PICTURE SHOWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1647, 14 January 1913, Page 8

PICTURE SHOWS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. A large number of peoplo attended His Majesty's Theatre last night, when a very fine new programmo of pictures was screened. "Tho Veiled Prophet" was tho chief picture. It is an Eastern drama sot in tho land of tho Arab. Aziiu, a stalwart young man, is in love with Mica, a beautiful girl. Azim goes away to war, and as in two years ho has? not returned, the girl presumes that ho ha 6 been killed. A prophet arises to preach a holy war, and this individual keops his face veiled, for no man could look upon it and live. He makes Zelica tho grand high priestess in tho movement, but after a.whuo Azim returns. .The. veiled prophet hinders tho course of their lovo auair, and Azim persuades tho Khalifa fc> make war upon tho prophet. Tho prophet is defeated, but as his conquerors advance to take him he threatens to remove tho veil. At this they fall back, but Zelica snatches away tho mask and roveals the impostor. The impostor stabs her, but she recovers and becomes Azim's wifo. An excellent number is "Meeting Mamie's Mother."' .A man, whose wife has made his lifo a miscry, dreads meeting his mother-in-law; but the dreaded one is a real Briton, and she soon reforms her shrewish daughter. "The Badminton Hunt" is a capital "West Countrie" picture, which shows the world-famed hounds on the trail. The Wild West element is provided by "The Eedskin Raiders"; and other items aie: "Crystallisation," "Unique Studies of Nature," "Cook Bids for Fame," and "Paying the Board Bill."

THE NEW THEATKE. Good business was recorded at the New Theatre yesterday, when-a new series of photo-plays and other films was soreened. 'l'he .chief film is an exciting Eclair drama, entitled "Zika, Queen of tho Gipsies." Zika and her band are much despised'by the peoplo of tho neighbourhood which she haunts. ■ A farm hand makes lovo to the daughter of his master, 1 but she. takes exception to this. His persistent objections lead to a quarrel with the young lover, and this lesults In the latter being seriously wounded: He struggles off into the woods, and is found in. an exhausted state by Zika. She circs for him, and when he recovers ho joins the band of gipsies, : imagining that, by this' moans, ho may be able to avenge himself. The kidnapping of the farmer's daughter is planned and successfullycarried out. :Sho is taken to the gipsies' rendezvous, and 6hut up in on underground dungeon, and her lover is placed on guard, to prevent her escape. He, however, unbends to the calls of help from his fiancee, and ho releases her. But Zika then happens along, and orders

the girl to be placed at tho mercy of a fierce bull. Eventually, however, the young lover escapes from the gipsies, and informs the farmer of the danger which threatens his daughter. ..The farmer and liis herdsmon booh strike the trail, and some exciting scenes follow. Next follows a scone which resembles a Spanish arena, and a very fierce-looking bull is depicted in charge of it. The girl (securely bound) is placed in the enclosure, but tho timely arrival of the herdsmen saves tho situation. The bull is killed, the girl is rescued, tho young lover is rewarded for his. bravery, and the, picture closes on the escape from capture of Zika and her female rescuer. A capital comedy is supplied by the A.B. Co. in "Brave and Bold." . "The Rival Engineers" is a feature Kalera drama. One scene depicts an exciting race between two engines. A number of other pictures of interest .are shown. The programme will be repeated throughout all sessions to-day.

