Round The Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 478, 6 October 1928, Page 15

Round The Shows

ROLE IN “STUDENT PRINCE” Edward Connelly, who perhaps lias Played more kings, diplomats and noblemen than any other actor on the screen, has added another to his hst as the Prime Minister in “The Student Prince,” Ernest Lubitsch’s spectacular production. The new Picture is a vivid filmisation of the old romance that inspired Richard Mansfield’s great stage play r> recent revival as “The Student Pr ince.” Ramon Novarro plays the Pnnce, Kail Heinrich, with Norma ‘ hearer, in the role of Kathie. Such spectacular scenes as coronation ceremonies, revels of the university stu- , ent «. and others are seen in this great ,ov © story.

von Sternbei'g, the director of Last Command” and other great »ramount successes, will make “The -as© of Lena Smith” the next Param° Un t picture, starring Esther Kals-

AUCKLAND CITY MISSION SERVICE IN HIPPODROME Tbo Auckland City Mission will hold a service in the Hippodrome Theatre at 7.30 to-morrow evening. The Rev. Charles Chandler will preaoh, taking tor his subject ••Impressions,” and Mr. Victor Archibald will sing as an offertory solo, "Sweet Spirit, Hear My Prayer.” Doors will open at 6.30, and at seven o’clock the orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Burnand, will play. Holy Communion will be celebrated at 11 n 111. next Thursday in the chapel of tit. Francis at the City Mission. A ROMANTIC STORY Kamon Novarro has a new type of role, that of an aristocratic young bachelor in London, a young lion in the social whirl in "A Certain Young Man.” In order to find the peace which London cannot give, the young bachelor trips off to the Continent, where lie meets the right girl, apd from this juncture the romantic handling of the story by Mr, Novarro will stir all hearts, especially as the unexpected happens before a thrilling conclusion is reached. Marceline Day Renee Adoree, Bert Roach, Huntley Cordon and Carmel Myers, are five favourite players who support Mr. Novarro. It will be a rare treat to see such feminine beauty, talent, and personality assembled in one picture, plus the comedy provided by Mr. Bert Roach as a trusting husband.

Universal has, or rather, had, a production on its Jewel schedule by Beatrice Van called ’ Sex Appeal.” It was a story of companionate marriage, and although it treated it from a humorous angle, Carl LSemrale received so many protests against the title that it has been changed to “You Can’t Buy Love." Erast Laemmie will direct as soon as he gets out of the hospital.

STRAND “RAMONA” IN THIRD WEEK No picture shown in Auckland during recent months has proved such a “draw” as “Ramona,” which began 3 r esterday the third week of its season at the Strand Theatre. For the past fortnight the house has been filled each evening, and there are no signs of slackening as yet. There seems little doubt but that this picture will set a new record for runs in Auckland. The secret of the popularity of “Ramona” is somewhat difficult to fix, but

it is almost inevitable that a romance so fragrant and exotic should appeal to the public. The story is simple and restrained, going straight to the heart with classical directness. The scene is set in California of the pioneering days, when the romantic beauty of

Spain was blending with the mystery of the new land. The heroine, Ramona, is the fascinating foster-daugliter of a dignified Spanish family, the mother of which has high hopes for the girl. On the Mone|’o ranch, at shearing time, she meets Alessandro, the handsome leader of the Indian shearers. Love comes to them at first sight, but Ramona’s guardian refuses tp countenance the match. At the same time Felipe, a Spaniard who is also in love with the girj, but observing what her real feelings are, he seacrifices himself, and gives liis aid to the lovers. Finally the marriage takes place at a little mission station, but after three beautiful years tragedy comes to the little cottage of love, and Ramona finds herself widowed. It is then that Felipe has the reward of his devotion. The acting of Dolores del Rio, who plays the part of the heroine, is a film triumph.. Her superb artistry is equal to all the demands made upon it. Others in the cast doing effective work are Warner Baxter and Roland Drew. As a prologue to the picture, Mr. Birrell O’Malley sings the popular “Ramona,” and the orchestra, under Miss Eve Bentley, plays appropriate incidental music.

