THE SHADOW WORLD

Southland Times, Issue 20080, 18 January 1927, Page 11

THE SHADOW WORLD

LATEST REAL NEWS OF REEL PLAYERS.

ATTRACTIONS AT THE ALBION. To-night.—“ All Around the Frying Pan” (Fred Thompson and Silver King the Wonder Horse) ; “The Man in the Saddle” (Hoot Gibson). To-morrow.—“ The Tower of Lies” (Norma Shearer and Lon Chaney); “Monte Carlo” (Lew Cody and Gertrude Holmstead). Saturday next.—“ Her Big Night” (Laura La Plante) ; “Reckless Romance” (Harry Myers and Wanda Hawley). Planned along fairly familiar western lines, but lightened with the bright comedy which differentiates all Fred Thomson pictures from the average westerns, illumined by some splendid acting, and fairly blaring with the combination of a real cowboy round-up and smashing thrills, “All Around Frying Pan,” proves one of the most delightful and interesting pictures seen in a long time. The famous Alturas Round-up has been built into the story of Frank Richardson Pierce, with Fred and Silver King as actual contestants. Fred’s great mount takes an acting role that tests his skill; for he starts out as a wild-eyed bucker which nobody can ride, and finishes as himself—a heroic horse. Little Miss Clara Horton has the feminine lead opposite Mr Thomson, and she is both clever and lovely. Director David Kirkland handled his situations with fine skill, and there are hearty laughs bristling through the production. “All Around Frying Pan” will be shown for the last time to-night at the Albion Theatre. “The Man in the Saddle,” Hoot Gibson’s latest starring picture is entertaining local film fans this week at the Albion theatre. The picture is of the type that has made Gibson one of the screen’s most popular stars, and is composed largely of light comedy. Fay Wray, Sally Long, Charles Hill Mailes, Emmett King, Clark Comstock and others appear in the picture with Gibson and add materially to the fun. Clifford Smith directed the picture, and Charles A. Logue furnished the inspiration for it with an original story. One of the greatest assemblages of comedians ever cast in one picture appears in the case of “Monte Carlo,” the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer attraction coming to the Albion Theatre to-morrow. Under the direction of Christy Cabanne appear Lew Cody, Gertrude Olmsted, Zasu Pitts, Karl Dane, Roy D’Arcy, Arthur Hoyt, Harry Myers, and Trixie Friganza. All have achieved fame in a number of excellent pictures. Since his departure from heavier roles, Lew Cody has gained wide recognition as a delightful whimsical comedian. In his leading part in “Monte Carlo” he excels himself, and is ably supported by his associates. The action of the film revolves around the romantic adventures of three girls and a bogus prince in the most famous gambling resort in the world. The charming Norma Shearer, who is co-starred with Lon Chaney in ‘The Tower of Lies,” directed for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and coming to the Albion Theatre tomorrow, is again seen in a role which calls for a wide range of acting on account of the great number of years through which the story runs. In the early part of the picture she appears as a child, then a young woman, and finally as a woman of thirty who has become hardened from contact vrith the world. 'Die success of Miss Shearer in the dual role of “Lady of the Night” caused her to be cast in the role of the heroine of Selma Lagerlof’s great Swedish novel. Chaney and Miss Shearer are supported by a cast of well-known character players. “Reckless Romance,” Al Christie’s newest feature farce which comes to thft Albion Theatre next Saturday, is said to be one of the most entertaining pictures ever filmed. At previews held in Pasedena and Los Angeles, this picture elicted roars of hearty laughter. This hilarious reception occurred even before the picture’s final editing and now with Joseph Farnham’s clever titles it is declared to be one of the funniest pictures to be shown here in a long time. The cast includes T. Roy Barnes, Harry Myers, Wanda Hawley, Sylvia Breamer, Jack Duffy, Tully Marshall and other notables, each of whom is especially suited to hiij role. Director Scott Sidney’s years of experience in the field of comedy tell in the admirable fashion in which he has handled the farce.

Laura La Plante becomes an actual film star at last in “Her Big Night,” the Universal production in which she is the featured player, scheduled for the Albion Theatre on Saturday next. Miss La Plante has grown so rapidly in popularity in the past year that the Universal company decided she is of stellar value, and she will be featured in a series of farce pictures. Melville Brown directed “Her Big Night” and the cast includes Emar Hansen, Tully Marshall, Zasu Pitts, John Roche, Lee Moran, Mack Swain, Nat Carr and others.

