Round The Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 329, 14 April 1928, Page 15

Round The Shows

JUNGLE LAW “CHANG” AT THE REGENT Familiarity does its work so Well that the average moving-picture fan can sit stolidly through the most terrific motor smash, the finest shipwreck, the wildest airplane smash the studio can invent. But he has’ not yet learned to sit unmoved and look into the gleaming lightning of a tiger’s eyes, nor feel his muscles tighten as the elephant herd comes thundering down, trunks waving, ears flapping, even, it seems, over the top of the cameraman. The thrills of “Chang” are real thrills. They made the full house at the Regent Theatre last night sit up and take notice. Everyone' realised that liere was the long-promised “different” picture, the film, which shunning copy and precedent! had gone to the wilds : of the earth and found new drama and new players. Most explorers who take moving-pic-tures are only too glad to get a straight, unvarnished travelogue, with a few close-ups of jungle drinking pools. Then with the help of a little bright sub-titling or a breezy lecturer, the film makes a triumphal tour of the world and everyone speaks of the “courage of the hunters.” But the photographers of “Chang” set themselves, not the comparatively, simple task of turning the handle of the camera as they went; they decided to make a “natural drama,” the first of its kind. ~ Briefly they were faced with all the difficulties of making a drama and they had no studio but the great jungle, no artificial lighting, but the flares to keep away the jungle beasts, no players but the simple jungle folk fighting for life in the wild. Messrs. Merian Cooper and Schoedsack could not sit back at ease with a commanding megaphone to their lips. Bodily risk must have been constantly with them, and at times life was separate from death by inches. They must have taken thousands of feet of film and then culled and selected to get the kernel, the strong, virile, thrilling drama of “Chang.” Threadbare adjectives, they are used truthfully for the first time in years. Kru and Chantui, man and wife, are the two big stars of “Chang.” Like Adam and Eve, turned from the Garden, they find their life a constant struggle against the menace of the jungle. Kru is a pioneer, he lias gone further into the wild than his fellow tribesmen, he has built his house on high stilts, he has cultivated his rice patch and protected his few domestic, animals from the jungle beasts. With their two children Kru’ and Chantui are happy when they forget the menace. But the slinking leopard carries off his goats, the tiger devours his water-buffalo, the elephants or “Chang” trample his rice patch and smash his dwelling. Then his tribesmen organise the hunt of the Great Herd, surely one of the most amazing scenes ever photographed, and 400 elephants, which had battered down a village, are driven into a great kraal. This is a mighty climax to a film which has revelled in strong adventure. "Chang” has its own comedian, “Bimbo,” a white monkey with the face and the actions of an old man. He is one of the finest natural humorists ever seen on the films. Special music is played by the uiiuiiKiiiHiiiiiimiimiiiiiiiiiimitiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Regent orchestra, under Mr. Maurice Guttridge, for “Chang.” The overture, “Dance of the Sun God.” is colourful and strong, and the rest of the score is splendily appropriate. Mr. Leslie V. Harvey plays on the Wurlitzer organ the Kashmiri Song, and gives an amusing lesson on organ-playing. The picture programme includes a good comedy of a sailor, who got mixed into a fashionable dress shop, and just escaped with his life.