The first of the Laemmie novelties, a single-reel along entirely new lines, has been started at Univex’sal City under the direction of Jacques Rollens. It is called “Handicapped.”

REVUE ON MONDAY ST. JAMES’S NEXT CHANGE Bright revue will be the fare offered at St. James Theatre next week, when the Nat Phillips’ Revue Company will make its Auckland debut alter a very successful Wellington season. This company is particularly strong on the comedy side, possessing those two inimitable comedians. known as Stiffy and Mo. Mo, ifi particular, is always the central figure in a selection of comedy sketches and burlesques,

adding to the merriment with his Jewish make-up and ready wit. While he and Stiffy are on the stage the fun never ceases. The Charleston Symphonic Six are another feature of this show that is sure to bo welcomed in Auckland, their musical tit-bits being at all times pleasing. They also form a background for some fine dancing effects. The Radio Six, a corps of dainty dancing girls, will please every one with their pretty . frocks and steps, and Miss Sadie Gal© will be responsible for a great deal of the singing. Her acting in the comedy sketches always wins her much applause.

Jack Pennick. who was seen in “Why Sailors Go Wrong,” is now to be teamed with Sammy Cohen, and their first production will be "Plastered In Paris,” Pennick is big and ungainly and a perfect foil for his little clown playmate, Sammy Cohen. Only recently come to the screen, his" roles have been few, but telling ones.

LAST NIGHT OF OPERA FAREWELL THIS EVENING With Margherjta FJor in the role of Elsa, the Fuller-Gonsalez Grand Opera Company last evening gave the second and final presentation of “Lohengrin.” There was a large attendance, and another fine performance resulted. This afternoon a performance of “Carmen” will be given, and this evening the season will conclude with a performance of “Un Ballo in Masehera,” This will be a farewell to Rosita Silvestri, Margherita Flor, Matilda Pfrimmer, Alessandro Rota, Vicleffo Scamuzzi, Ernesto Fumagalli, and Antonio AI fieri. , “Un Ballo in Masehera” is considered by many to be the most popular of the company’s repertoire, and its final performance should attract a large house for the grand farewell performance. ROYAL SHOWS “RED HAIR” “Sporting Goods,” now showing at the*. Royal Theatre, Hingsland, is a picture of the class for which Rich* ard Dix is most famous, and in which he has scored his biggest successes. It is pure farce. Never for a minute to b© taken seriously, it shows Dix as a salesman of a new kind of golf suit which he has invented. Mistaken for a young multi-millionaire, he is forced to sell a record order in order to get himself out of the deception gracefully. Of course, there’s a girl mixed up in it all, and, of course, Dix wins her ifi the end. “Red Hair,” the second attraction, shows that vivacious little actress, Clara Bow, in the role of a “gold-dig-ging” manicurist.

MADE IN THE EAST For three months a British international producing unit, filming “The Emerald of the East,” were guests of the Regent Maharanee of Gwalior State, India, where every facility .was given to them including the use of the State Army of 15,000 and with 2,000 extra cavalry. For the ceremonial scenes they were allowed to use the State elephants, but the most gorgeeous scene in this film is the State reception, which was actually photographed in the magnificent palace of the maharajah. For this purpose the celebrated Polish director, Jean de Kuharski, was loaned the State jewels, which were valued at over £1,000,000. This picture is scheduled for release by Cinema Art Films.

