Round the Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 424, 4 August 1928, Page 18

Round the Shows

DRAMA IN SPAIN

‘THE LOVES OF CARMEN” J Passionate love rarely leads the lovers into quiet ways, and a forceful illustration of this is given in “The Loves of Carmen,” the super feature that yesterday began the second week of its season at the Strand Theatre. In many ways it is one of the most distinguished pictures of the year. It is full of the warmth and colour of Spain, and the Spanish wanton, tragic heroine of the play, is a vital character symbolising all the baser qualities found in her type. She was described in the first title as having the heart of a child, the body of a wanton, and the soul of a woman. It was anticipated that these blending in one person would cause trouble —and it did. The wanton, an army officer, and a toreador, are the principal characters in the picture, which has its setting in a Spanish border town. Carmen, who is played by Dolores Del Rio, works in a cigar factory, and in her spare time amuses herself by driving unwanted j lovers into the depths of desparation. j The young officer who pleads for her love, has the meagrest « i r* Carmen keeps him on the string, realising that he might have uses at some time. It is his infatuation for Carmen that leads to his dismissal from the army. First of all he is caught releasing her from prison after she has been arrested for making a brutal attack on another girl. Later, be leaves his guard at the border to enable Carmen to assist some smugglers After this, as a tragic finale, comes a fight with his superior officer, and the infatuatd one then has a murder on liis hands. Disgraced and outlawed, he finds refuge in the Gipsy camp of Carmen’s people. The toreador, Lucas, is utterly indifferent to the wiles of Carmen, and the plot takes an original turn when she attempts to exercise her subtle feminine influence on him. Of course, she triumph? in the end, but it is the hardest struggle she has ever had. Victor AlcLagen does the finest piece of work in his screen career as the toreador. A clever study it is of a gross, spoilt man, who has but two thoughts—food and bull-fighting—but later he has a third. Dolores Del Rio really is magnificent in her part, and she appears to have more than mere physical beauty to aid her. There is an excellent prologue to the picture in which Air. Ernest Snell sings the famous “Toreador” song, and Aliss Bettina Edwards does a Spanish dance. Aliss Edwards is subtle and inspiring in her work, and no one could possibly condemn the capitulation of the bull-fighter in this delightful scena. The supporting programme includes an educational film, “Strange Friendships.” which shows the manner in which a girl has subdued the animals at the London Zoo. There is also a gazette, in which Tom Heeney figures. He is shown Sparring with cadets at West Point. The Strand Orchestra under Aliss Eve Bentley played a fine programme of Spanish incidental music.

EMPIRE SHOWS “SQUARE CROOKS” An unusually entertaining picture, entitled “Square Crooks.” will be shown at the Empire Theatre this evening. Robert Armstrong and Johnny Alack Brown portray two crooks who find that the way of a transgressor is hard and decide that the straight and narrow path is the only solution after a life of crime. The action is very rapid and comes to a swift and totally unexpected climax. “The Climbers,” a powerful society drama, starring Irene Rich, will also be shown. Jerry, the fighting kangaroo, will be seen again this evening in a boxing match with a local amateur.

“LEAGUE OF NOTIONS” REVUE COMING TO AUCKLAND SHORTLY A talented company of revue artists. , organised by Aliss Queenie Paul and Air. Alike Connors, will commence showing at the St. James Theatre in succession to the “Mercenary Mary” Company. Besides the principals, the newcomers include several old favourites, not unknown to Aucklanders. Appearing as the “League of Notions” Revue Confiany. all concerned keep the audience continually entertained. The comedy element is naturally prominent, and with such genial jesters as Alessrs. Connors, Svd Beck and Frank Perrin, a happy entertainment is* always assured. One of the features of this company is Linn Smith’s orchestra, which, besides contributing jazz specialties, accompanies several singers. AUCKLAND CITY MISSION LECTURES AT HIPPODROME To-morrow evening, in tbe Hippodrome Theatre, the Rev. Jasper Calder will begin a series of sermon-lectur-ettes entitled “Babylon to Bethlehem.” Tlio lectures will be illustrated by means of the Diascope, an instrument which shows either lantern slides or ordinary photographs, and pictures of Babylonia, Persia, Rome, Greece and Japan will be shown, to demonstrate the progress of the nations from the very earliest times. The whole course of lectures will run for about seven or eight weeks, but each one is a complete story by itself. The first lecture, to-morrow evening, will deal with the primitive races and the story of their earliest migrations. A solo will be sung by Airs. Wallace Good, and Air. Burnnand will conduct the orchestra. MEAZZA AND ADRIENNE AT REGENT THIS EVENING The new vaudeville entertainment at the New Regent Theatre, commencing this evening, will be provided by Aleazza and Adrienne, two interpretative dancers who, although making their first appearance in New Zealand, have danced in the leading theatres and cabarets of England and the Continent. Specialising in dramatic scenes, they are said to display remarkable elegance and rhythm in their work, while for originality and artistry their dancing is said to be a revelation. Ballroom, acrobatic and classical movements are all introduced into their act.