HIS MAJESTY’S “THE TERROR” ON TUESDAY Edgar Wallace’s play, “The Ringer/’ continues to attract large audiences to His Majesty’s Theatre. A mystery piece wrought with the cunning of a master, it works up to a brilliant surprise climax. The play itself is sturdy enough, but it becomes doubly delightful as an entertainment through the acting of a star cast headed by Maurice Moscovitch, Nat Madison, Bertha Riccardo and Mary Macgregor. On Tuesday evening a second Wallace thriller, “The Terror,” will be produced for the first time in the Dominion. This play is said to have some features that have made it even more popular ’ than “The Ringer.” There is excellent character drawing, and the playwright has shown wonderful skill in contriving* situations and raising and lowering the tension of the piece by imperceptible degrees. “The Terror” is an arch-crook, who has hidden 20 tons of gold, the proceeds of a robbery, in the vaults of an old priory. A boardinghouse is about the last place to find mystery, but Edgar Wallace, with the aid of murders and ghosts, infuses the proper mystery atmosphere. Maurice Moscovitch plays the part of Ferninand Fane, and Nat Madison does excellent work as Soapy Marks. Mary Macgregor, Bertha Riccardo, Ashton Jarry and Reginald Newson help to complete tlie cast. The play will be staged for five nights, and the box. plan is at Lewis Eady, Ltd. BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA FIFTEENTH SEASON The Bohemian Orchestra will present its first concert programme for the 15tli season at the Auckland Town Hall on Thursday, April 26. The programme will include: "All Baba” (Cherubini); “Tone Poem” (Goldmark); “Romance in C” (Sibelius); “Spanish Dance” (Saltarello); “Bird Scene,” “Hiawatha” (C. Taylor); “Berceuse” (Jarnefeldt), solo violin, Miss E. Whitelaw. Miss Theo Halpin will play “Piano Concerto, No. 1, in E Flat” (Liszt), with orchestral accompaniment, and Miss Gwenyth Evans will sing “A Summer Night” (Goring Thomas) and “The Great Awakening” (A. Kramer). Mr. John Bree will sing *?ie prologue to “Pagliacei” (Leoncavallo). The secretary, Mr. W. J. Caddell, will be pleased to hear from intending subscribers.

“THE CIRCUS” THIRD WEEK AT STRAND The art of making people laugh is possessed by many stage and screen artists, but there is only one who can keep the people in a continuous bubble of merriment. That is, of course, Charlie Chaplin, and in liis third production in two years, “The Circus,” he comes before his thousands of admirers funnier than ever. For two weeks Aucklanders have crowded the Strand Theatre to see Charlie at his best, and last evening the third week of this excellent comedy commenced. The theatre was packed, tangible evidence that there are still thousands who have not seen Charlie. The picture commences with a touch of drama, and the audience is not aware of comedy- until the familiar figure of Charlie flashes on the screen as a tramp haunting the circus in search of food. “The Circus” is crammed with funny incidents, and the audience has no time to get over one when there come others. A distinct plot, with Charlie

always In the limelight, places “The Circus” far above the usual line of comedy. From all indications it would appear that this picture is due for a most popular reception for many weeks to come. As is usual with Charlie he has a picked cast to support him, and each artist makes a clever foil to the inimitable comedian. The prologue to the picture is “Tho Tiny Tots’ Circus.” with pupils of Mdme. Valeska. The impersonation of Charlie Chaplin by little Dorothy Katipa was excellent. The elephant and the animals ■were most popular and this proved a fitting introduction to the main feature. Eve’s Review contains good things from other parts of the world, with a special section for women. This with a cartoon adds interest to the programme. Especially good was “Memories of the Old Country,” a series of views of England, Scotland and Wales, including grand old castles and the portrayal of historical incidents such as the game of bowls before the Armada, and the execution of Mary Queen of Scots. The Strand Orchestra under Miss Bentley supplied an excellent musical programme.

MAJESTIC LON CHANEY MYSTERY Such a jaunty little old man—a top hat perched merrily on the back of his head as he ambled along. To be sure, he was almost bent double, and the dissenting variety of tie. with its ample white collar, rather tended to obliterate the saucy impression conveyed by the angle of his hat. A. rather terrifying old man, too. Take, for instance, his eyes. They rolled horribly. The average picture fan with some knowledge of Lon Chaney’s characterisations knew at once that this old man was given to hypnotic practices. It almost seemed, too, that he might have indulged in the occult—despite his white tie and the sanctity of his collar. Last evening’s audience at the Majestic Theatre received sufficient thrills from “London After Midnight,” Lon Chaney’s latest production for Metro - GoldwynMayer, to last them for some time to oome. Why the feature is so titled it is not clear, except, of that the locale is certainly English. The action took place, however, in a deserted, ruined home in the country, a refuge for bats and _ owls and other things which prefer the night time for meandering about the countryside. . . . The public has learnt to look for much from Lon Chaney, the screen s undoubted master of characterisation. The openifig of this picture, which is a thriller after the manner of Tne Bat” and “Cat and Canary.” is sufficiently eerie to satisfy the most blase

