ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE . PICTURES. MUSIC

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12604, 15 November 1926, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS: STAGE . PICTURES. MUSIC

THEATRE DE LUXE “THE BAT,” A MYSTERY PLAY. Originally a novel from the pen of Alary Roberts Rinehart, “The Bat,” sent quivers up and down the spines of reading millions throughout the world. Then it was made into a stage thriller, with the collaboration of Avery Hopwood, the famous playwright, and the Wellington public still have vivid recollections of the sensation the play caused here a few years ago. But thrilling as was the mystery drama on the legitimate stage, it remains for the screen version, now at the Theatre de Luxe, to show the sensational story in its highest lights. Though packed full of battle, murder, and sudden death, “The Bat” is not a gruesome play, hut wholesome from start to finish, while through its shuttles move the threads of mystery, and there is much bright comedy in the story. The narrative contres , round the doings of an apparently superhuman crook, and the drama moves on rapidly from one sensational development to another, until the audience is left gasping with amazement. The story is so ingeniously told, that the identity of the master criminal is disguised up to the very end, The drama is excellently portrayed by an all-star cast, including Jewel Carmen, Jack Pickford and Louise Fazenda, and is splendidly produced by the-Un-ited Artists’ Corporation. A pleasing variety of new films support the big picture, and the incidental music is all that could be desired. QUEEN’STHEATCE “BLACK "PARADISE.” Edmund Lowe, Aladgo Bellamy and Leslie Fenton are featured in “Black Paradise,” the Fox Films production now at the Queen’s Theatre. In this absorbing crook drama Miss Bellamy is the innocent bystander as it were, who falls in love with a charming young crook, Leslie Fenton, and decides to reform him. He goes straight for a while, but just before they are to bo married, decides to try one more “job” and falls into a trap. In the exciting chase that follows, the detective, Edmund Lowe, chases them aboard a ship which turns out to be a Rum Runner headed for the South Seas and owned by an old enemy of tho detective. From this point on events shape themselves with melodramatic rapidity, and the plot runs swiftly on to an unsuspected and sensational climax. Besides those in the leading roles, the cast includes Paul Panzer, Edward Piel, Harvey Clarke, Doris Lloyd and Sam Blum. An exceptionally fine supporting bill is also screened, including the latest gazette, an hilarious comedy, and “A Trip to the Canary Islands,” a scenic attraction. The Queen’s Select Orchestra, under Miss Eileen Dennehy, renders a delightful musical programme.

KING'S THEATRE “LOVEY MARY.” Irresistible humour, touching pathos, and an appealing human note throughout, and all the charm that readers have found a delightful feature of Alice Hegaii Rice’s books, are excellently entertaining features of the Metro-Goldwyn-Alayer presentation of the author’s novel, “Lovey Mary,” which is now showing at the Kings’ Theatre. Bessie Love and William Haines are in the leading roles. The story of this new picture is based upon the: book of that name by Alice Hegan Rice, author of “Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch.” Miss Love’s artistic and sincere portrayal of the lonely orphan girl, who lavished all her pent-up affections upon a babv wnif, ranks as one of the screen’s greatest characterisations. Appealing in its humanness, her role is one that will win the sympathy of every audience. No one is more capable than this player of gaining the most from the humorous possibilities of the picture, and her contributions to the fun that sparkleß right through are delightful. William Haines, in the leading male role, is cast ns a homely milk carter, and adds still further to Ins imposing list of successes. His romance with Mary is one of the bright spots of an excellent picture, and he fills an exacting part with marked ability. Others in the cast are Eileen Percy, Mary Alden, Vivia Ogden, Martha Mattox, and Russell Simpson. A delightful supporting programme gives both quality and quantity, tho incidental music by the King’s orchestra being a feature of tho programme. stranTtheatre “BAREE, SON OF KAZAN.” “Baree, Son of Kazan,” which was sqreened at the Strand Theatre la3t night for , the first time, is a romance of the north of Canada, written by James Oliver (Jijrwgod, one of the greatest novelists of his kind. The stars of this film, the name of tho author of which is enough to recommend it, are Anita Stewart and Wolf, a dog. The atmosphere of the frozen lands is very thoroughly infused into the picture, and the characters of the region are typical, while the fur-trap-pers, “mushers,” Indians, and wolves Are present just ns they are’ described in books dealing with the land of snow. A pretty romance is told' in entertaining fashion, making “Baree, Son of Kazan,” a picture of high standard. There are thrills galore in this film. Wolf, who plays the title role in “Baree, Son of Kazan,” is probably the most remarkable dog alive. He is a World War hero ana a wearer of the Croix de Guerre. This decoration was pinned to his collar by Marshnl Foch Himself, that occasion being the

