ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1926, Page 20

ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

COMING EVENTS. OI’KRA DOUSE. Dt’i't'mlwr t Now ILiaheh Comedy Co, "Jillish Umiies in H'ldy.' Dremni’i i « Ntiiruiollo Ooncnrt Company. Dow in bo I 1> NJ' < lioi.il Society, “HiawntbA,” December J(l nml 1). -“Fodbiddcn Paradiso" (Pnlh Negri). Pnramoimt Special. Detiombi’l' 17 imd LT "The Golden Bed’ (AU Si nr) l’aram<>unt Special. Doecmlwr 87 to January S.—Muriel Slnrr Coy in '‘French Leave," “The Sign on the “Madame X,” “Within the .Law,” "The Outcast” “The Douse of Glatw,” "The Goldfish.” EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. December 4.—" Just Suppoen" (Richard Barthelmcss), and “Amundsen’o Polar Flight,” Reel 1. First National. December 0 to B.—“ The Thief” (Norman Kerry anil Greta Nissen), Universal and “The Go-Gottcre” No. i. December 9 to 11.—“ The Sporting Lover” (Conway Tcarlc), and “Amundsen’s Polar Flight,” Reel 2. First National. December 13 to 15.—“ The Man on the Box" (Syd Chaplin), and “The Palm Beach Girl” (Bebe Daniels). December 16 to 18. —“The Johnstown Flood” (George O'Brien), William Fox Special, and “Amundsen’s Polar Flight., “No. 3. December 20 to 22.—-“ Her Big Night” (Laura la Plante) Universal Films, and “The Go-Getters.” December 23 and 24.—“ Greater Glory” (Conway Tearlc and Anna Q- Nilsson) First National. December 27 to 29.—“ A Regular Fellow” (Raymond Griffith), and “Introduce Me” (Douglas Mac Lean), Paramount Pictures. December 30 to January I.—“ Sweet Daddies” (Charlie Murray) First National, Amundsen's Polar Flight,” Reel 4. THE PEOPLE’S THEATRE. December 4 to 6.—“ Greater than a Crown” (Edmund Lowe), Fox and “The Winking Idol” Chapter 1. December 7 and 8.- —“The Blind Goddess” (Jack Holt and Esther Ralston)., Paramount. December 9 and 10.—“ The Limited Mail" I (Monte Blue and Vera Reynolds), I Master Pictures. December 11 and 13.—“ The Sting of a Lash” (Pauline Frederick), Fox. December 14 and 15. —“The Man in the Saddle” (Hoot Gibson), Universal. THEATRE ROYAL, WAITARA. December 4.— “ Paint and Powder” (Elaine Hammerstein and Stuart Holmes), Master Pictures. December 7.—“ Greater Than a Crown” (Edmund Lowe), and “The Winking Idol,” Episode 1. December 9.—“ The Love Thief” (Norman Kerry and Gretta Nissen), and “The Go-Getters,” No. 4. December 11. —“The Limited Mail” (Monte Blue), Master Pictures. KING’S THEATRE—STRATFORD. December 4.—“ Grand Duchess and the Water.” and 4th episode of Radio Detective. December 6.—" Cocaine.” December 7.—■“ The Homemaker.” December B.—“ The White Sister.” December 9 and 10.--“"Wild Justice” and “the Shriek of Araby.” (Special). MUNICIPAL PICTURES, ELTHAM. To-night.—“ The Best Bad Man,” Tom Mix Special. Tuesday, 7th Dec.—-“ Wild Justice,” starring Peter the Great. Thursday-, Bth Dec.—“ Behind the Front,” War Comedy Special. Saturday, 11th Dec.—‘The Transcontinental, Limited,” starring Johnnie Walker.