of fans. . Chaney himself brings all his undoubted art and ingenuity to the role of the detective who eventually successfully unravels the death of Roger Balfour. Henry Walthall was the naughty baronet who was willing to avil himself of a superstitious appreciation of vampires in the neighbourhood in order to obtain possession of Lucille, the murdered man’s daughter. Conrad Nagel was his nephew, an impetuous, hot-heated youth, though sincerely attached, of course, to the heroine. Marceline Day, the lady in the case, was excellent. Of more than passing interest was a film descriptive of Britain’s mourning for Earl Haig. There was the procession of State to the Abbey, where field-marshals and admirals paid homage to the memory of their colleague. Contrasting strangely, yet in keeping with the man laid to rest, was the simple country funeral ceremony at his Scottish home. Instead of the body being carried by a gun-carriage, as in London and in Edinburgh, it was placed in a farmer’s wagon, and. minus pomp and ritual, Lord Haig for the last time traversed the country road that he knew and loved so well. The Dvorak “Dance No. 15“ and the “Sereramide” overture (Rossini), were the contributions of Mr. J. Whiteford Waugh’s orchestra, and were rendered in accordance with the Majestic’s usual artistic standard. Fred Baker gained popular favour with his “Blue Heaven”

offering, and the well-known “Bedouin Love Song.” The Hal Roach comedy, played entirely by children, was one of the most enjoyable contributions seen for some time—it was one continuous laugh and might well put to shame many an offering by so-called adult “comedians.” The Huka Falls, a New Zealand scenic, directed attention to still another Dominion beauty spot, also a potential source for electric power for the adjacent country. The Majestic’s pictorial news sheet brought world happenings of interest from every quarter. There were also the latest Paris fashions for the womenfolk.

PUBLIC DEBATE HISTORICITY OF JESUS A public debate is to be held in the Strand Theatre to-morrow evening when the subject will be “The Historicity of Jesus.” The affirmative will bo taken by the Rev. W. Lawson Marsh, M.A., minister, Presbyterian Church, Devonport, and the negative by Mr. V. Nugent, Auckland Rationalist Association. The debate will commence at 8.20 p.m., and the collection to be taken up will be devoted to the Mayor's Unemployment Fund. The chairman of the evening will be Mr. C. E. Major. CLICK CLACK CABARET DANCING THIS EVENING The cooler weather brings with it a desire for mor© dancing, and one of the most popular floors in Auckland is that of the Click Clack Cabaret in the Rialto Buildings, Newmarket. The usual long night will provide daheers with unlimited entertainment this evening. The decorations are a feature of this ballroom, while the music is all that could be desired. PRIZED POSSESSIONS VALENTINO’S ARMOURY Prized possessions that once belonged to Rudolph Valentino are used by Bebe Daniels in the Paramount star s latest comedy “She’s a Sheik.” Three braces of Arabian pistols and a valuable dagger are carried by Miss Daniels at various times in the production. The Paramount star obtained the treasured articles at an auction sale which disposed of the popular motion picture actor’s effects shortly after his death. She now owns more than half of his famous collection of arms. “She’s a Sheik’’ was recently released in New Zealand. Miss Daniels has just completed another picture “Feel My Pulse” and her next is “Hold Everything.”

MUNICIPAL CONCERT AT TOWN HALL WEDNESDAY The Municipal Band and soloists with vocal assistance by the Orpheus Quartette will continue the above concerts on Wednesday next in the Town Hall. A bright programme of a popular nature will be presented. Among the band items are "Semiramido" overture. Roberts's clever transcription “The Old Folks at Home” (in foreign lands), descriptive number ‘A Hunting Scene,” caprice “Be Reveil du I .ion” and selection Reminiscences of Scotland.” “IN A TURKISH BATH” JACK MULHALL AGAIN Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulhall. with all the hilarious facilities afforded by intimate glimpses into a Turkish bath, prove themselves as popular a team as ever In the intriguingly entitled production. "Radies’ Night in a Turkish Bath.” If ever there was a laugh-filled. riot-provoking corneddrama, here it is, with all the piquancy of a decidedly unusual background to give it increased interest. Miss Maekaill and Mulhall handle their roles, and the difficult situations they are I called upon to face w ith unerring skill, and one is forced to admire the deft manipulation of situations that causes much mirth. The story chiefly deals t with Mulhall as an iron worker, fallj ing in love with a iittle vendor of : ready-packed lunches. Their love i hits a hundred funny things before Mulhall gets into a scrape that even- ; tually lands him in a Turkish bath ■ and a compromising situation that nearly results in his losing bis girl entirely. The supporting cast adds its quota of laughs to a very fine comedy from the First National studios. j Mary Brian plays the feminine lead in Paramount's new comedy. coI starring Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton, titled “Partners in Crime.”

