ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EVERYBODY’S. LAST NIGHT OF “PENROD.” Parents and kiddies are advised in this issue that there will <be a special matinee screening of “Penrod” at 3.30 this afternoon. “Penrod” is the tale of a typical bad boy—and a very lovable, human boy at that—Marshall Neilan has given to the film world a series of memories of the days when father and his strap and the woodshed were three associations linked together in boyhood’s wind. In the little town, in which this ebulliency of youth is enacted, Penrod, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Passloe Schofield, has the reputation of being the “orfullest’’ boy in town. The sight of him, and of his little, shaggy canine friend, is a sure sign of trouble. With the help of Sam Williams, a boy pal, Penrod has organised a “Boys’ Protection Association,” to protect the independence of boyhood, and to insist upon the equality of youth and age. At the very start, of this movement, Penrod breaks up an amateur juvenile theatrical show. His costume consists of part of his father’s cast-off flannels, and the super-imposing of some adult clothes over these allows him to “cast-off” his glad rags easily, and make an unlookedfor scene which rapidly calls down the curtain. Penrod is always getting into trouble. But then, if he were not, he would not be a typical boy. His imagination, after seeing a play that exposes the evils of drink, leads him to start a rumor about a most worthy citizen, that absolutely horrifies the town, and, incidentally, leads to another journey to the woodshed. To make himself very sick by eating all sorts of rubbish at the circus, and to inveigle two dollars out of his sister’s sweetheart; to chum with nigger-riff-raff, and make himself a pest to his parent; these are all simple feats to Penrod. At last, the leading citizens get wind of the association and of its direful activities, and threaten to destroy it. Just how luck steps in at the eleventh hour and, instead, earns for the young imps the gratitude of the whole community is worthy of a visit to the theatre to see and enjoy. The final screening is announced for to-night.

“CARNIVAL” AT WAITARA TO-NIGHT. This wonderful photoplay, which will be the feature attraction at Waitara to-night and at Everybody’s to-morrow . nd Wednesday is laid in historic Venice at Carnival time, the gayest time of the year, which begins on the twelfth night and ends at midnight on Shrove Tuesday. The scenes were actually taken in the romantic old city, which has been the background for so many wonderful plays from the time of Shakespeare up to the present day, and the action takes plaee on the Grand Canal, in the Square of St. Marks, with its famous Cathedral, the Bridge of Sighs, The Campanile, and other famous spots. The story takes place during the annual carnival, the period of merrymaking which precedes Len r . Matheson Lang, the great English actor, plays the part of Silvio Steno, a famous Italian .player. His portrayal of the character forms a piece of dramatic acting that is notable in the annals of the screen. In the story Silvio goes on the stage as “Othello.” Then he finds himself face to face with a similar situation in his own life. The action is laid in the greatest riot of color and revelry ever shown on the screen: Venice at Carnival time; the gondolas on the Grand Canal, filled with merrymakers. The wonderful display of night fireworks, the most sumptuous masked ball ever filmed. Thousands of merrymakers in the most fanciful, beautiful, daring, grotesque costumes imaginable. And throughout there runs the sombre thread of the impending tragedy, which fortunately does not eventuate. So the thrilling story unfolds in this unusual atmosphere of contrast. Gorgeous settings, beautiful photographs and an all star cast make this one of the greatest plays ever filmed. Box plans for the New Plymouth season are now open at Collier’s.

THE PEOPLE’S. “THE LAST TRAIL” TO-NIGHT. Wiliam Fox, who has produced on the screen with singular impressiveness several of Zane Grey’s stirring stories of western life and adventure—notably, “Riders of the Purple Sage” and “The Rainbow Trail,” with William Farnum —has filmed another of this famous author’s stories, titled, “The Last Trail.” This super-production will be screened at the People's to-night. The leading male role is assumed by the stalwart Maurice Flynn, recently made a star, while the dainty Eva Novak has the feminine lead, and the statuesque Rosemary Theby appears in a prominent part. The story of “The Last Trail” is built upon the operations of a lone bandit known as the “Night Hawk,” and contains intensely dramatic situations, threaded by a love romance unusual in its development. The great climax at the close of the story involves the criminal -breaking of a big dam on the mountain and the consequent flooding and destruction of a village far below. The making of these scenes—for which both village and concrete dam were constructed —is said to have been a task involving large expenditure of time, labor and money. Supporting the feature film on this programme are Topicals and “The Studio Rube,” a tworeel comedy, starring Al. St. John. The prices of admission are: D.C. 2s, stalls Is Gd. Seats may be reserved at Colliers.