LURE OF DIAMONDS THRILLS AND MYSTERY AT THE MAJESTIC Round the world in a breathless chase after a gem which is dearer to men than life and honour goes a million dollar cast in “Diamond Handcuffs,” one of the big pictures of the year. This'was the main feature on the programme screened at the Majestic Theatre for the first time last evening. With a nice sense of balance, the management has laid out, as it were, a pleasant courtyard of laughter and music, by way of approach to the thrills and drama. The special engagement of the talented pianist, Miss Lillian Gunn is relished by Auckland music-lovers. The Mendelssohn “concerto in G Minor,” is played with an elegance of technique and with a splendid sense of dramatic values, the Majestic Orchestra providing a per-fectly-controlled musical background. The supporting films are unusually strong, both in news value and in laughter, and they cover a wide variety of subject. “Diamond Hand-

cuffs” is something out of the ordinary. It is a film in three .acts, which are three separate plays linked up by a wanton and willowy South African beauty who glided through each of them, out-Ton-delayeing the famous (or otherwise) heroine of

the play “White Cargo.” There is much to be said for the idea and the production is excellentThe sepai-slavery of South African diamond mines is painted vigorously, an army of splendid negroes gathering tlio precious stone from the earth under an army discipline. Musa, the belle with a lust for diamonds and a very limited sense of the conventions, makes her entry, a vampire of the darkest hue, who has a thorough working knowledge of the art of sex appeal. In an exciting episode Musa gets a magnificent diamond at the cost of one of her victim’s lives, and from then the stone travels far end wide, becoming known as the “Shah.” A temptation to women, it develops into a most efficient home-wrecker, and there follows a trail of blood behind it. Musa is always at hand to receive it when it has made a mesa of the fives of the people who handle it. After a triangle drama has run its course the stone comes into Harlem. Tillie, “Spike” Mulligan’s girl, covets it and, after the manner of women, gets what she wants and the never-too-quiet suburb of New York wakes up suddenly. There is a jewel-shop robbery of a delightfully cool variety, and finally a magnificent riot at “Spike’s” birthday party, which rises in some disorder before the guns of a police army. There are few dull moments in “Diamond Handcuffs.” One of the novel things in the third episode is that the hero takes a knock-down from the hefty villain without retaliation. He computes, with admirable judgment, the chances of a sprightly welter against a heavy-weight with an Irish reputation, and takes the path of least resistance. Another of those good “Our Gang' | comedies keeps the audience in a good : humour for half an hour. It is called “Fair and Muddy, and it goes with a splash. An animal cartoon “On the Ice” is clever and funny, and the Majestic News records the world’s hap- , penings. Pictures of the voyage of the “Discovery” to polar seas are very interesting, and there is a. scenic picture, appropriately coloured, of the Isle of Wight. “Eve’s Review” has a host of novel things to show. Beginning with a sprightly march the Majestic Orchestra, under Mr. Whiteford Waught, plays pleasant music.

REGINALD DENNY’S LIFE The adventurous life led by Reginald Denny, the famous screen star, has been as colourful and exciting as many of those he portrays in motion pictures. The star of the recent comedy success, the Universal production, “Good Morning, Judge,” was an aviator with the British Royal Flying Corps during the war, a professional boxer, an opera singer and a globe trotter. Mary Nolan plays opposite aim in his new picture, which William A. Setter directed Others in the cast are Dorothy Gulliver, Otis Harlan, William Davidson, William Worthington, Bull Montana, Sailor Sharkey and Charles Coleman.

MUNICIPAL BAND AT THE ZOO The Municipal Band plays at the Zoological Park on Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. A well balanced and interesting programme includes the overture, “Dawn of Peace,” selections, “Operas of Offenbach” and “Attila,” bright marches. “The Return,”* “Carry On,” and “Royal Standard.” intermezzo, “Eventide at the Convent,” §.nd other tuneful numbers.

NEW BILLY HAINES PICTURE William Haines’s new starring picture, “Alias Jimmy Valentine,” has gone into production. “Alias Jimmy Valentine” is an adaptation of the great stage success in which H. B. Warner starred and which proved one of the most popular pieces of theatrical entertainment ever staged. No selection has been announced yet for the feminine lead in the new picture, which is of a different order from anything Haines has previously attempted. The supporting cast of the film includes I£arl Dane, temporarily released from his co-starring partnership with George K. Arthur, Tully Marshall and Lionel Barrymore.