GRAND

“BEN-HUR” “So much has already been written regarding the motion picture version of “Ben Hur,” which is now at the Grand Theatre, that to add anything further is almost as difficult as endeavouring to add another hue to the rainbow. Almost all the superlatives in the English language have been called into commission in an endeavour to give some idea of the magnitude of this truly mighty screen production, but mere words cannot do justice to its magnificence—it must be seen to be appreciated. “Ben Hur’’ is one of the greatest screen spectacles ever screened in an Auckland theatre. Scenes which have never before been attempted by producers are among the outstanding features of the production, and there are so many of these mighty spectacles and all of them on such a colossal scale that it is difficult to say which is the finest. The story, of course, offers exceptional opportunities for gorgeous settings on a lavish scale, and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios, who were responsible for the production, obviously laid themselves out to surpass any and all of th© big spectacular productions of the past. “THE WAGON SHOW” COMING TO AUCKLAND Ken Maynard has undoubtedly outmixed Mix in “The Wagon Show,’* for surely the wonderful and really thrilling feats he accomplishes could not be surpassed for daring and novelty. Billed in this exciting drama of circus life out in the wild and woolly West as “The World’s Champion Rider,” the handsome and happy-faced star has been well described. To see him executing breath-taking stunts, riding a bucking broncho, roping a wild and fractious steer, with Tarzan, the wonder horse, performing tricks that almost prove him to be a superhorse in reality, are a few of the thrills in store for patrons in “The Wagon Show,” his latest First National Picture. This is the inside story of the circus ring, with the tears, laughter, love and intrigue that goes on behind the hectic glamour of the sawdust ring, with Ken Maynard in a role which proves him a fine actor as well as the most spectacular and thrilling exponent of the equestrienne art. BRITANNIA “THE ROAD TO ROMANCE" Mystery and peril, thrilling adventures on land and sea, abiding love —tV.ese abound in “The Road to Romance,” now being shown at the Britannia Theatre, with Ramon Novarro in the leading role. Pitch a keg of rum—plundered from some helpless ship—into a circle of thirsty pirates, then see them describe their battles on land and sea, with fierce eyes gleaming under vivid bandannas and with ribald song roared by lusty voices! Fill the Carribbean Sea with this picturesque rabble, make an island lair for them off the coast of Cuba —for them and their senoritas —and what a colourful beginning you have! But go on and make a sinister alliance between the pirates and the governor of the island, and place in the midst of this hectic community a beautiful girl, whom the governor desires as his wife —and what more is needed but a gallant adventurer to save the girl? The second picture on the programme is “The Stolen Bride,” featuring Billie Rove.