“French Leave” which will be produced by Miss Muriel Starr and her company-, at the Opera House, on Boxing night, is the work of Reginald Cheyne Berkeley, who wrote it while invalided as BrigadeMajor of the Rifle Brigade of the 4th Army on the Somme. The author never attempted anything else of importance for the stage. Thus a certain charm which belongs to “French Leave” may be attributed to personal inspirations arising from the high spirit of youthful mischief, which the author saw while his regiment was away from the firing-line. In addition to “French Leave,” the company will play “The Sign on the Door,” “Within the Law,” “Madame X,” “The Outcast,” and other pieces. « « « • A mighty story of one of the most terrible disasters in the history of the world is picturised under the title of “The Johnstown Flood,” a Fox special attraction. Thirty-seven years ago a huge dam burst above the city of Johnstown, causing dreadful loss of life and property. Round this historical happening, a romantic love story has been woven, with George O’Brien and Florence Gilbert in the leading roles, while Janet Gaynor, a newcomer to the screen, has the opportunity for the display of fine histrionic talents, in the role of the girl .Paul Revere, who gives her life to warn the inhabitants of the approaching danger. • » * * The new serial at The People’s Theatre is “The Winking Idol,” w#h William Desmond and Eileen Sedgwick in the leading roles. Also in the cast is that favourite of a few years ago, Grace Cunard, and the director of the picture is another old favourite, Francis Forde. * * * * Edmund Low-e has a most appealing and romantic role in the new Fox picture “Greater than a Crown,” and on more than one occasion in the story shows that it is not only screen cowboys who can swing a hefty fist. • * * * Pauline Frederick, who was responsible for a remarkably dramatic performance in “Two Kinds of Women,” will re-appear in ‘The Sting of a Lash,” a big. drama of the mining-camps and high finance, presented by William Fox. * • • • The amours and political intrigue of two unfriendly nations are admirably presented in “The Love Thief.” Norman Kerry is the crown prince of one country, and Greta Nissen is the princess of the other. Their love voyage travels troubled Waters, but they reach their goal. Charles Puffj(2lst lib), two-reel comedy favourite, appears in the picture as Napoleon Alexander ; Caesar Vlandimir Glutz. * » « • One of the meet dramatic incidents in “The Sporting Lover,” Conway Tearle's

'new First National picture, shows the famous English Derby. The episode is actually a picturisation of the celebrated racing fete and was made in England. The King and Queen and their court were on hand for the occasion, and permitted themselves to be photographed for the movie. * w e * A new leading woman makes her bow in “Greater Than a Crown,” in the dainty person of Dolores Costello, daughter of the famous Maurice. She is a distinct “find,” judging by her work in this Fox production. ' « # « « A girl demanding the life of her own mother! This is one of ths powerful situations in “The Blind Goddess,” the vital picturisation of Arthur Train’s mighty novel. The action involves four principal characters; a young prosecuting attorney, played by Jack Holt; a politician, portrayed by Ernest Torrence; his daughter and Holt’s fiancee, charmingly personified by Esther Ralston; and the mystery-woman, impersonated by Louise Dresser. *'* » • Monte Blue, after playing subtle young husbands for a long time, is, a husky young engineer again. He Las the leading role in “The Limited Mail,” the Warner Bros, classic of the screen. «**«■■ A sparkling, rollicking comedy, laid in the hectic atmosphere of Palm Beach and other Florida beauty epots glorified by the bewitching presence and humorous antics of Bebe Daniels, and depending for its thrills upon speedboat racing, are the high lights of “Tlie Palm Beach Girl.” # * * * ‘The Man on ths Box” as a novel was one of the gayest, deftest, smartest ’stories of a generation. Turned into a play with Henry Dixey in the title role, it delighted everybody, and still affords an outstanding memory of charming merriment to thea-tre-goers. And now, as- a photo-play, with Syd. Chaplin as the gentleman idler who gets disguised as a cabman and as a housemaid in the fast, furious complications of a rib-tickling farce, it ranks easily first of the many big comedy successes of 1926, surpassing the wonderful “Charley’s Aunt.” * # • # “Just Suppose” is ideal picture entertainment—bright, clean and sparkling in its comedy, appealing in its splendid qualify of romance and gripping in its intensely dramatic moments. Few finer love stories have ever been shown on the screen. * * * * The moving camera has again proved its value in faithfully recording events of moment. No adventure has ever been watched with keener interest than the memorable attempt of Capt. Amundsen to reach the North Pole by air, and now, out of the silence of twenty-four days, when six daring adventuresome men were lost to the world, comes an authentic picture log of the greatest event in exploration! • # e « Based upon incidents in the life of Catherine the Great of Russia, “Forbidden Paradise” is a story of a series of love affairs. The queen in the story, with no will save her own to question her acts, amused herself by a series of affairs with the handsomest men of her court. Each new conquest was sgnalised by the pinning of a decoration on the tunic of the young man to signify that he was then and there admitted to the particular favour of his queen. Under the direction of Lubitsch, the master of subtlety, this situation was handled with unusual deftness. Rod La Rocque, one of the principal wearers of the decoration, Adolphe Menjou, and Pauline Starke, are the featured players appearing opposite Pola Negri.