Ben Hendricks, Jr., well-known screen actor, appears on the screen minus his moustache for the first time in years in “Rolling Home,” William A. Seiter’s latest Universal production starring Reginald Denny, which comes to the Albion Theatre. Hendricks plays the role of a chauffeur and a pal of Denny’s and Seiter thought it slightly out of place for a hired driver to sport a neatly waxed moustache. The cast of “Rolling Home” includes Marion Nixon, E. J. Ratcliffe, Margaret Seddon, George Nicholls George Marion, Anton Vaverka and others.

Hoot Gibson, Universal’s wild-riding Western “ace,” who plays the role of Bob Langdon, pony express rider in “The Flaming Frontier,” the spectacular Edward Sedgwick-Universal production, that is coming to the Albion theatre, is one of the few Western stars of the screen who has had actual experience in the life that he so realistically portrays. For be it known Hoot was a real cowpuncher before the screen lured him from the plains and made him the idol of millions of redblooded men and women, to say nothing of the youngsters.

Engineers fighting against the terrible fury of a howling blizzard to re-connect a broken wire, the single thread between them and civilisation; a mighty avalanche of snow and ice crashing in a thundering mass upon the railroad construction camp perched perilously on a mountain ledge; the remnants of the camp and the battered survivors facing a foodless existence, and the huge five-engined relief train preceded by a giant snowplow, are some of the highlights of Reginald Barker’s latest production for Metro-Goldwyn, “The White Desert,” which comes to the Albion Theatre soon.

‘The Sea Beast” looks as if it will be one of the years biggest released. It is produced from Hermon Merville’s thrilling story “Moby Dick,” which when it was written in 1851 was rather passed by, by the reading public but since then it has become a remarkable vogue. It brings to light a new star Dolores Cbetelk) (a daughter of Maurice). John Barrymore is greater in his representation of Ahab than any previous character.

AT THE CIVIC. To-night: “The Seventh Bandit” (Harry Carey) ; “It’a the Old Army Game” (W. C. Fields—Lousie Brooks). Wednesday: ‘Kiki” (Norma Talmadge and Ronald Colman) ; “The Wilderness Woman” (Aileen Pringle —Chester Conklin). Saturday: ‘The Blind Goddess” (Jack Holt, Esther Ralston, Ernest Torrence) ; “The Lawful Cheater” (Clara Bow). “Kild” which comes to the Civic tomorrow gets over the unfailing zip and unbounded merriment, provides Norma Talmadge with a role in which that noted star shines resplendent and measures up as a comedy that will delight fans in generarl and register rich box office returns. You never get tired watching the antics and artful plotting of this Paris street-girl heroine, who graduates from the status of newspaper peddler to chorus girl, fixes her somewhat tigerish affections on a theatre manager, ousts her rival with impish cunning and swarms into the finale with her marital quarry safely hooked. Miss Talmadge is an ideal Kiki, always amusing, but manages to shade the humour of the part with a touch of pensiveness, like the genuine artiste she is. Ronald Colman, too, is a likeable hero. Aileen Pringle, who has been described as the most fascinating woman in Hollywood, is the star of “The Wilderness Woman,” a First National coming to the Civic to-morrow. This story has a most unusual foundation, and is acted by Miss Pringle with that touch of mystic allure which, besides appearing to be an integral part of her personality, suits perfectly the rather unusual character she playa. A woman from Alaska, a millionairess, goes to New York, taking with her, incidentally, a bear cub. She typifies the northern wilds, and throws society into a panic. There is a lot of drama in this picture, and a lot of comedy chiefly supplied by Chester Conklin, who, in the role of a millionaire ignoramus, is inexpressibly amusing. Interesting, not only by reason of its originality, but also on account of its plot,“The Wilderness Woman” should prove very popular with Invercargill audiences. “The Blind Goddess,” which comes to the Civic next Saturday, is a powerful dramatic romance which should enjoy an even greater success at the box office than that which attended “Manslaughter.” We recall few, if any pictures which smash home the unreliability of circumstantial evidence with the force that is pictured here. The story, by Arthur Train, is packed with meat; there is not a draggy moment in it. However, it is the acting that stands out and impresses one here. And the honours got to Ixiusie Dresser, Ernest Torrence, Esther Ralston and Jack Holt. Miss Dresser in the pathetic role of the aged, friendless mother, gives a portrayal that clutches at the heart. It is one more personal triumph for this sterling actress. The trial scene is a masterpiece of suspense and the climax with its last minute evidence of the mother’s innocence is going to send the folks home talking about this one. The third degree sequence is also well done. W. C. Fields, Ziegfeld’s Follies comedian, packs a whole host of funny gags and situations into his Paramount picture, now at the Civic. Anyone who fails to get a succession of hearty laughs out of his attempts to get a sleep, the fun in the drug store, the fire brigade turn-out, the picnic and the troubles with the Ford, can be counted as minus a funnybone altogether. The picture is most amusing. Harry Carey is most at home in pictures and characterisations with some depth to them. A Western star, he naturally prefers Western themes, and in “The Seventh Bandit”, now at the Civic, be has a picture quite to his liking. It is full of punch and action, and the story is there to please all fans. Norma Talmadge and Ronald Colman appear together in the First National comedy drama “Kiki,” which is to be presented at the Civic to-morrow. This is a sparkling and romantic story of gay Paris and the fascinating theatrical world, and although the lovely Norma first appears as a neglected little waif, she ends in a dazzling burst of triumph and beauty.