“THE DEVIL DANCER” GILDA GRAY’S LATEST Gilda Gray’s first Samuel Goldwyn photoplay entitled “The Devil Dancer,” which is shortly to be released in New Zealand, is a tale of the mysterious Black Lamas, or priests, of unknown Tibet, and the virgins confined in their temples and bound to service of the evil gods of devil worship. Through Plarry Hervey, the Oriental student who wrote the story, Gilda has been enable to secure authentic museuf pieces from Tibetan temples for use on this production. These objects d’art are invaluable, many of them being antiques. Among other things she has the real costumes of a real Devil Dancer. This girl was called “Takla,” which is the name Miss Gray has given to the character she impersonates. The author met her in India whence she fled to escape death upon the discovery by the Tibetan temple guards of her affection for a young Lama, or priest. The girl was presumably traced by the Devil Worshippers, for she was finally found dead in Bombay. EDENDALE ‘CHEATING CHEATERS” Resorting to the cleverest ruse ever used in the profession, two gangs of crooks from New York’s underworld invade the haunts of millionaires in the latest Universal-Jewel production, “Cheating Cheaters,” now being shown at the Edendale Theatre, when they endeavour to stage a great jewel robbery under a cloak of innocence. Betty Compson plays the most intriguing rol© of her career when she vamps Kenneth Harlan, and she alone is responsible for the much-tangled affair which makes this picture so exceedingly interesting from the opening titl© to the final scene. Romance, comedy and thrills galore make up one of the greatest combinations ever introduced in a crook production. The other members in the “crooked” cast are Maud© Turner Gordon. Sylvia Ashton, Erwin Connelly, Eddie Gribbon, E. J. Ratcliffe, Lucien Littlefield and Cesare Gravina. On the same programme is being shown Zane Grey’s great story. ‘ Nevada,” with a notable cast, including Gary Cooper, Thelma Todd and William Powell.

Bebe Daniels has completed the production of “Feel My Pulse.” This Paramount picture was directed by Gregory La Cava. It will be shown in New Zealand this year.

Gabriel Gabrio, who plays the part of Jean Valjean, M. Madeleine and Champmathieu in “Les Miserables.” the Universal-Film de France production, is one of ' France’s greatest actors. Years before he entered the screen he was knovrn as one of the favourites of the Paris stage, and the star of the Theatre Danon. Hq was born in the Champagne in 1888. Gabrio is a strikingly handsome man. broadshouldered, with the physique of a Samson; is 6ft 2in tall, has blue eyes and brown hair. Gabrio has never visited the United States but is seriously considering several offers from American producers for next year's season.

An excellent boxing picture shortly to be released is the Universal production, “The Count of Ten.” Charles Ray plays the prize-fighter role, with James Gleason as the manager and Jobyn Ralston as the sweetheart. ‘‘The Count of Ten” is Beaumont’s “Saturday Evening Post” story, “Betty’s a Lady.”

“The Merry Widow,” directed by Erich Von Stroheim, with John Gilbert, Mae Murray and Roy D’Arcy in the cast, is to be released very shortly. This dazzling gem of ideal entertainment has been brought to the screen by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and with its colourful romance, lilting music and poetic drama, is sure to be one of the most successful photoplays of tlie year.

More than 30 pairs of silk stockings were ruined in the making of “Silk Stockings,” the Universal-Jewel starring Laura La Plante. The supporting cast of this picture includes John Harron, Otis Harlan, William Austin, Tempe Pigot, Marcella Daly, Ruth Cherrington, Heinie Conklin and Burr Mclntosh.

James Wong Howe, the only Chinese cameraman in the motion picture industry, and who has photographed such outstanding successes as “Peter Pan” and “The Spanish Dancer,” has been engaged by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios to photograph Lon Chaney’s next Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring vehicle, “Laugh, Clown Laugh.” Herbert Brenon is directing the new production.

John P. McCarthy has signed a new contract with M.-G.-M. He will start work shortly on a special production. Two recent big hits, “Becky” and “The Lovelorn,” both Cosmopolitan productions, were directed by McCarthy.

Clarence Brown has renewed his contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and will continue to direct pictures exclusively for that organisation. Brown, who has made a notable record for himself in the number of screen successes to his credit, directed John Gilbert and Greta Garbo in “Flesh and the Devil” and “Love.’' He also made “The Trail of ’98,” the elaborate screen version of Robert W. Service’s novel of the Alaskan gold rush, in which 2,000 more extras were employed than in “Ben Hur.”

