Round The Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 397, 4 July 1928, Page 15

Round The Shows

majestic:

“LOVE HUNGRY” JASPER A very attractive programme is being presented at the Majestic Theatre, where there is not only a delightful pictorial programme, but a big stage attraction in the form of “Jasper’s Limited,” a very clever troupe of performers who are presenting concerts in aid of the Auckland City Mission funds which are sadly in need of help. Songs, sketches, choruses and medleys make the entertainment unusually attractive to all. The programme is opened by “The Company Are We,” a choral number by the whole company, followed by Rees and Asher at the piano. A very amusing sketch, an “exposure” of the Pensions Department, “When the Opera Came to Church,” a very beautiful number, “The Volga Boatmen,” sung by the whole company, and a humorous song by Mr. Charles Massee follow in quick succession. And last, but not l€;ast, is “Three Minutes With Jasper,’" the three minutes being more than sufficient to enable Aucklanders to hear what the different church bells in Auckland say.

The pictorial portion of the programme is headed by “Love Hungry,” a happy romance, with Lois Moran. Marjorie Beebe, that inimitable comedienne, and Lawrence Gray, in the leading roles.

When Lois meets Tom Harvey, played by Lawrence Gray, she is first amused and then somewhat nettled when she find him, in his capacity as a writer, handing out advice through his column in a newspaper to young men and women to get married, and have no fear of the future. Around this situation the authors ha,ve built what is said to "be the most convincing story to come out o'f the film capital in recent months. The greater part of the action is laid in the heart of New York.

An interesting English scenic, “Tiger of the Stream,” and a Majestic Magazine conclude the programme. On Friday at the Majestic another big programme, with “Silk Legs,” Madge Bellamy’s latest mirth-making picture as the chief attraction, will be shown.

The story is based on the clash between two hosiery commercial travellers with but one thought in their minds —to win the Fulton Mail Order Company’s order. How Miss Bellamy succeeds is told in one of the funniest stories screened.

EVERYBODY'S

“METROPOLIS” ATTRACTION Many romance writers have made fanciful play of their imaginations in an attempt to vision the world as it will be in the days after they have passed on. It is an amusing exercise, often profitable, and on rare occasions conveying some wise message to the people of the writer’s time. The immense latitude allowed in this imaginative speculation enables a man to convey much more than could be conveyed' in a more restricted form. So much for the printed work. In the infancy of the motion picture it was not possible to compass the subtlety of symbol and allegory with the romancer’s ease; but the passing of the years has brought advance, and now comes the magnificent UFA production, “Metropolis,” which is a triumphant assertion of the motion picture’s right to be considered as great spectacular art. There is a mighty warning to the modern world in “Metropolis,” and the lesson is forced upon the mind by the subtle and artistic use of symbol and allegory. The giant machines one sees in the picture might seem purposeless, but they stand there as symbols of man’s mechanical enslavery and ultimate master. The mechanical woman is another pitiful symbol. Man, in enslavement, will lose soul, and this evil hollow-heart woman is an anticipation of what will be if the spiritual elements are persistently subordinated to the material.

“Metropolis,” as a production, is an expressionistic triumph. It achieves more than radical expressionistic literature has achieved, and if its warning is heeded it will serve to stimulate thought as nothing else has done. The photographic resources of the producers of “Metropolis” are amazing, almost terrifying at times, and some of the scenes in this great visioned city of the future are among the best yet shown on the screen. The superb acting of Brigette Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Froebich and Fritz Lang completes the triumph.

