ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1928, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

OPERA HOUSE. SYD. CHAPLIN AND “AKKA.” In “The Missing Link,” Syd. Chaplin presents something altogether “different.” Beginning as a discouraged young man with a fear complex, he becomes entangled in the destinies of a famous big game hunter, bound for Africa. By a ludicrous series of mishaps, Syd. is carried off on the same liner, and when the hunter learns that desperate rivals are trying to do away with him, he trickily persuades Syd. to be his substitute. After surviving a number of frightening episodes on the ship, they arrive in Africa, where the fun begins in earnest. Between the natives, the hunter’s enemies, and ferocious jungle denizens, Syd. has a very busy time of it. Love causes another complication, and he must vindicate himself in the eyes of the girl by overcoming his cowardice. The cast includes Ruth Hiatt, Tom McGuire, Crauford Kent, Sam Baker and “Akka” (the famous chimpanzee, which is at present in Sydney with the “Max, Moritz and Akka” troupe). Charles F. Reisner directed. Syd. Chaplin in “The Missing Link,” a Warner Bros.’ production, released by Master Pictures, conies to the Opera House to-night for a run of three nights. There will be a special matinee screening for children at Everybody's on Thursday afternoon at 3.30 p.hi. EVERYBODY’S. JACKIE COOGAN TO NIGHT. MATINEE TO-DAY AT 3.30. Hundreds of happy people, sorry that the show was over, ebbed their way from Everybody’s Theatre last night after having seen the first screening of “Johnny, Get Your Hair Cut,” the MetroGold wyn-Mayer production, in which the leading role is taken by Jackie Coogan. The story is an exciting and actioncrammed romance of the Turf; comedy, pathos, love, amazing thrills, and tense drama are ail woven into a perfect picture. Jackie Coogan is depicted as Johnny Daly, a little orphaned boy, whose overwhelming ambition is to become a successful jockey. Penniless and alone, the lad becomes the pivot of some thrilling adventures when he rescues a little girl who has fallen in a pond, but alas, in bis heroic endeavours, loses his only pair of trousers. However, he compromises with an old sack. Johnny's wanderings take him to Mother Slapp, a good-natured landlady, who keeps a boarding-house for jockeys. Here he meets “Pop” Slocum, an aged trainer who encourages his ambition and allows him to ride Daybreak, a broken-down racehorse. Under bis care, the horse begins

to show his old form. It transpires that the little girl Johnny had rescued is the daughter of James J. Ryan, a famous horse-owner, who rewards Johnny by allowing him to ride Daybreak under his colours in the big race. The climax is a thrilling one, when Johnny pilots his horse to victory, and becomes the hero of the hour. Assisting Jackie in the story are Maurice Costello, Jim Corrigan, Mattie Whiting, Bobby Doyle, and Pat Hartigan. The supporting films were well worth seeing and included a comedy, cartoon, scenic of New Zealand and a Paths News reel. Excellent music is provided by the orchestra. The programme shows again to-night and tomorrow night. There will be a special matinee screening this afternoon after school, commencing at 3.30 p.m.