions will be held as usual.

ROWE AND FEUD ‘ANNIE LAURIE' AT THE OCTAGON In the past motion picture producers have experienced the utmost difficulty in reproducing _ historical dramas and romances which to tho critical mind are ! entirely convincing. Year by year, however, the innumerable pitfalls encountered on tho road to success arc being cleverly avoided until at the present time it would seem that the task of depicting faithfully the life, loves, and battles of folk who lived in a by-gone century has been brought to something approaching a finished art.

1 Annie Laurie,’ the magnificent Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer _ production, screened for the first time last evening at the Octagon Theatre, is an example of all that such a picture should be, and when it is considered that those responsible for the film were faced with the additional task of portraying Scottish character, their efforts can be regarded in the light of a triumph. Only too frequently we have seen time-honoured stories converted into sheer burlesque, because of the impossible antics of actors who had neither the ability nor the tuition necessary for their parts. Crude attempts at faking scenery have also been a cause of ridicule. In ‘Annie Laurie ’ nothing has been left to chance. The cast has been carefully chosen. Who better than Lilian Gish to play the part of sweet Annie Laurie, the girl who twice risked her life in the attempt to save the clan MacDonald from annihilation at the hands of the treacherous Campbells? Who more strikingly suitable for the vigorous role of Jau MacDonald, “ cub ” of a proud chieftain, than the magnificently proportioned Norman Kerry? There are, of course, many others_ too numerous to mention. Sufficient it is to give assurance that the indomitable Highland spirit is most convincingly personified, and if through the almost incredible treachery of a Campbell a dark page has been recorded in Scottish history—well it cannot be helped. The massacre at Glencoe is history. It seems hardly necessary to give a synopsis of the story for the benefit of Dunedin folk. Historical detail is strictly adhered to, and although some of the romantic scenes may have been drawn from the imagination it is probable that they constitute a close representation of what actually took place. The wooing of Enid Campbell by a MacDonald, and the continuation of the feud until ail chieftains aro summoned to neutral ground at Maxwellton make an interesting story. It is then, however, that the romance of Annie Laurie and lan MacDonald commences, and from this stage onwards tho picture is particularly absorbing. The misunderstandings that arise between the lovers and their ' ultimate reconciliation and happiness cannot fail to make a popular appeal. Then, of course, there is the fighting—the preliminary bickering and the final clash of anus which marked the massacre at Glencoe. There is a good deal of dry Scottish humour in the picture, Sandy, a member of the Maxwellton household staff, continually raising a chuckle with his witty, yet wise, remarks.

Completo enjoyment of ‘Annie Laurie ’ is ensured by the splendid musical programme arranged for the Octagon Orchestra by Monsieur do Rose. Including as they do an appropriate score of Scottish music and the overture, ‘ Orpheus ’ (Offenbach) the items for the week are most attractive. Miss E. M. Wallace played delightfully the cadenza specially written for her by Monsieur cle Rose. As though all this were not enough the management has engaged Mr Arthur Lungley to sing the sweet ballad, ‘ Annie Laurie,’ from the stage. Last night Mr Lunglcy’s , singing was nothing short of a treat. Other orchestral numbers were ‘ Triumphal March ’ (Mozart), ‘ Fantasie et Suite de Ballet, Henry VIIL 1 (Saint-Sacns), and overture, ‘ Lurline ’ (Wallace). The topical film is an excellent production of its kind, and it is followed by a very interesting picture which gives people a glimpse of Canada—that portion of the sister dominion situated at the junction of St. Maurice River with the mighty St. Lawrence. A hearty laugh is evoked at the absurd caperings of a fireman recruit in the comedy, ‘ George’s False Alarm.’

.STRAND Mary Pick ford, whose visits are now rare and therefore all the more welcome, has never had a better role than Maggie in ‘My Best Girl,’ the feature film which is the main attraction at the home of big pictures, the Strand. ‘My Best.Girl’ is a perfectly simple story adapted from a novel by Kathlen Norris. Its theme is by no means new, but somehow these old situations never quite lose, their fascination. Mary, the stock girl in the Merril 10-cent store, finds that she has to work in company with Joe Grant, a young man making his first appearance in cornmere. Joe, of course, ,is really the son of old man Merril, and he is in the store for the purpose of proving that he can win advancement for himself without the aid of paternal influence. Time goes on, and Joe begins to see that Mary has qualities lacking in the society girls his mother has chosen for his bride. The climax comes when the parents propose to give a dinner party

at which the desired engagement is to be announced. Joe, however, decides to have a little unanticipated celebration of his own. Tho part of Joe Grant h attractively played by*Charles Rogers,( and Hobart Bosworth is a complete success as an American father. Lnciene Littlefield,’ Maggie’s father, can be described as a “ character’ —a .species of Bairnsfather’s Old Bill. Ho contributes a goodly share of the comedy