A side of the war that has been clouded in mystery is brought to the screen for the first time in “Die Greater Glory,” the colossal screen epic, coming soon to the Civic. The picture was produced by June Mathis, who formerly gave the screen “The Four Horsemen,” remembered as a priceless achievement. First National releases “The Greater Glory.” That the story of “The Greater Glory,” which reveals conditions in Vienna before, during and after the war, is authentic is revealed in the fact that the picture is an adaption of the celebrated novel, “Viennese Medley,” written by Edith O’Shaughnessy, wife of the American minister at Vienna. The authoress resided in the once gay capital of the Austrian empire during its most hectic history. The story follows the fortunes of the city in the fortunes of a fine old Viennese family. The principals in the picture cast are Anna Q. Nilsson, Conway Tearle, May Allison, lan Keith, Lucy Beaumont and Jean Hersholt. There are about a score of other famous picture players in the cast in addition to about 1,600 extras.

The combination of British story surroundings and direction with an American star is productive of the best results in

“Nell Gwyn,” a British National Picture, coming to the Civic next week. The story of the orange-seller who captivated a King is beautifully told in this picture, which certainly reaches high water mark. As far as British pictures are concerned. Dorothy Gish is all that one could imagine Sweet Nell to be and she plays the role with much dash and vivacity.

Syd. Chaplin has unearthed a new find to play in his comedies, Doris Hill. She is a cousin of Eugene O’Neil, the world-famed dramatist and appears for the first time in the Master Picture “The Better ’Ole.”

Almost a thousand miles were travelled for the filming of “The Runaway Express,” the Universal-Jewel, coming to the Albion shortly. The closest location embracing everything needed for this super-tale of the railroads were Caliente, Nevada. Jack Daugherty and Blanche Mehaffey portray the leading roles, and are supported by such capable players as William A. Steele, Charles K. French, Madge Hunt, Harry Todd, Tom O’Brien, and others. Edward Sedgwick, master of outdoor productions, directed the picture.

Eva Novak the movie star who with members of her company passed through Wellington some twelve weeks ago, on her way to Australia, under engagement to Australasian Films, has now almost completed “For the Term of His Natural Life.” For weeks they have been roughing it in Tasmania on the actual spots mentioned by Marcus Clark in his famous story. According to Mias Novak and the members of the company, they have had a wonderful time. Everyone being only too eager to help them in ’feeling at home.

“Satan in Sables.” Australasian Films. General cast: Dramatic story of average interest, and rather top-heavy with intrigue and incident. A Russian Grand Duke is living in Paris where he makes the acquaintance of a woman of questionable repute. Growing tired of her, he casts her off. The lady , vows vengeance, and when the Duke’s younger brother comes along, she makes a play for him. The duke falls for a young girl of the slums; he is really in love this time, and is infuriated when he finds an Apache visiting his new lady; but there is no need for jealousy, and all is running smoothly for a time. But the discarded lady is working her revenge. The Duke’s brother, now desperately in love with her, is informed by the vamp, that she had been mistress to the elder man. This disturbs the peace of mind of the younger man, who determines to commit suicide. The brother, divining his purpose, seta sail in another car, hoping to catch the discreet lad ere he sends his own machine over the cliff; but too late 1 The younger man dies in his brother’s arms. The Grand Duke arranges to leave Paris, when his new love comes along and asks to be taken with him.

Those who remember Rex in the remarkable picture “King of Wild Horses” will be glad to know that the second of his productions will soon be released, “Black Cyclone.” In this attraction he plays the part of a terror.