PRINCESS, TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY’S

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 72, 16 June 1927, Page 17

PRINCESS, TIVOLI AND EVERYBODY’S

“HOTEL IMPERIAL OPENS” Pola Negri’s newest Paramount starring picture, “Hotel Imperial,” opening at the Princess, Tivoli and Everybody’s Theatres to-night, is based on an actual incident in the life of a newspaper man. This is the revelation of Lajos Biro, author of the novel and stage play, which was adapted *to the screen for Pola.

Although already launched on a career of fiction writing, Biro was a front line corresopdent for four European newspapers during the war.

While with the Hungarian army in the victorious counter-attack which drove the Russians out of Galicia in 1915, he stopped at a hotel in the small town of Tarnow.

When the Russians seized Tarnow, the general made a chambermaid manager of the hotel. Biro heard the story and got the germ of a plot for “Hotel Imperial.”

At the close of that campaign he wrote a stage play which became an instant sensation. It was produced in Budapest with Sari Fedak, wife of Franz Molnar, another Hungarian playwright, enacting the rol£ which Pola Negri portrays on the screen. The play’s popularity swept the entire nation. It has since been translated into several languages. “Hotel Imperial” was forbidden in Vienna and throughout Austria, however, on the ground that it was pacifist in appeal and would incite reaction unfavourable to the cause of the Central Powers.

James Hall and George Siegmann are featured in support of the star. Maritz Stiller directed, with the assistance of Erich Pommer, former producing genius of Ufa. On the same programme at the Princess and Tivoli will be Fred Thomson’s latest feature film, “Hands Across the Border.” The picture is heralded by critics as the best thing the popular western star has done, wherefore F. 8.0. expects that it will leave the p.ublic limp with laughter; which it probably will! No western luminary has ever flashed into prominence whose pictures were so redolent of mirth as Mr. Thomson’s. Coupled in the betting both for chuckles and thrills is Silver King, Fred’s famous horse, which has an even more important role in the production than usual. Much of the action revolves around a smuggling ring which is operating near the Mexican border, but while it scintillates with speed, the picture is more outstanding as a mirthproducer than in any other respect. David Kirkland directed. The strong supporting cast includes such eminent thespians as Tyrone Power, Bess Flowers, William Courtwright. Clarence Geldert and Tom Santschi.

“Looking for Trouble” will • be screened in addition to “Hotel Imperial” at Everybody's.