“THE DRESS PARADE”

AT PLAZA AND TIVOLI SHORTLY WiUiani Boyd’s new star picture .. United states cadet life, Dress p.r ado. Winch was filmed at the w Point Military Academy, under the ? rection of I>-nalJ Crisp, brings to ti screen a true interpretation of »hl spirit of West Point. *** This Picture will be shown at th* Plaza find Tivoli Theatres shortly The room in the barracks that Wiliam Boyd used in the picture wag th same room used by General PershirT when he was a cadet at the Academy The regular "Saturday Night e.™'. Hall " aS r>hOtoßr: ‘ phed ln Cullum The fight sequences between Willi.. Boyd, star, and Hugh Allan, was film, on Fort Putman, the highest point „ the reservation, and where all differ' ences among the cadets are settled. One of the most important and in foresting scenes of the film was takf~ within the walls of the cadet Chan. This was the first time that a tnor-'e camera had never invaded the sacrw walls and perhaps will be the 1,,, Other scenes .cere taken on the par' ade grounds; in Mess Hall: in the Tar ous cadet barracks and administrate buildings at the Academy.

BAND AT ZOO ON SUNDAY The Municipal Band plays at the Zoological Park on Sunday after-n 0..at 3 o’clock- A charming programme includes the bright marches -The Brit-' ish .Legion,” “St. Julien,” and “The BiBus”; overture “Martha.” four daneefrcm “The Rebel Maid,” "Madame Pompadour” and “Llk Time” and other tuneful items. pSunday evening at 8.30 the band will give a musical recital in the To»m Hr.ll, when an entire change of programme will be presented.

CLICK CLACK CABARET A grand carnival night will be held at the popular Click-Clack Cabam, Newmarket, this evening, with dancing from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. There will be special cabaret items by Allan Brown and Clyde Howley. A united tennis club dance will be held at the Click-Clack next Tuesday. TUDOR, REMUERA “MAN, WOMAN AND SON” ‘•Man, Woman and Son,” a dramat - story of love and newspaper life in Washington, the capital of America, will be shown this evening at the Tvidor Theatre, Remuera, with John Gilbert in the leading role. Gilbert plays an American youth who by sheer work rises from poverty to the position of a newspaper reporter on a big daily—and his first love affair is with the pretty society editor, a role played by Jeanne Eagels. famous stage star of “Rain,” who makes her screen debut in the picture. Dolores Costello is seen in “The Co.lege Widow,” a merry comedy of football and romance. PRINCE EDWARD “THE DESFRT WOMAN” | “The Desert Wo auto,** starring the beautiful actress, Irene Rich, will h* shown at the Prince Edvvard Theatre this evening. . “The Desert Woman” is a story <•- the sensational havoc wrought by * beautiful woman mong the of a British army outpost in India. T» * story tells of the wife of the command* ing officer, who finds refuge from he. loneliness in the love of a yourc lieutenant. The husband’s bitter vengeance makes her position and she plans to run away. ~ “The Flight Commander," which wi also be shown, is a story of the Bnu ~ : Air Force in the Far East. Sir auj Cobham. K.8.E., plays a featured par j in this film. ‘THE PATRIOT” The tallest piece of furniture in tk' world was the throne of the Tsar—-a plica of which has been built in i±o . S wood for use in the new Ernst Lubi j production, “The Patriot,” which - “ Emil Jannings. Photographs o* ™ Tsar’s throne were obtained b> j tinental agents of Paramount thro ‘ 1 contract with friends inside the oo • ' republic. The photographs ' ' smuggled outside Russia and con '. iin the cuffs of an overcoat and i warded by mail to Berlin. { the drafting department in the -re - mount studio prepared blue-pnn- ! signs from the photographs for tne production of the throne. p t _ support of Emil Jannings in 1 n i riot” are Florence Vidor. Lewis j. and Xeil Hamilton. “The E* i which tells the story of Tsar First of Russia, whose reignop* the nineteenth century, is aaa ?\ %T% _ rt ar what is said to be the most i PJ' p. dramatic work produced m during the past ten years. “Ramona,' which is to be shortly, is the picturisationof the great novels written by H Jackson. It is the classic love of a girl of Indian -Spanish of the eternal warfare in her o between the two races; or 3 . bef for an Indian and a marriage to both: of the the Jiff the happy romances that fi eV eßt«®J of the lovely Ramona, and oi happiness. Dolores rr i£’* title role, again demonstrates ©f to a position in the foremostars. Warner Baxter as ner lover is also most impressive. picture is set in old gjlH^ pervaded with the romantic, b atmosphere of that era.