Round The Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 478, 6 October 1928, Page 16

Round The Shows

“UNCLE TOM’S CABIN”

AT THREE THEATRES NEXT WEEK The classic story of American slavery, ‘‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin," has been picturised and the film will be shown at three Auckland theatres next week.

These are the Plaza, Tivoli and Everybody’s. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is a story that abounds in dramatic incidents, but perhaps the most pathetic is the scene in the slave market when Uncle Tom is sold. Four auctioneers are busily disposing of the human

inanimate chattels of the St. Clare ( State to an interested crowd of tra,ders, stockmen, dandies, plantation owners, Southern belles and labour agents. In one corner a goatish auctioneer descants on the virtues of a handsome mulatto girl to a group of smirking young bloods; on another platform a second auctioneer disposes of a collection of furniture and hardware; at a third station squealing and bellowing live-stock are the points of interest: while in a fourth corner poor Uncle Tom is being transferred from a comfortable home to an uncertain and fatal future. The brutal Simon Legree stalks importantly through the crowd examining the miserable, black wretches who stand in quivering groups, not knowing what the next minute will bring. On the walls are handbills describing goods for auction, calling attention to runaway slaves, and describing the virtues of various and divers spirituous products. So faithfully has the director made this scene that the babel of voices and the raucaus voices of the bellowslunged auctioneers are almost audible. Particular pains .were taken as these auction rooms comprise the key situations of the epic production, for it marks the beginning of Uncle Tom’s immortal trip “down de ribber," and his subsequent introduction to Little Eva. A great cast has been collected for this picture, including James B. Lowe as Uncle Tom; George Seigman as Simon Legree; Virginia Gray as Eva; Mona Ray as Topsy; Arthur E. Carew as George Harris; and Margarita Fischer as Eliza.

REMARKABLE CONCERT SCENE

HUNDREDS CROWD ON STAGE BOY WONDER PIANIST Shura Cherkassky, the extraordinary 16-year-old Russian pianist, has been responsible for some remarkable scenes at his concerts in the Sydney Town Hall. At the conclusion of most of his concerts as many as can get on to the platform crowd around the piano and demand encores until his manager has the piano closed as a sign that no more pieces will be played. The Sydney “Daily Telegraph,” describing one of the concerts, says: “Sydney’s normal attitude of mind to world artists is one of enthusiasm, but nothing has been seen for a long time to equal the scenes that took place on Saturday night in the Town Hall at the conclusion of the Cherkassky concert. Hundreds of excited people thronged the stage, and the artist had to give five encores to his last group before he was allowed to go.” These scenes have been repeated in Christchurch and Wellington, where the young virtuoso had to extend his season to cope with the demand for seats. Shura will give three concerts in Auckland at the Town Hall on Thursday, Saturday and Tuesday, October 18, 20 and 23. The box plans are open at Lewis Eady, Ltd. EMPIRE SHOWS “SOFT LIVING” “Old San Francisco,” now being shown at the Empire Theatre, portrays the lurid days of Chinatown and the Barbary Coast, before and during the “Great Fire,” and was acclaimed by New York reviewers as one of the finest melodramas of the generation. Beautiful Dolores Costello plays the part of a Spanish heiress who is kidnapped by a half-caste gang leader in San Francisco’s underworld. and goes through weird experiences and horrors which terminate with the furious onslaught of nature and the Great Fire which relegates “the mile of hell” to oblivion. “Soft Living,” a story of love versus luxury, starring Madge Bellamy, will also be shown.

MUNICIPAL BAND CONCERT

A fine programme will be submitted in the Town Hall by the Auckland Municipal Band to-night at 8 o’clock. Two numbers presented for the first time are the introductions to Acts 2 and 3 of Wolf-Ferrari’s opera, “The Jewels of the Madonna,” and a Southern Rhapsody, “Virginia,” by HaydnWood; other items are “Marche Militaire,” Weber’s “Oberon” overture, Rossini’s quaint fancy, ‘La Boutique Fantasque,” Easthope Martin’s “Evensong,” and a fantasia, “Reminiscences of the Plantation.” Y ocal numbers will be sung by Mr. Stan Pritchard, and instrumental solos played by Messrs. Hal. C. McLennan, flute, and Mr. Fred Bowes, cornet. Mr. Leo Whittaker at the piano.

“SMART SET” AT BRITANNIA “The Four Flusher” is the title of the bright comedy-drama to be shown again this evening at the Britannia Theatre. “The Four Flusher” is a story of the romance of a clerk'and an heiress. He told her that he was the president of a bank, but she caught him working in a shoe store. The picture shows that even a “four-flusher” can captivate a rich girl—if he’s clever. George Lewis and Marian Nixon head the cast. “The Smart Set,” a story of polo players, starring William Haines, is the second attraction.

