Round the Shows

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 550, 31 December 1928, Page 14

Round the Shows

STRAND HAROLD LLOYD’S “SPEEDY” The task of the motion picture comedian is probably the most difficult in the cinema world. He has to make pictures that appeal to all kinds of audiences, especially a comedian of the rank of Harold Lloyd, for without general appeal he could not possibly have reached success. Unlike the dramatic actor, or "producer, he cannot specialise. He must give a little of everything in his pictures. His job is almost akin to editing the Saturday “Evening Host.” He must have something in his pictures for all classes of audiences. This, it is said, he has succeeded in doing admirably with his latest comedy creation, “Speedy,” now at the Strand Theatre, for he introduces in it several sequencss entirely different from anything he has done, or any other comedian, for that matter. This is one of the most novel pictures of his long list of successes. *His business with the now obsolete horse-car brings out a series of laughs and thrills equal to his finest efforts. His story in “Speedy,” released by Paramount, is based on fact, dealing as it does with the last of the horse-car lines, which disappeared from the streets of New York, and from every other big city, just a few short years ago. It is the story of an old man’s fight to retain his street car franchise in the face of opposition from the tram and motor-bus trust and a band of thugs interested in stealing his rights. Lloyd, being in love with the old man’s granddaughter, is brought into the centre of the fray, and in his usually capable manner, saves the day for the old man and wins the girl. Ann Christy is the girl, and her work opposite Lloyd is most effective and appealing. Interesting supporting films and music from Eve Bentley’s Strand Symphony Orchestra completes the entertainment.

PRINCE EDWARD STAGE BAND AND PICTURES This evening and to-morrow evening, will see the two final successful stage band presentations at the Prince Edward Theatre. With a graceful beauty ballet, a snappy orchestra and two such singers as Adelaide Taylor and Ophir Rees, as well as the Ha Ha boys in songs, jokes and sketches, the whole programme is bright entertainment from beginning to end. Among the most successful numbers are “Maori Eyes,” by the Ha Ha boys, with hula accompaniment, and Taylor and Rees in “Jeanine, I Dream of Lilac Time.” The pictorial side of the programme is headed by a comedy entitled “Sailbining humour, sentiment and thrills, ors Don’t Care” a breezy tale comLower deck life in the navy is the background. Estelle Brady and John Stuart have the leading roles. The second picture tells of the fascination a musical comedy actress has for a wealthy youth. This is “Powder My Back,” starring Irene Rich.

RIALTO, AND REGENT, EPSOM “THE MAGNIFICENT FLIRT” Florence Vidor is again given an opportunity to display her talents as a comedienne in ‘ The Magnificent Flirt.” a French farce, which will be shown at a French fare, which will be shown at the Rialto and Regent (Epsom) Theatre this evening. Miss Vidor plays the role of a flirtatious woman of wealth who gets the attention of a count, the uncle of the boy who loves her daughter. The boy asks Miss Vidor for the girl’s hand and she consents. Jde is so happy that he kisses Miss Vidor. This kiss is seen by tho count, who refuses to allow the boy to marry her daughter as a result. The uncle does not know that it was his own nephew he saw kissing Miss Vidor. The boy defends her, and the count decides to put the ‘magnificent flirt” to a test. Miss \ id or vindicates herself in a humoroua manner. The Oman on Trial,” a powerful drama starring Pola N<agri, is the second picture.

EDENDALE “WHY GIRLS GO BACK HOME" The play within a play is a dramatic curiosity, quite freguent on the stage. The movie within a movie ! s scarcer, but not unknown, but ‘Whv Girls Go Hack Home,” featuring Pats Ruth Miller, is undoubtedly the fir?: photo-drama in the history of moving pictures, which contains in itself three plays and a play within a movie. “Why Girls Go Back Home,” which is now at the Edendale Theatre, is the story of a small town girl er! tranced by the glamour of a big Xew York production showing in her town. Following it to New York, she is cruelly disillusioned by the leadin'" man, whom she fancied in love with herself. The publicity of the attendant scandal brings her a job in a revue, then a featured part, then stardom in a drama. She is the toast of Broadwav wealth, success, adulation are hers But disillusion follows, and she return; to her small country town. “Riders of the Dark.” the second feature, stars Tim McCoy, in an exciting story of the *Bo’s. The same programme will be repeated to-morrow.

ROYAL SHOWS “WATERFRONT’ The latest Dorothy Mackaill and Jack Mulliall comedy, “Waterfront,” is now at the Royal Theatre, Kingsland. The story tells of Peggy Ann Andrew's, young, pretty and self-sufficient, the adored daughter of Captain Andrews, skipper of a tugboat in San Francisco Harbour. They live in a snug little house on the end of the pier. One day* Captain Andrews is so busy waving to his daughter while nearing his homesite that he almost rams a tramp steamer. Jack Dowling, an oiler on the tramp, and hi« buddy, “Oil Can” Olsen, kid the old captain, enraging him. Meanwhile Jack is struck by Peggy Ann’s beauty and secretly lands on the pier, blit the captain spots him and throws him off. and from then on Peggy Ann is hard put to it to keep her father and fiance apart. GRAND “DRY MARTINI” Two amusing comedies make up the current programme at the Grand Theatre. The sophisticated life of an American who has gone to Paris to avoid the Volstead Act in his own country is vividly pictured in the first comedy “Efry Martini,” made by Fox Film s under the direction of the youn? Frenchman, Harry D’Arrast. Mar* Astor has the leading role of the young daughter who pays her father, played by Albert Gran, an unexpected visit to France. Matt Moore is th? young American who comes to the gay French capital to mend his heart witli “Dry Martini,” only to be cured in the end by Miss Astor. The picture is said to be a happ7 farce and one of the best in sophisticated entertainments. The second attraction has the expressive title, “A Nip of Scotch.” TUDOR. REMUERA “LADIES OF THE MOB” The electrocution of a murderer in a state prison, a bank robbery and a g'* n battle betw’een the police and * cornered gunman and his wife arj thrilling episodes in Clara Bow’s n e picture, “Ladies of the Mob,” -which i s now at the Tudor Cinema, Remuera-

It is Clara Bo* f first serious dramatic picturfor hitherto f* has been with flapper to}**’ In the new vebic* she is 1 seen »• Yvonne, wife * savagely succes-; ful bank robt* whom eventualshe forces to * " st ™f h E’ ....die*

Miss Bow is supported in ‘ of the Mob” by Richard Arlen cast of players chosen with care to portray th* vivid underww* characters who people the story. “The Little Snob.” starring - : McAvoy in an amusing comedy dramis the second feature.