TB3 KING'S THEATRE. What a queen of picturo drama Asta Neilsen is! She is featured in "When the Mask Falls," which is now being shown at the King's Theatre, and ber presence in the piece goes a long way towards making it the attraction it is. A-young man in business becomes infatuated with Sanna, a beautiful actress. When he meols Sanna' for tho first.time they aro interrupted by a bank manager, who has already been on intimate terms with tho girl. The bank' manager wishes Sanna to come away from her new friend, and trouble ensues. It results in Sannn's using a subsequent occasion to repel tho bank manager s advances, and show him that she favours her other lover. In revengo the-bank manager plots to ruin his rival. He is tho means of bringing considerable business trouble upon his opponent, and the -young man's mother, in order to save her son, persuades Sanna to part from him. Sanna makes the sacrifice of parting with her lover andagfeeing to receive tho. bank manager onco more. The bank secretary informs her of the presence of some 'papers' in a certain drawer, and the possession of those, ho says, will 'save tho situation. Sanna gets them and escapes, and the day for her and the man she loves is won. "The Hindu Curse" is a powerful drama, portraying the path of the vengeance of some Hindus who have , been robbed of a sacred jewel by two Englishmen. Other pictures are: "Pathe's English Gazette (topical), "The Red Barrier" (dramatic), "Tho Badminton Hunt" (sporting), "The Rival: Engineers" (sensational dramatic), "Rube's Mistake" (comic). "Pathe's Australian Gazetto" (topical), and "Tho Valley of Vesubie" (scenic).

SHOETTS* THEATRE. ;, ; A new programme was screened at Messrs. Shortts* Theatre yesterday. One of the best items is entitled "The Overdue Express." Roberts, a country station clerk is engaged to May Maggie Grey who has charge of' the railway cafe. Robert becomes jealous of the stationraastcr and a quarrel ensues. A few days later the stationmaster dispatches a note to Maggio intimating that he will como to seo her that night and that ho will keep Roberts working late. Roberts, however, is suspicious and watches Woods, the stationmaster, enter the cafe. In a revengeful mood Roberts returns to the station and, while there, he receives a messago stating that the night express, is twenty minutes early. Ho alters the message so that it reacts "ten minutes early," and takes it to stationmaster. That official. then examines the lines and points to' see that all is clear when the oxpress dashes round the curve. In the meantime Roberts regrets his hasty action and just in time saves his chief. Woods understands how it all occurred and 6ays-nothing, and later, when he is transferred, recommends Roberts as his successor. "The Golden Cage" is also ono of the features of the programme. This film is certainly ,a very beautiful ono and the various photographic effects are extremely flno. The story centres round Sharet, the. great dansouse. But even without the underlying plot this picturo has merits enough of its own to attract most people. "Tho Little Girl Next Door" is a first-class Edison sketch. Other items: "Tho Blossoms." "Scenes in Northern Germany," "Pa's Medicine," and "The Australian Gazette."'

; THE EMPEESS THEATRE. "The Emerald Necklace"'is tho title of the feature item on the new progrnmmo which was screened for the first time at tho Empress Theatre yesterday. iThe story is of two thieves—"Pick-lock" and "Corner"—who both detennino to steal a famous emerald necklace, belonging to an equally fnmous actress. They learn that sho is going to wear the' necklace at a certaiu conversazione. Both tho thieves also go to tho reception. One of them manages to drug tho actress's chauffeur, and in his place drives her to her own house. He then manages to climb Tip to her Toom, and steal tile necklace. Ho then gets his own motor, and makes for the open country. Tho other thief is, however, quite as smart. He finds out how tho other got tho necklace, and guesses that he will go off in his motor. By a simple device ho brands the tyres so that tho car will bo easy to track, and in a hired taxi starts off in pursuit. His next move is to eot rid of the taxi driver. On arrival at tho nlaco whero tho first thief has housed his car, the .second thief changes tho numbers of tho cars so that when tho police, warned by tho taxidriver, begin investigation thoy arrest tho wrong nian. In the strugglo tho necklace is dropped, but quickly replaced by tlio second crook," who goes off with the real perns. These he has at onco taken out of their sotting, and false ones aro put in. Then be restores the invitation jewels to the actress, and claims tho JE2OOO reward. His.last act is to write her a polite noto informing her of the swindle. Otlicr Henis are:—"The Snorting Editor," "Eouino Hero," "Their idols." owl the - Gaumoat Graßhic,"