Round The Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 246, 7 January 1928, Page 12

Round The Shows

PRINCE EDWARD “THE MAN IN THE SHADOW” Following the precept laid down in director David Hartford’s first three pictures, the latest, ‘‘The Man in the Shadow,” a Master Picture release, which is now at the Prince Edward Theatre, an all-star cast was engaged t enact this thrilling melodrama. In one of the most important roles, that of the mother of the boy who is sentenced to death on circumstantial evidence, is Myrtle Stedman, one of the screen’s most gifted actresses. Playing opposite her, in the role of the governor, is David Torrence, veteran of many outstanding screen portrayals. As the boy, Joseph Bennett proves to be a leader among the younger artists of the screen. Mary McAlister, as the daughter of the governor and the sweetheart of the condemned man, rises to the position of leading lady from which she is destined to climb even higher. Others who play important roles in this thrilling story are Arthur Rankin, John T. Dwyer, Margaret Fielding and Edward Coxen. MUNICIPAL BAND ZOO ON SUNDAY A fine musical programme will be given by the Municipal Band at the Zoological Park on Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. An outstanding item is the selection “Classica,” containing as it does many popular classical numbers; a selection from ‘‘Madame Pompadour” is also to be presented, also the stirring marches “Cavalry of the Clouds,” “The Vedette,” and “The Soldier’s Wooing.” The overture is Verdi’s popular “Xabuco”; instrumental solos also are to be played by Messrs. Bowes and McLennan.

CAPITOL EXCELLENT PROGRAMME The tempestuous care-free lives of the younger generation are held up for inspection in “The Whirlwind of Youth,” Paramount’s absorbingly interesting production, which is now being shown at the Capitol Theatre. Much of the story is laid in Paris, and the hectic studio life is shown in many colourful sequences. An unsophisticated girl arrives from an English village to study art, and her introduction to Paris is filled with surprises—though it brings the thrill and exaltation of a Great Love into her life. But the subsequent history of this girl, played by delectable Lois Moran, emphasises anew the truth of the time-worn adage that "the course of true love never runs smooth.” A pleasing galaxy of young piasters enact "The Whirlwind of Youth.” Donald Keith, Vera Voronina, the ravishing Russian beauty, and Alyce Mills being featured. The picture was produced under the direction of Rowland V. Lee, the man who made “Barbed Wire,” Pola Negri's latest vehicle. "Fast and Furious,” Reginald Denny’s latest comedy, is also on the programme. ORGAN RECITAL TOWN HALL TO-NIGHT The organ recital in the Town Hall to-night has been specially arranged to give visitors an opportunity of hearing the city organ. Mr. Maughan Barnett will play a popular programme including works by Bach. Wider and Hollins, and a concert fantasia on Bizet’s "Carmen.”

“THE ROUGH RIDERS” COMING TO HIPPODROME AND EMPRESS The human background provided by a thousand men is used for the love story in “The Rough Riders,” Paramount’s great drama, which reaches the Hippodrome and Empress Theatres next Wednesday. With Charles Farrell and Charles Emmett Mack, both competing for Mary Astor, there is constantly behind them in shifting scenes, the rollicking, heroic body of men who have come down in history to fame for their spirit, gallantry and picturesque qualities during the Spanish-American War. The use of this beloved regiment as a background for a romantic love story is something new, made effective through Victor Fleming’s splendid direction. Always in the tender moments of the lovers, one senses the pulse of a mighty armed unit in motion, the trampling of horses’ hoofs, the thud of sabre against saddle and the joyous resonance of the voices of men bound for war. That kinema science has made seven-league-boot strides since the days of the old thrillers is attested to by the amazing photographic illusion and shadowgraphic effects achieved in the screen rendition of “The Cat and the Canary.” Universal has gathered together a notable cast in this picture, with an all-star cast headed by Laura La Plante. She is ably seconded by such featurd players as Arthur Edmund Carew, Forrest Stanley, Creighton Hale, Tully Marshall, Lucien Littlefield, George Siegmann, Flora Finch, Martha Mattox and Gertrude Astor.

EMPIRE A STRONG PROGRAMME Dainty and delightful Norma Shearer has played many roles in her screen career, but none have afforded a better setting for her unusual beauty

than that of the little cigarette girl in “After Midnight,” the MetroGoldwyn - Mayer picture which will be shown at the Empire Theatre tonight. It is safe to say that if ever cafe and restaurant boasted a cigarette selling young female with the

appeal and grace of Xorma Shearer, the consumption of the fragrant weed, already heavy, would increase tenfold. In “After Midnight," director Monta Bell has lifted the veil of mystery that formerly hung over the lives of girls who earn their living between dusk and dawn. He skilfully depicts the different outlooks on life possessed bytwo sisters—both of them workers “after midnight”—the drama, the comedy, and the unexpected thrills of their existence. “The Sap,” featuring Kenneth Harlan and Heine Conklin, will also be shown.

A real hobo served as technical director for a sequence in “Alias the Deacon," the Universal Jewel production starring Jean Hersholt. The company filming scenes in a box car at a railroad yard in Los Angeles, awakened the knight of the road, who gave the director valuable advice and even played a small part in the picture. It was his first job in five years, he told the director upon receiving his pav cheque. *