PLAZA AND TIVOLI

“WRECK OF THE HESPERUS” A beautiful picturisation of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous ballad, exceptionally dramatic, with fine comedy relief and a climax unsurpassed for beauty, thrill and appeal, is “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” now being shown at the Plaza and Tivoli Theatres. A distinguished cast has been selected to interpret the story headed by Virginia Bradford and Frank Marion in the leading romantic roles, and Sam de Grasse as the skipper. In the opening scenes of the story Captain Slocum is robbed of his fiancee by a man who spread the tale that Slocum’s ship had Joundered. Gale’s heart is filled with pity at her father’s distress. She is scanning the sea with a telescope, and sights a burning ship. A boat is lowered, the ship boarded, and two survivors, John Hazzard, junr., and a dog, are rescued. Both are brought to the Hesperus, and after the lad recovers Slocum asks his name. When he replies that his name is John Hazzard, junr., Slocum becomes furious. Meditating revenge upon the son of the man who had stolen his fiancee by a lie, he orders the boy forward with the men. In the weeks that follow, Gale and young Hazzard are attracted to each other. Slocum sees how the wind blows, and does all in his power to keep them apart. He decides to put Gale ashore to break up their love affair. When Hazzard learns of this, he jumps overboard and swims to the beach. Slocum returns, and finds the young couple just as they are about to be married. He escorts the unwilling Gale to the Hesperus, and despite her tears and the admonitions of the seamen that a fierce storm is brewing, turns the prow of the Hesperus seaward. The second picture on the programme is a happy comedy entitled “No Place to Go.” Mary Astor and Lloyd Hughes are the stars. The story deals with the experiences of two youthful lovers in the South Sea Islands and in a big city. On the stage Mr. Rowell Bryden sings the two rousing sailor songs, “The Port of Many Ships” and “Shipmates of Mine.” Mary Astor, who was recently signed to a Fox contract after playing leadingroles for several years in First National pictures, has the chief feminp portrayal in “Dry Martin' version of John Thomas’s novel of the same name. The story Hue in Paris.

EVERYBODY’S “LOVE ME AND THE WORLD IS MINE” A drama dazzling with the splendour of pre-war Vienna, “Love Me and the World is Mine,” now showing at the Everybody’s Theatre, is another triumph for the director, E. A. Dupont, who is known through his picture, “Variety.” Although the picture is essentially a directorial triumph, it is also a triumph for the individual members of the cast. Mary Philbin in her role of the pathetic little Austrian girl, Hannerl, gives a performance which is likely to remain in the minds and hearts of her audiences for many a day. Miss Philbin has possibly no rival in this type of role, and t.he wistful little girl of “Merry-Go-Round” has all of the delicate beauty and charm of % few years, plus greater feeling and a greater capacity for emotion. Norman Kerry contributes a particularly fine performance in the leading masculine role, although his part is by its very nature less striking than that of Miss Philbin. The genius which made her performance in “The Miracle Man” a never-to-be-forgotten thing, is still with Betty Compson, and her portrayal of the Viennese lady of somewhat dubious virtue, is a splendid piece of work. “The Wreck of the Hesperus,” the second feature, is a tremendous story of shipwreck at sea and of a strange rescue. The strong cast is headed by Virginia Bradford-

PRINCE EDWARD “HEART OF MARYLAND” Dolores Costello, star ol ‘ Heart of Maryland,” which will be shown this evening at the Prince Edward Theatre, has never been so appealingly beautiful as in the role of Maryland Calvert —the girl who, while passionately loving the South, found her heart divided against itself in love for a soldier of the North. This exciting and glamorous story of Civil War days has had numerous revivals, since it won fame for Mrs. Leslie Carter 39 years ago, and always successful ones. It is suffused with a passionate intensity which makes it perennially interesting. Warner Bros, have given it marvellous settings and a east which includes many of the most celebrated names of the day. Among the great characterisations are Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, Jefferson Davis. General Robert E. Lee and Genera] Grant. “Circus Rookies,” with Karl Dane and George K. Arthur, is the second attraction.

“God's Clay” Is the striking title of First National’s second British production, following “Confetti.” Introducing a particularly attractive type of English girl as the star, Miss Anny Ondra, this production, taken from the successful novel by Alice and Claude Askew, is a powerful drama of human emotions which culminate in unusual and thrilling situations, without being in any way hackneyed or commonplace. The absorbing atmosphere and action of the story has been retained in a remarkable manner.

TUDOR, REMUERA “IF I WERE SINGLE” The comedy of marital unhappiness, “If I Were Single,” is now at the Tudor Theatre, Remuera. The first anniversary finds Ted and May Howard still very much in love with each other, although the trivial annoyances of married life cast a shadow now and then. Ted realises that his wife is a very pretty young woman with plenty of charm, but that does not prevent him from having a mild flirtation witl* a strange and dashing young lady to whom he loans the cigarette-lighter given him by May. He becomes so interested, in fact, that he forgets to take it back. That evening May announces that an old school chum is to dine with them and he is astounded to discover she is Joan Whitley, the stranger with whom he flirted. “Under the Black Eagle,” a powerful war drama, will also be shown.

