PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20133, 25 March 1929, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

EMPIRE A wholly satisfying entertainment is to ho found at the Empire Theatre this week, in the current programme of films submitted. A British production entitled ‘ Tommy Atkins ' heads the hill, while a Reginald Denny comedy is in support. Perhaps the most striking feature of the programme is the ‘Empire Local Gazette,’ which depicts a host of interesting and finely photographed events occurring of late. The scenes of ravages caused by the devastating Hood have been exceedingly well produced by Mr Jack Welsh. Since the inception of this news reel, many_ exceptionally interesting episodes Save been placed on the scree)), and they have always formed a source'of delightful entertainment. This week’s collection of local events is perhaps the best yet offered, and are well worth one’s attention. ‘ Tommy Atkins,’ the latest British special, has a full freight’of enjoyable fare to offer. Every member of tho cast of English players gives a sterling performance, and tho story is based on nn unusual war aspect, and many exciting and thrilling episodes are unfolded before the happy climax is readied The versatility of the popular Reginald Denny is again demonstrated in ‘Red Hot Speed,’ wliich is in marked contrast to ‘ Tommy Atkins,’ being full of the happy and rollicking comedy usually associated with Reginald Denny pictures. Tho orchestral accompaniments arc also a feature of the entertainment, while ‘A Day at West Point ’ makes a most appropriate and stirring overture. REGENT ‘The Enemy,’ the main picture showing at tho Regent Theatre, is based on Channing Pollock’s stage play, a dramatic indictment of war. Austria is the centre of the story; matters are scarcely concerned with Paula’s husband, played by Ralph Forbes, for lie, as a reservist, is called away on his wedding night, and docs not return until after peace. Paula, played by Lillian Gish, her father, her husband’s profiteering family, and her baby, are the central figures. Looming above the city, permeating its home life, and its almost dead commercial life, haunting its streets, is the Enemy. Not the enemy with the mailed fist, but the enemy that the men of a country leave behind for their womenfolk, protected only by old men, to fight. And it is an uneven fight. For prices soar, and food is scarce, and work, there is none; and people must live. So, with others, Paula goes down before her enemy too, no glory here, such as is possible on the other battle front; no decorations, no kisses on both cheeks. She and her father sink lower and lower, starving, homeless, one with the city’s thousands. This is the price of war to the women and children of Europe’s cities, war that leaves them enfeebled in mind and body. On the eve of peace her child dies, and she receives word that her husband is dead. And yet, through this welter of war-time hysteria and unsettling emotion, ‘ The Enemy ’ as a picture is not tragic. For it ends happily, as so many dramas that the war gave birth to ended. Ralph Forbes is the leading man, and others iu the east arc George Fawcett, Karl Dane, and Polly Moran. ‘The Main Event.’ a boxing story featuring Vera Reynolds, is the other picture. Alee Regau renders a fine programme of delightful songs in the evening. COMING. ‘ Beau Broadway,’ a Cody-Pringle comedy drama, and ‘ Stand and Delivi*!',* with Hod will be shown on Friday. STRAND Buster Keaton, aided and abetted by Ernest Torrence, Director Charles “Chuck ” Reisncr, a girl by the name of Marion Byron, and seemingly thousands of othcV actors and actresses, has made one of the year’s funniest pictures, It is ‘ Steamboat Bill, Jun., and it is showing at the Strand Theatre. Tho comedy, which was directed by Charles IT. Reisncr and released by United Artists, is a laugh not from the opening scene til! the cyclonic finish. Cyclonic is right, for the tornado which climaxes ‘Steamboat Bill, Jun., would be, even minus its laughs, a thrill in the most dramatic of dramatic features.. ‘Steamboat Bill, J' in -j 1S different, for it has a real story, with a logical development of plot, has rccognTsed screen favourites in the supporting cast, and docs not nnueriato the intelligence of the audience, ifio “ "-ags ” or comedy situations are clean and,"above all. original. Buster’s characterisation of the “ rail rah hoy who comes home from college to help. his “hard-boiled” dad (Ernest .lorrcnce) battle a rival steamboat lino is the best thing bo has ever clone, blow the rabbit becomes a roaring lion, teaches the rough fellows some* new stunts’, wins the "town magnate's daughter (Marion ’Byron), and finally rescues the entire population from a tornado and flood, provides Buster with a laugh-a-mmuto picture, which also abounds in love interest and photographic surprises. 'Steumboat Bill, Jun., is a story of modern river life, filmed against a beautiful background. The humorous side of stcamboating predominates, of course, but there are moments when the thrills overshadow the laughs. Especially is this true, too, intlie final scenes, in which disaster is visited upon tho river town and the comedy star turns hero. ‘The Sea Urchin,’ a British film starring Betty Balfour, is also showing, while other short supports complete tho programme. GRAND AND PLAZA ‘ This Marriage Business,’ one of the British films booked for the Octagon Theatre, is the leading attraction at the Grand and Plaza Theatres. The Octagon is closed temporarily during the installation of “talkies.” The story concerns the trials and troubles of a newly-married couple. Annette is a member of the modern feminist club. Robert is too much in love with her to declare himself lord and master. They are married at the registry office, in accordance with the feminist theories. In the following sequences Annette is invited to join a male acquaintance at a country party. Her husband protests, and she decides to accept the invitation. Robert, however, arrives in tune to save his wile from the young man s designs, but Annette denies that the man" had been in the room with her. in the evening Annette poes to tlm other man’s flat, and her husband follows and batters down the door. Ibe lights are turned off, and when they come on again the young man stands handcuffed "[between two detectives. It is at this stage that Pat, Scotland Yard’s astute detective, comes on the scene. Robert rushes home to find a penitent Annette, who has learned a bjtter lesson, and is only too anxious to make a fresh start on improved lines. ‘ Flaming Waters,’ a story of a fire on an oil field, is the other picture.

EVERYBODY’S Hilarious moments are plentiful at the Everybody’s Theatre this week, the eliiet attraction being ‘The banners Daughter.’ Marjorie Beebe has the leading role in this production, tnuch IS * based on an original story notable 101 the rarity of a girl who is genuinely funny. If the screen everpresented a real comedienne Marjorie Beebe is that girl. ‘ The c armer’s Daughter ’ is a riot of fu.u» is embellished with many Inghlignts, including a well-staged country lair, which looks like the real thing, because it is. The theme of the battle ot wits between tho city confidence man and the country girl, with the confidence man experiencing a bit of backfire to his plans, prompts many hilarious situations! , „ Betty Balfour, the star of The blag Lieutenant ’ and ‘ The Further Adventures of the Flag Lieutenant,’ is now seen in her latest and best picture, ‘ The Sea Urchin,’ which has second place on this programme. Opposite Miss Balfour is George Hackathorne, who has been featured in a number of notable films. In this he lias the role of a rich man's only son, who has his poor old dad nearly in his grave by the scrapes lie and his , aeroplane manage to get into, until he meets a beautiful French orphan and falls in love with her. KING EDWARD Belie Daniels as a newsreel camera girl in ‘Hot News.’ is the current feature at the King Edward Theatre. It is packed with all the thrills and action, daring, and enterprise, keen rivalry, and romance of these intrepid workers. The minor attraction is entitled ‘ The Sea Urchin,’ a beautiful British production, with Betty Balfour as the leading player.