ST. JAMES THEATRE

OPENING TO-MORROW GALA NIGHT ARRANGEMENTS With the finishing touches now almost complete, St. James Theatre will be ready to-morrow evening to receive its first audience. A theatre’s “christening” is a big event, and Fullers’, recognising this, have made full arrangements for public comfort on the first gala night. The first production, “Archie,” is one certain to make a favourable impression, and its popularity is assured through the presence in the cast of such engaging stars as Jimmy Godden and Elsie Prince. It is scarcely necessary to recall their brilliantly amusing efforts in “No, No, Nanette/’ and “Lady Be Good.” In “Archie,” Miss Prince has ample latitude for the display of piquant and individual qualities which have Already endeared her to a legion of theatregoers. Mr. Godden’s mellow humour, original comedy methods and clever dancing, have no rein in this production. Charlton Morton, who was associated with this bright pair in other productions, will also have an ample part. “Archie.” which has a bright libretto and lively music, will be staged amid spectacular settings, and gorgeous frocking and bright dances will be features of the show. “Archie” was one of London's greatest successes, and it is certain to commend itself to Auckland, more especially considering the happy auspices under which it is being staged.

The parking place in Lome Street is not yet quite ready, but arrangements have been made for motorists to park their cars in Civic Square, where they will be in charge of a theatre attendant.

An innovation which will find favour with the public is that whereby upper circle tip-up seats may be reserved. These seats are the same as those in the dress circle ond atevlla.

TUDOR, REMUERA

AND MAOS? MAIDS “Serenade,” Adolphe Menjotfs latent picture, will be shown at the Tudor Cinema, Remuera, again this evening. “Serenade” is a story of Vienna today, and Menjou plays the role of Franz Rossi, a young musical composer of ability, but with so little money that he is thrown out of his boardinghouse. With a couple of porters carrying his piano he goes in search of another place, but on the way sees beautiful Gretchen Lenz. The girl is an Inspiration to him, and he writes “Gretchen,” a love song dedicated to her. This is his first real success.

Katherine Carver plays the role of Gretchen, and others in the cast are Lina Basquette and Lawrence Oraxit. An added attraction will be the appearance again of Princess Te Puca’s Maori maids and warriors, in an excellent programme of Maori songs and dances. The Maori girls twirl their little pois and sing with a lovely lilt their ancient tribal songs, while the deeper chant of the warriors blends harmoniously. The hakas, canoe dances, long pois and songs, all go to provide an entertainment long to be remembered.

mS MAJESTY’S

“THE SILENT HOUSE” In a mystery play presented at His Majesty’s Theatre by the Maurice Moscovitch Company of the variety of “The Silent House,” it is unusual to disclose the secrets as the mysterious events take place, but this the author has done here, and the result is excellent. The play is almost as much a comedy as a drama. It has a thrill and a laugh in every minute. It is a brilliant piece of work performed by an equally brilliant company, and every member of the company has a difficult part. The theme is provided in the search for bonds worth £250,000, and a diamond star, which is the very soul of an ancient Chinese family. Moscovitch as Chan Fu represents the family, and in this role he is an Oriental of particularly horrible scientific abilities. With him he has two white crooks and Bertha Riccardo as the alleged patient, but in reality the unwilling hypnotic tool.

On the other side the chief character is Nat Madison as Ho Fang, the permanent body servant of the Winsford family, who crops up at every conceivable turn, and murders with delightful ease. Ho Fang appeals to the imagination, and will be long remembered in Auckland. These roles and that of Leon Peroda, a gentleman from Assam, played by Ashton Jarry, make themselves memorable by their unusualness.

“The Silent House” will continue to thrill Aucklanders.

CAPITOL AND EDENDALE

“SORRELL AND SON” “Sorrell and Son” an outstanding picture of a father’s love for his son will be shown again this evening at the Capitol and Edendale Theatres. “Sorrell and Son” tells of Captain Stephen Sorrell, M.C., who returns from the war broken in health to find his wife had deserted him and his job gone. The future looks black, but for the sake of his little son, Sorrell tries to regain his standing. At the Capitol Theatre the second feature is “The Canyon of Adventure” starring Ken Maynard and at the Edendale Theatre the second picture is “Woman Wise,” starring June Collyer.

ADSLPHI, GREf LYNN

VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES *One of America’s foremost ventriloquists, Mr. Lawrence Johnston, will be presented at the Adelphi Theatre, Grey Lynn, this evening. Mr. Johnston is possessed of remarkable talents of ventriloquism and gives a very interesting display of his art, both grave and gay. His humorous stories, jokes and happy tales are delightfully amusing and enjoyable, but all the same one is left amazed at his ability.

