AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19996, 13 January 1927, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. ‘‘The Man on the Box” is the current attraction at the Empire Theatre. Syd Chaplin is the principal player and plays well up to the standard of his previous great success ‘‘Charley’s Aunt,” Chaplin has the role of Bob Warburton who arrives in San Diego with 50,000 dollars in his pocket. He meets a man named Lampton who has invented a new kind of flying machine, and, carried away with the description of its prospects, he invests all his money in the invention and becomes Lampton’s partner. He finds that he_ has stepped into a hornet's nest of intrigue, for two rival factions become engaged in an attempt to secure the plans. At the head of one of these is Count Karaloffj a Russian, and his spy Badkoff, and taking the most important part in the other is Colonel Annosly, who is gaining as much information as possible about the machine with the idea of purchasing it for the United States Government. Bob falls deeply in love with the Colonel’s daughter Betty, but he finds that she has become engaged to the Count in order to save her father from disgrace. _ Then follow events which lead Bob to disguise himself as a maidservant, and while thus clad he goes through a series of amusing adventures. There are also various supporting pictures, and an additional attraction is the music supplied by the Empire Orchestra.

OCTAGON THEATRE. The principal feature at the Octagon Theatre this week is ‘‘The Tower of Lies,” in which the stars are Lon Chaney e genius with a thousand faces, and the charming Norma Shearer. Briefly outlined, the story tellg of Goldy, an unwelcome addition to the family ot Jan and Katrina, a pair of drudges. Their landlord dies suddenly, and his nephew, Lars, wl o comes into possession of the estate, promptly evicts the old couple from their cottage. Goldy, who is, by this time, grown up, makes up her mind to go into the city to earn the money necessary to buy back the home. This she does, and her parents are reinstated, but it eventually transpires that her methods of obtaining the money were not altogether above suspicion. Everyone, excepting her father and her sweetheart, turns against her. and the former, notwithstanding his previous hatred of his daughter, stands by her till his mind becomes unhinged. Lon Chaney assumes the part of Jan, an illiterate Swedish tenant, who at first only regards the birth of his daughter in the light ot an additional burden upon him.

QUEEN’S THEATRE. A Universal production entitled “The Man in the Saddle,” featuring Hoot Gibson and a strong supporting cast is attracting good houses at the Queen’s Theatre. The story is one of the West in which the popular star takes the role of a broncho busting cowboy who would like very much to be a hero, but his attempts to perpetuate his name always seem to end in some terribly humorous faux pas. He sets out to capture a famous bandit and returns to town with hie prisoner only to learn that he has put the handcuffs on the local sheriff. A good supporting programme is provided. EVERYBODYS THEATRE. At Everybody’s Theatre this week another double feature programme is being screened daily. The first picture is “It’s the Old Army Game,” a Paramount comedy in which a new comedian, W. 0. Fields, is the chief role player. He is supported by a beautiful girl in the role of assistant in his drug store. The second picture is “The Wilderness Woman,” a First National production featuring Ailean Pringle, Chester Conklin and Lowell Sherman. The story concerns an Alaskan miner and his daughter who have just been bought out by a syndicate for 1,000,000 dollars, with which sum they come to New York to see life. The way in which two confidence men are foiled by the shrewd old minor makes an excellent story. “THE IRON HORSE.” Coming to the Empire tomorrow is “The Iron Horse,” in which Madge Bellamy and George O’Brien are the leading players. The story is based on the exploits of the pioneers, and tells of two young people who love each other, and eventually overcome every obstacle to realise their dreams. It appeals to the emotions as well as to that which is sterner, and thus it combines in its delightful entirety all that the modern audience demands. There is a great combative interest in the story. Throughout the element of competition is of the keenest, as the first transcontinental railroad is laid across the States. Taking the rails through the jealously guarded lands of hostile savages, encountering untold dangers, battling with all the loosened forces of Nature, the heroic and voluntary exiles work their way foot by foot to the west, and the fact that another nailroad gang is working against them, and the knowledge of the reward that awaits the winners, gives a zest to a story that would be lacking were it merely the technical recording of an engineering feat. In those brave and not far distant days America was very romantic. Before the almighty dollar came to rule everything, the golden halo of romance seemed to rest over that noble land, and the picture brings out this romance clearly. In addition there will be supporting pictures, and the Empire orchestra will render a special selection of items. “EVERY MOTHER’S SON.' History will reveal to the generations to come the magnitude and the colossal results of the Great War. Most of those who lived through it are able only to envisage the havoc wrought in their own particular corner of the world. It was their home that the war altered, and, in some cases, shattered; they shook as the earth beneath them shook, and when peace came it was their own particular corner which they had to reconstruct. A story dealing with this phase of life is “Every Mother s Son,” which will bo screened at the Octagon Theatre tomorrow. Those members of the public who are interested in the history, a his tory that is really romantic, of the motion picture, will recollect how there are some who are continually decrying the artistic merits, or lack of them, of British productions. This picture, however, is a triumph. It is a novmg, poignant story with a wealth of unalloyed drama, intensely sincere, gloriously ele* ating, shot with that adroit humour which makes any picture a truly human achievement. Successfully to make an appeal to the mothers of the world embracing every race and creed, and every shade of opinion, a picture with this story must have a particularly sympathetic and understanding touch; when speaking to tne hearts of the world it is so easy to blunder, so easy unconsciously to hurt, but although tears shine through its limpid moments an! the pathos of memory and regret are primary units in >h’.s artistic ensemble of the picture, lh.-re is visible throughout the guiding hand of a master mind. In the leading oles are Captain Rex Davies and Gladys Hamer, who are supported by a talented cast.