GRAND AND LYRIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 616, 19 March 1929, Page 15

GRAND AND LYRIC

“THE PATRIOT” Regicide and patricide—guilty of tlie murder of both king and father! With that double crime upon liis soul. Tsar Alexander the First of Russia ascended to the throne left vacant by the assassination of his father. Tsar Paul the First. While his hands had nothing to d*» with the kerchief which tightened around tlie neck of the unhappy Paul. Alexander was none the less guilty of his death, for he was fully aware of tho conspiracy and sat in his room in the Palace of St. Michael waiting to be the new Tsar. The whole conspiracy with its tragic fruition is depicted with graphic Realism in Emil Jannings’s latest starring picture. “The Patriot.” which Ernst Lubitsch directed for Paramount, now showing at the Lyric and Grand Theatres. Directing such players as Florence Vidor and Lewis Stone in support **f Emil Jannings in what is saki to be his greatest characterisation, the master European director offers “The Patriot” as his effort and contribution to the screen. “Prep and Pep,” a gay comedydrama of youth and of life at a famous military school, is also being shown at both theatres .

EVERYBODY’S “TWO RED ROSES” ! "I need a few elderly women toi night—the uglier the better,” was the order given by a wealthy man to his secretary. It was indeed a strange request, but enabled the man to carry out a plan which he had throught out, to force his son to comply with his wishes. The incident occurs in a. fascinating. romantic drama, “Two Red Roses,” now at tne Everybody’s Theatre. When the son refuses to accept bis father’s ultimatum to marry the daughter of a friend, and prefers to earn his own living as a dancing partner, the father sends the ugly women to constantly dance with the boy, even to making him give them private lessons. The cause of tho young man’s refusal is a little florist. In a tremendous climax matters are straightened out and all ends happily. The part of the heroine is played by Liane Haid, well known in this country as a most talented actress, while the supporting cast includes Harry Halm. 1 “The Docks of New York.” a fine | drama starring George Bancroft, with ' Betty Compson and Budanova is &!•*» i being shown.