The pictorial side of the programme is headed by “The Happy Warrior.” starring that clever actor Malcolm McGregor, in the well-known A. S. M. Hutchison story.

NEW REGENT

“THE LAST WALTZ” The glamour of the romance of roythe Balkans is the background of the picture, “The Last Waltz, ’ which is now being shown at the New Regent Theatre. “The Last Waltz” tells of the love of the Crown Prince of a certain Balkan country, which is in conflict with the love of his aide, Dimitri. The position is further complicated by the fact that the official bride of the Prince Princess Elena, changes names for a day with her companion, Countess Vera. Things come to such a pass that the Prince is challenged to a duel by Dimitri, but the Prince has him put under arrest and condemned to death. The Princess, on learning the story from Vera, pleads with the Prince to grant a respite. He agrees to give one hour of freedom on Dimitri’s promise to return promptly. Vera persuades him to run away, and he is torn between his love and his word of honour. In the castle, the Princess turns on the Prince and accuses him of having played the part of the coward. Vera enters and tells them that Dimitri has run away. The Prince sneers and Dimitri walks in, confessing that he could not go back on his word. In the second picture on the programme the scene changes from the old world to the new—from the courts of Europe to the search for oil in Mexico. This picture is "The Showdown,” starring George Bancroft. “The Showdown” is the story of four men—and one woman—brought face to face with primitive conditions in a desperate struggle to find the flowing gold. Into the swampy jungles of the back country of the Tampico oil fields comes a gently nurtured girl from New York. Ignorant of the conditions she must face, she brings a trunk full of evening clothes and gold-mounted toilet articles. Through a series of events she finds herself alone in the back country. Then begins a tense drama, and builds to a smashing and totally unexpected finish.

Heading the cast which supports Bancroft are Evelyn Brent, Neil Hamilton, Fred Kohler, as the leader of a gang, Arnold Kent and Leslie Fenton. The Regent Operatic Orchestra, under Mr. Maurice Guttridge, supplies the incidental music.

PRINCESS AND TIVOLI

“COHENS AND KELLYS” COWING The programme now being shown at the Princess and Tivoli Theatres, headed by “Chinatown Charlie,” starting Johnnie Hines, and including Ken Maynard in “The Circus Shov77~ nill be presented for the last time this evening. Commencing to-morrow there will be shown at these two theatres a picture which has been regarded overseas as the most uproarious comedy ever made. This is “The Cohens and Kellys in Paris,” and is a sequel of “The Cohens and Kellys,” which was shown in Auckland a few months ago. One of the most distinguished casts ever assembled for any picture will appear in “The Cohens and Kellys in Paris,” which co-features George Sidney and J. Farrel MacDonald in the title roles.

George Sidney portrayed the role of Cohen in the first “Cohens and Kellys.” which proved to be one of the greatest comedy hits ever filmed. It is said that tens of thousands of requests for “more Cohens and Kellys” practiea'ly compelled the producer, Carl Laemmie, to bring out the Paris adventures of the laughably famous Irish-Jewish firm as a super-comedy. Vera Gordon and Kate Price, who created the roles of Mrs. Cohen and Mrs. Kelly, will appear again in the characters they have made. Gertrude Astor, with a fan following all per own, will play her accustomed role of dizzy vamp, while Sue Carol, as Miss Cohen, will supply the rest of the good looks to the production. Charles Delaney, popular leading man, will account for the role of young Pat Kelly who falls in love w’ith the Cohen girl and thereby plunges the two fanvlies into a mad rush for Paris to stop the racial mistake.

Sea-dog, snow-dog, herd-dog and now Rinty, the war-dog, “The Dog of the Regiment,” which Warner Bros, have produced for Master Picture release, is a story based on Rin-Tin-Tin’s own life. Ross Lederman directed, and the cast includes Tom Gallery, Dorothy Gulliver and John Peters.