“FOOLS FOR LUCK” AT CAPITOL “Fools for Luck” is the title of the latest comedy by W. C. Fields and Chester Conklin, which is now being shown at the Capitol Theatre. Fields plays the part of a wellspoken oil share promoter who comes to the small town expecting to make a fortune by the sale of worthless oil stock. Chester Conklin is the big man in the little town who puts a spoke in the wheels of Fields’s progress. The two comedy men clash from the time Fields reaches the town until he is ready to leave. He does not leave, however, for everything turns out profitably, and everybody is happy. A mysterj T comedy starring Jean Hersholt and Alice Joyce, “13 Washington Square,” is the second attraction.

RIALTO AND REGENT, EPSOM “REJUVENATION OF AUNT MARY” “Code of the Scarlet,” with the popular outdoor actor Ken Maynard, is the attraction at the Rialto and Regent (Epsom) Theatres this evening. The story is one of the Royal North-west Mounted Police, with the locale laid in the Canadian Northwest. The theme is very human, and yet has the swing of an historic epic in showing the effort and hardships endured by this body of men in maintaining law and order in the vast stretch of land under their jurisdiction. It deals with the protection offered the settlers in their new home, the gradual removal of the Indians farther north, following the invasion of the white men; the .rappers, and the law’s efforts to protect them from thieves. “The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary,” starring May Robson, Phyllis Haver and Harrison Ford, is the second feature.

AN ORIGINAL OPERETTA SCOTS HALL NEXT FRIDAY An original c % retta composed by Mrs. M. "Wilkinson, with music by Mr. S. Green, will be given in the Scots Hall next Friday and Saturday evenings. It is entitled ’‘The Enchanted Cave.” No less than 250 performers will take part. They are pupils of the Normal School, and the proceeds will be devoted to school improvements and the purchase of apparatus.

Janet Gaynor’s next stellar vehicle for Fox Films is to be based on an original story by Tristam Tupper. No title has been selected yet, but it will be a Cinderella tale with Dutch settings.

LYRIC AND EMBASSY

“LADY RAFFLES” There is not a dull minute in. the thrilling crook drama, “Lady Raffles,” which is now being shown at the Lyric and Embassy Theatres. Estelle Taylor as the star gives a fine performance and the story is developed in a logical and probable manner. The society background furnishes the means of introducing beautiful gowns, gorgeous sets and picturesque locations. Lady Raffles is interrupted in her work of opening a safe by detectives. Through a skilful ruse she escapes and slips away through the rear door of a neighbouring mansion. Here she is mistaken for a maid, recently engaged from an agency, and is feet to work at a reception. The detectives arrive shortly after to warn Mrs. Blake, occupant of the house, and her son, Warren, that a thief is at large in the grounds. Mrs. Blake is disturbed, because she is wearing a priceless necklace, a present from her son. The newspapers have featured the acquisition of the gems and as a result Dick and Lillian, two notorious jewel thieves, are among the guests that evening. The pair detect the presence of Lady Raffles and a battle of wits follows. Lady Raffles prevents the theft of the necklace, but in the sleight-of-hand manoeuvres the clasp becomes broken. During the evening Raffles and Warren get well acquainted. The girl confesses that she is not a maid and a love interest develops. “A Race for Life,” the second feature, is a fascinating race track drama, with Rin-Tin-Tin in a prominent role performing a new set of clever tricks. “RICH BUT HONEST” AT GRAND J. Farrell Macdonald, “Pa” of Bringing up Father,” and Sergeant Cassidy of “The Iron Horse,” has one of the featured roles in “Rich But Honest,” now at the Grand Theatre. In this production J. Farrell appears as “Diamond Jim O’Grady, owner of the biggest Girl Shows on Broadway. So when Florine loses her job in a department store and through a trick of fate is sent by Mrs. O’Grady to her husband ac a prospect for his chorus, she has a bad ten minutes or so \ But er P er * manner and her .ability to dance, to say nothing of ■her looks, secure the job for her and start the feud between her “Boy Friend,” who is poor, and a new admirer, who is wealthy. Nancy Nash plays the part of Florine, while Clifford Holland and Charles Morton are the poor boy and rich boy respectively. Rin-Tin-Tin, in "Tracked by the Police,” is the second attraction.

The work of Duane Thompson, the leading lady of “Phantom Fingers,” which Leigh Jason is producing, has been so good that Universal has signed her to a long-time contract. Other Players in this Basil Dickey story George Hackathorne and Bill Cody.

Fred Newmeyer, who is directing Reginald Denny in “The Night Bird.’ bj r Frederick and Fanny Hatton, is the old renowned baseball pitcher, “Bugs’ Newmeyer. His record of 23 strikeouts in one game is still good. Denny’s cast, by the way, includes Betty !>©*• Corliss Palmer, George Bookasta, Sana Hardy, Jocelyn Lee, Michael VisaroffHarry Semels and Harvey Clark.