I “The Golden Bed,” which comes to the Opera House shortly, is one of the most colourful of pictures that the great director, Cecil B. De Mule has made. It is one of the greatest novelties that have been presented on the screen. It is exceptionally entertaining, and descriptions do not seem adequate. The players include Lillian Rich, Vera Reynolds, Rod La Rocque and Warner Baxter. # « * # In “Paint and Powder,” Elaine Kammerstein has one of the best roles of her career. The part of Mary Dolan, the orphan of the New York slums, gives her a chance to display her unusual talents for intense emotional acting, while the latter scenes of the play show -er as a great stage star in the picturesque background of the bright lights. « * * * “The Winking Idol” gets its title.from the one-eyed god of the Aztec Indians who are known to have hidden a fabulous golden treasure ‘wayback in the hills.’ The story is by Charles E. van Loan, writer of many fine magazine stories of hazardous and thrilling adventure. « e « e Ward Crane, who recently supported 'Corinne Griffith in “Classified,” is cast as a brother officer of Conway Tearle in “The Sporting Lover. He wins Tearle’s stable in a poker game and then proceeds to win the hand of Tearle’s sweetheart by unfair means. Barbara Bedford io the sweetheart of “The Sporting Lover,” and the plot is of high romantic interest. » * » #

The leading male role in Bebe Daniels’ comedy, “The Palm Beach Girl,” is played by Lawrence Gray, who has just completed his second part opposite Gloria Swanson in “The Untamed Lady.” In “The Palm Beach Girl,” Gray has the role of a peppy young man who owns a motor speed boat in the thrilling races that enliven the Florida waters, and wins in the race for Bebe’s heart. * ss * # “Wild Horse Mesa” besides receiving the cordial approval of Zano Grey its famous autnor has also been endorsed by the leading “Kindness to Animals” organizations. The life of the once huge band of wild horses living on the western plains, makes most excellent motion picture material, and the storywoven by Zane Grey around the capturing of wild horses is full of colourful adventure. Jack Holt has a splendid part and Doug Fairbanks Jun. is quite up to the great reputation enjoyed by his illustrious father. KING’S THEATRE—STRATFORD. Andre de Beranger, who adds to the mirth and hilarity of Malcolm St. Clair’s lavis-ly produced French comedy, “The Grand Duchess and the Waiter,” featuring Adolphe Menjou and Florence Vidor, was born on shipboard, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. ‘Cocaine.” which will be screened on Monday only at the King’s theatre, is a revelati i of entertainment. The lure of London’s night life, it promises spring and brings winter. A tremendous dramatic story by English artists deal- '

ing with the drug traffic of the world. It has a fine love story with vivid colouring of that great city London. An interesting study of family life, as it actually is, and not as it ought to be—is presented to movie audiences in “The Home Maker.” Universal-Jewel King Baggot production that comes to the King’s theatre on Tuesday only. Alice Joyco and Clive Brook are being featured in this engrossing picture. In the cast are George Fawcett, Frank Newberg, Margaret Campbell, Lloyd Whitlock, Martha Mattox, Alfred Fisher, Alice Flowers, Elaine Ellis. Mary Gordon and six real American boys and girls. For the second time in the last six months, “The White Sister” will be screened at the Kiii(’s theatre by special requests from many of its patrons. Never before has such a picture gripped New Zealand like “The White Sister.” Lillian Gish and Ronald Colman play the leading parts in this great screen creation of all times. Stratford audiences are certainly tond of dog pictures, and lovers of these pictures will have the opportunity on Ibursday and Friday of witnessing “Peter the Great,” the wonder dog, in ‘Wild Justice,” which is his last picture, as some months ago he was shot.

MUNICIPAL PICTURES—ELTHAM

It would probably be impossible to crowd more thrills into a single picture that Tom Mix has incorporated in his latest production, “The Best Bad Man,” the screen adaptation of Max Brand’s great novel, “Senor Jingle Bells,” which screens at the Eltham Town Hall this evening. It is a colourful story of the West, with the principal scenes laid in Colorado. Mix, as the. easy-going man of wealth leaves the festive Mardi Gras in New Orleans and travels incognito for the purpose of trapping some wily villains in the West. He has some thrilling experiences, and Tony also has his own big moments. Clara Bow plays the leading femine role. The latest and greatest of those amazing, police dog pictures screens at the Eltham Town Hall next Tuesday evening. It is “Wild Justice,” a dramatic thriller of the lonely snow-clad North country. It stars Peter The Great, the largest police dog on the screen and generally reputed to be unexcelled in intelligence. This new romance of the snows unfolds an exciting drama woven around a mysterious murder. Peter The Great has unrivalled opportunity to display his remarkable athletic ability and his almost uncanny understanding of human emotions. The war was responsible for many things. In the world of literature, the humour was brought out by Bruce Bairnsfather, the writer of the Anzac book, Heath Robinson, and others. And now the screamingly funny situations and incidents find their way to the screen in one of the year’s funniest pictures. This bombshell of mirth, showing the sunny side of the war, is the Paramount picture, “Behind the Front.” and will be the chief attraction at the Eltham Town Hall next Thursday evening, Wallace Beery, Raymond Hatton, and Mary Brian, are the featured players.