PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 20137, 30 March 1929, Page 11

PICTURE THEATRES

STRAND The amazing Alin, ‘ Sunrise,’ -which commenced at the Strand Theatre today, has been made by the great Continental director, Dr F. W. Marmiu, from a story by Hciman Sndcmiaun, entitled ' A Song of Two Humans.’ What Murnau has done with George O’Brien is amazing. Ho has found pliau.o material in Janet Gaynor and mis moulded a screen character of sympathy and interest. Murnau lias taken two people from a typo that is limited to elementary tin idting and limits itself more to action. into a farmhouse where the head of the lainiiy is happy in the possession of an adoring wife and baby, Murnau urops a city girl wiio hrings tragedy with her. Margaret Livingston has the b part ot breaking up this happ> home, planting in the man’s mind the conviction that he should drown ins ,vito and go with her to the city. The wile, knowing nothing of this evil plot, accompanies her husband in nis boat, but tne criminal thought is ot as strong as his conscience, and lie fails to kih her. He takes her to shore, and she is pursued by him on a trolley to the city, where a fashionable wedding party awakens romance in this crude pair. They have a happy honeymoon of a few hours, and in this part of the picture some of Murnau’s best work shows itself. On tiio return trip homo a storm arises, and as the husband tries to save his wife their bout turns over, .nul she is swept away. Thinking she is dead, the man resolves to kill his temptress. This time his conscience does not interfere with his intentions, but he is interrupted by word that his wife has been found, still living. In renewed happiness the pair again face the sunrise. A full list ot supports is also shown, and the musical accompaniment is supplied by the orchestra, under Air L. D, Austin.

REGENT With a sparkling vehicle that outranks their previous screen triumph in smartness and sophistication, Lew Cody and Aileen Pringle resume their costarring team work in ‘ Beau Broadway,’ which, opened at the Regent Theatre to-day. In bringing this inimitable pair together again in comedy-drama, Aletro-Goldwyn-Mayer has surrounded them with a cinematic environment that displays their talents to tho utmost and cements their bid for popularity as filmdom’s most famous mixed comedy team, me story, written especially for the Cody-Rriiigle team by Alalcohu St. Clair tho Tox Rickard of the films, who also directs tho picture, has a swiftly moving plot laid in tho colourful background of the sporting world. St. Clair, who has brought a number of prizefight dramatic triumphs to the screen, ,s made the most of tho stopy ho conceived, and is credited with reproliicitig in the picture the most realistic fight scenes ever filmed. In the comedy moments Cody and Pringle reach new heights, and the interloping scenes of drama arc handled with delicacy and tenderness. The supporting cast is perhaps the most unique and varied ever seen upon the screen. There is Sue Carol, 1923 Wain pas Baby Star, Heinie Conklin, noted Scnnett comic, whost black-face portrayal is a laugh riot; Kit Guard and Jack Herrick, former prize-fighters; Hugh Trevor, collegiate young actor, who appears as a hign-brow ” "boxer who wins fights even his manager hopes he will lose; and a host of prize ring and sporting characters who appear in tho many sequences. ‘ Stand and Deliver,’ tho second attraction, is a story of modern Greece, played out against a background of the uanditry which seriously threatened that country just aftei tho World War. La Roque has the role of Roger Norman, a wealthy young Englishman, who joins the Grecian cavalry in quest of the adventures. In a chivalrous -moment while attempting to save a Greek peasant girl from the evil advances of his commanding officer, lie unintentionally injures his superior. This incident forces him By make a hurried getaway with the girl. Norman and the girl, portrayed by Lnpo Velez, are captured by a bandit gang, and the former has in's choice of death or of becoming a bandit. Norman chose tiio latter as the lesser of the two evils, fI is experiences as a member of Ghika’s band of cut-throats provide thrills a-plenty —many more than Norman had anticipated when lie left England. A special list of features are in support, while an excellent musical bill lias boon arranged for the Regent Orchestra.