only on© on which a dog was ever personally decorated by a breach marshal. The second feature is * ‘Sky-High Corral,” featuring Art Acord mounted on his horse ? JRaven. Re:f, a dog of surpassing intelligence, is very prominent also. These three individuals are inseparable companions in wanderings and adventures in the American cattle country. To these features is added a splendid supporting programme. PARAMOUNTTHEATRE “THE DUCHESS OF BUFFALO.” Constance Talmadge adds yet another triumph to her credit in “The Duchess of Buffalo,” now at the Paramount Theatre. At the 'Russian capital, in all its splendour of pre-war days, Marian Duncan, an American dancer, captures the heart of a dashing lieutenant in the Guards. The Grand Duke Gregory is also enamoured of the dancer, and he imprisons the officer when the latter seeks permission to. marry. The girl goes to another city in an effort to prevent the lieutenant from sacrificing his military career. The young man, however, breaks arrest and follows her, not knowing that the Grand Duke lias made his way to the same city. There tho dancer masquerades as the Grand Duchess, with the lieutenant as her adjutant, but the Grand Duke suddenly appears on tho scene. The complications that follow are added to by the arrival of the Grand Duchess, nnd the resultant tangle is indescribably funny. Supporting Aliss Talmadge are Tullio Carminati, Chester Conklin, Ed- ■ ward Martindel, and several other well-known artists. , The supports include a'-gazette, a “Felix the Cat” cartoon, and the second part of Amundsen’s Polar flight. An excellent musical programme is rendered by Mr R. R. Cauiton’s orchestra, which plays tho “Turkish Patrol” as an entr’acte. EMPRESif THEATRE “THE UNTAMED LADY.” A thoroughly spoiled and yet thoroughly lovable daughter of wealth, who is placed in a position whereby she becomes absolutely and irrevocably tamed, is the role afforded beautiful Gloria Swanson in ‘‘The Untamed Lady, 3 ’ which is now showing at tho Empress Theatre. Cheering for Yale University, while sitting in the Princeton University stand, during a YalePrittceton football match; attending a smart social function in a bathing suit; interrupting & famous musician at an exclusive recital—are some of her exploits that cause her friends much anguish of spirit. Incidentally, they are responsible for the failure of her romances, since love and temper do not mix. Along comes Larry Gray, fiance No. 4. Larry thinks that it-is up to him to tame her, and he almost breaks Iris neck before lie realises that the girl doesn’t take kindly to his caveman doings. However, love finds a way. in the end, nnd everything turns out happily. Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore are tho stars in the other big feature, “How Baxter Butted In.” In it the comedy of life turns a stammering, awkward young man from a shy, adoring hern-wor-shipper into a dashing hero, despito

his firm belief that the spirit of chivalry and cour»g«*rfnts been shifted by the “jazz age.”* An excellent sfimforting programme, coupled with defigntful music by the Empress Orchestra, completes a good evening’s entertainment. “THE MIDNIGHT -SUN” UNIVERSAL FEATURE FILM FOR DE LUXE. International politics threatened for a time to baulk one of tho big scenes in “The Midnight Sun,” the .Universal Super Jew’el to be screened at the De Luxe Theatre, commencing on Friday, November 19th. In the “Midnight Sun” there is a thrilling scene in which a warship pursues a private yacht. On board the warship is a Russian Grand Duke, while the yacht holds the persons of the premiere ballerina of the Imperial Russian Ballet mid Russia’s most powerful hanker. The girl is desired by both the Grand Duke and tho banker. When the time arrived to take this particular scene, Universal asked the Navy Department for permission to use one of its warships on the Pacific station. The department had heard that -the action of “The Midnight Sun” was laid in Russia. As America was not on official speaking terms with the present Russian Government, the department hesitated about granting the request. However, when Universal assured the authorities that the period of the piny is 1913, during the reign of the Czar, the request was readily granted. One of the Navy’s swiftest submarine chasers was placed at the disposal of tho motion! picture people—officers and crew—and ■ for perhaps the first time in the history of the Navy certain of its officers'l link “orders” from a civilian. For Buchowetzki, the director. was given complete authority during the time the chaser was being used for the picture. The director oven, went so far as to paint out the number of the chaser, and paint its Russian name on its hows. In addition to this, for the sake of cinema art and accuracy, American “gobs” doffed the regulation blue or white and appeared dressed ns sailors of the Czar’s navy. Universal has given “The Alidnight S'un” an excellent cast. Laura La Plante quits her usual comedienne role for that of the dancing -girl, which gives her an opportunity to display her dramatic abilities. Pat O’Malley is cast in the part of the Qrand Duke, while Raymond Keane, a young man new to pictures, is playing liis first part as the hero. George Siegmann, one of the leading screen villains, impersonates the character of the banker. There is an exceptional supporting cast.