Excellent supporting films are included on the bill, while, an item of distinct musical interest is a violin solo, 1 Canzonetta,’ played by Miss Mario Ravel, who introduces all the necessary qualities for, a successful, rendering. Another enjoyable feature of the bill is the music played by tho Strand Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mr L. D. Austin,

EVERYBODY’S ‘ Hello, Cheyenne! ’ a Fox Films production, starring Tom Mix, which is now being screened at Everybody’s Theatre, Is a rather unusual Western. Tho contest between two rival contracting companies in laying a telephone line between Cheyenne and Rawhido is the basis for an engaging photoplay. Mix heads a cast and is responsible for many thrilling episodes. The spectacular race between the rival companies brings to mind the difficulties our earlier telephone companies experienced while laying the first transcontinental telephone line. ‘ Lady Raffles,’ tho Columbia Pictures production, which is tho second attraction, is a skilfully developed drama of tho adventures which befall a clever young woman whose life is a mystery. It is a picture of surprises and queer twists, iu which strategy and apt manoeuvring hold the interest. The plot revolves around a valuable necklace, which changes hands with tho dexterity displayed by sleight-of-hand performers, and the awakening of love in tho heart of tho heroine. Estelle Taylor has a tricky role, which she handles in masterly style, displaying the touch of an artist. Miss Taylor is supported by a strong cast, including Roland Drew,, Lily an Taslunan, Ernest Hilliard, and Winifred Landis. GRAND AND PLAZA What could provide better entertainment than a circus?. Hero wo have all tho fun of a big circus with all its fascinating charms brought before us at the Grand and Plaza Theatres, in a film which is most appropriately titled ‘The Big Show.’ Lions, tigers, elephants, cowboys, clowns, and Indians are all mingled in the story of the film, which unwinds at a feverish pace. Patrons arc _ assured of a thrill in every minute in.‘The Big Show,’ depicting all the picturesque characters of the most appealing of entertainments. 1 There is fun enough and plot enough for two ordinary good feature comedies iu 1 Finnegan’s Ball,’ which is on the same bill. This much-talkcd-of comedy is all that has been promised. It is crammed with true and infectious Irish humour, so much so that last night’s audiences laughed until their sides ached. And there is present that touch of pathos without which no Irish story could be complete—administered in just the right amounts and handled with repression. While Charley MTTngh as the diminutive and cocky Mr Finnegan who fights the friend who has sent for him to come to America from Ireland, at every turn, has the title role, he shares comedy honours with huge Mack Swain', who truly is one o! the geniuses of tho screen. Swain plays a bully mg contractor who has a big heart beneath a thick hide, and the comedy situations arising from the clash between Finnegan and Flannigan arc funny, indeed. Blanche Mehaffey, a goldenhaired young \vomauof whom much may be heard one of these days, plays Finnegan’s daughter, while Cullen Landis is Jimmy Flannigan, her lover. The course of love of the pair does not run any smoother than do their fathers’ affairs.

KING EDWARD A programme of unusual merit is now being screened at tlie King Edward Theatre. The outstanding attraction is 1 Casey at the Bat, 1 an excee.dincly bright comedy of baseball, with Wallace Beery and Ford Sterling in the loading roles. The second feature is ‘ Confetti,’ starring tho celebrated English actor, Jack Buchanan. ROSLYH To-night’s feature attraction hooked for screening at the Roslyn Theatre is ‘ The Opening Night,’ described as a tense and moving drama of _ human emotions—a page of human life with its queer twists and strange adventures set against a moving background of the theatre, the high _ seas, and a Newfoundland fishing village. The specially-chosen cast is beaded by Claire Windsor. Much thrilling action and many touching scenes take place aboard a liner—the heavy fog, the panic which followed the catastrophe, and the heroic work of rescue are most realistic. A Tull list of supports includes the ‘Collegians.’