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI

LAURA’S LAUGHTER MAKER Silk stockings are all over the Princess and Tivoli Theatres this week, even on the screen where Laura La Plante is starring in “Silk Stockings.” This is a gay, frivolous farce of the type which has brought stardom to Universal’s beautiful blonde. Movie audiences prefer them if the attitude of the patrons at these theatres last night is any criterion. The story concerns itself with the very delightful experiences of a young married couple who are plunged into various hilarious situations. John Harron, as the star’s husband, is ex- ! eellent as, indeed, are the whole cast. | The story and direction draw the ! same rating which combines to make this one of those ludicrous yet refreshing human comedies which no one who enjoys motion pictures can afford to miss. Otis Harlan. well-known comic, is admirable in his role which he enacts with a fine polish. William Austin gains his share of laughs while Marcella Daly is largely responsible for that pair of silk stockings which makes so much fun as evidence at the divorce trial, stud divorce never being granted by the judge who is a friend of each of the young couple, unknown to the other. The second feature on the programme is “A Tiny Toreador,” starring Hoot Gibson. Gibson, himself, of course, is the Hoot of old: a real Achilles of the screen, invulnerable and courageous, dashing and debonair. “A Tidy Toreador” is suited perfectly to his versatile talents and was written by Peter B. Kyne, the man who has turned out so many popular short stories from which so many successful photoplays have been made. Sally Hand as the heroine is attractive and clever, as a rider and as an actress. Otis Harlan is very funny in another of his droll characterisations, while Max Asher as a comedy cowboy adds further laughs to a perfectly balanced picture. DR. COLIN ROSS EXPLORER’S FILMS Dr. Colin Hoss, the intrepid explorer who has just returned to Europe after an absence of 12 months in darkest Africa, has brought back the most astounding negatives imaginable, and under the title, “The Awakening of the Sphinx,” UFA have released this unusual topical throughout Europe. No doubt New Zealanders and Australians will be more than interested to iearn that Dr. Colin Ross intends paying a visit to both these countries at an early date In order to film similar educational and instructive pictures, and at the same time lecture in conjunction with his African film. As the sponsors of these trips into far away corners of the w T orld are the UFA organisations, his lecture trip to New Zealand and Australia will be under the direction of Cinema Art Films, Ltd. RIALTO AND REGENT, EPSOM “THE PATENT LEATHER KID” It can be truly said that only once in the proverbial blue moon is there a picture of the calibre of Richard Barthelmess’s giant special, “The Patent Leather Kid,” now being shown at the Rialto and Regent Theatres. Convincing, realistic, spectacularly produced and directed, to its most minute detail, “The Patent Leather Kid,” First National’s great romance of an East Side “pug,” and a little dancing girl, is a picture perfect in stagecraft. The story is splendidly developed, absorbingly human, and the acting of little Molly O’Day, as the lady with the past, and Dick Barthelmess. as the smashing, fighting hero, calls forth superlatives. The shadowy background of war provides some wonderful scenes, especially those showing the Tank Corps in action, while the comedy, the grimness, the thrills, guarantee perfect entertainment. Molly O’Day has firmly established herself for stardom, and the virile Richard has registered a complete K.O. as this vital, pulsating character drawing. MUNICIPAL BAND AT ZOO TO-MORROW Charming music will be presented by the Municipal Band at the Zoological Park to-morrow. Sunday, afternoon at 3 o’clock. Bright marches, "Zampa" overture, selections “Preciosa” and ‘‘Maritana,” instrumental solos by Messrs. McLennan and Bowes, and many other interesting numbers are to be played. In the Town Hall on the same evening the band will give a musical recital at which admission is free. A fine programme will include thp “Caliph of Bagdad” overture. the first movement of Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony” and a bright selection from “II Trovatore.” instrumental solos and other tuneful items. “LOVES OF CARMEN” McLAGLEN AS TOREADOR Careful selection is extremely apparent in the long list of brilliant screen luminaries portraying the principal roles in “Loves of Carmen,” the Fox production which is lirected bv Raoul Walsh, maker of “What Price Glop’-”, Heading the cast is Victor McLaglen, whose recent characterisation of Captain Flagg of the latter production established him as one of the most talented players appearin*before the camera. He plays' the role of the toreador in this film. In the title role is Delores Del Rio, who likewise won millions of admirers for her portrayal of Charmaine in the same production. Don Alvarado and Nancy Nash appear as the officer of the guard and the country girl respectivelv. an d others who play supporting roles arc Ben Bard, Mathilde Comont, Jack Bastian and Ralph Sipperly. 'Loves of Carmen” took seven months to produce. but the result is well worth the trouble.