EMPIRE A celluloid, circus lias come fo town I Regular performances, elephants, lions ami tigers, trained .seals, and educated ponies, acrobats, clowns, and side show freaks. if ever a picture deserved to be called a “ circus story,” tho First National attraction now showing at tho Empire Theatre, ‘Three Ring Marriage, is the one. It shows circus life, with every sorb of intimate glimpse behind the scones and into the lives of all kinds of circus people, throughout practically its entire footage. However, the plot and love story arc something quite apart, and the actions of the featured players, Alary Astor and Lloyd Hughes, would entertain, even without the glamorous sotting. Aliss Astor plays in the role of a very modern girl who is so intent On getting the man she loves that she leaves her wealthy father, and follows tho hero into tho circus. They both become performers, and he still resists her, and she still pursues. Enter tho villain, acting circus manager, played very well indeed by the polished screen actor, Lawforcl Davidson. Ho is in the toil.-, of crooks and gunmen, and tries to get the heroine's money, and incidentally herself, to “ square ” them. Then the hero awakes, and tilings “ pop ” dramatically in all directions.

Many new faces appear, for the performer, side show people, and others arc real “big-time” circus folk Among them two remarkable midgets, a giant and a fat lady, have important parts. Buddy Rogers, the popular star of ‘ Wings,’ is featured in ‘ Someone to Love,’ which is also showing. The supporting players , arc Mary Brian, William Austin, and James Kirkwood. A short vaudeville session, 1 The Potted Musical jr times, - is me rrragfc presentation, and throughout the programme appropriate music is played by the orchestra.

GRAM AND PLAZA One of the most famous of modern British plays, ‘ His House in Order,’ came to the Grand and Plaza Theatres in its film form to-day. This drama, which was first produced at the St. James Theatre, with Sir George Alexander and Irene Vanbrugh in the leading parts, ran for over four hundred performances, and became so much the vogue that it has become a sort of familiar popular saying. In its film rendering it has also attracted a lot of. attention, partly on account of its

story and partly because it marks the debut on the screen of the talented actress Tallulah Bankhepd. It is the tale of a woman, worshipped as a saint by her husband, who turns out after death to have been anything but saintly. But before the revelation comes her successor has had to bear the torments of invidious comparison --particularly on the part of her predecessor’s priggish and Puritanical relations. The play- is a scathing and dramatic exposure of wifely or umvifely deception, and men's blind infatuation—with a plea, too, for the bright and lightheaded wife, who wears her heart on her sleeve, but is none the less honest and reliable for all that’ The other picture is entitled ‘Whispering Wires,’ a mystery story, featuring Anita Stewart.

EVERYBODY'S A programme of well-chosen features is now showing at the Everybody’s Theatre, the main picture being the Fox drama, ‘ Once and Forever,' featuring'Patsy Until Miller and John Harron. The story tells of the love of a winsome girl for that of the nephew of a harsh and stern Trench Governor of a French possession, who frowns niion the suit of his handsome nephew for the poor orphan, and the meddling into their love affair by two gossbpv who do all but ruin the happiness of the loves. The scene in which the young man returns from the war blinded and his longing for his sweetheart is finely portrayed, and the unexpected denouement near the finish is said to be a fine piece of dramatic construction. The supporting picture is a thrilling modern drama, ‘The Sporting Age, featuring Belle Bennett. There is cnoufh variety in ‘ The Sporting Age to appeal to all tastes. While horses, speed automobiles, yachts, aeroplanes, and railroad collisions are introduced for the purpose of thrills, the entertainment value of the picture is by no means dependent upon these Mechanics. In place of the usual villain, this attraction lias two leading men, Halmes Herbert and Carroll JNyc. The former portrays the husband ot the heroine, while the latter delineates a youth whom the wife tries to_ infatuate Bell© Bennett is seen as Miriam Driscoll, the matron, who, upon approaching middle age, makes a last desperate struggle to retain her grip on youthful lure and charm. KING EDWARD * The Big Killing,’ a Wallace BeeryRaymond Hatton comedy, is the main picture on the latest programme at the King Edward Theatre. Belle Bennett, in ‘ The Sporting Age,’ is also showing- ■