PICTURE SHOWS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1668, 7 February 1913, Page 6

PICTURE SHOWS.

HIS. MAJESTY'S THEATRE. : ,"Tho Voyages of-Ulysses," tho star item now showing, at His Majesty's Theatre, continues to draw good houses. The attic customs and scenery are beautifully depicted, and' tho (plot is well worked out. Included in tho programme are two fine comedies, "An As- • sisted Elopement" and V'Tho Accidental , Millionaire." The other items are well up to'standarrt. NEW THEATRE., fi Tho series of now pictures which at- | tractcd large, attendances at all sessions ' of tho New Theatre yesterday covers an !• unusually varied range of subjects. The ■" principal picture.is-'entitled "The.Secret .' Treaty.". It details an enthralling story t of political/intrigue,' arid is crammed with sensational episodes. Tho staging is. J skilfully carrier olt, and great ingenuity ■ is shown in maintaining, an atmosphere' J of mystery right up-to the culminating [ point of tho drama. . Tho story, in skclc- ' top, is that the foreign of-. ' fairs in a country unnamed is entrusted j with a secret treaty affecting the posi- ■ Hon of an Eastern' State. Tho authori- c ties in tho latter country eerid out emis- ' saries to get possession of the treaty. A ' complex, contest 1 of, wits follows. 'The \ plot of tho drama is cleverly worked-out, ! and tho picture is splendidly ■ produced. Two interesting industrial films that find • a placo on tho. programme are, respectively, "Venetian Lace-making" and , "Tho Manufacture>-of Bicycles.". "On : the Trail of tho. Germs".illustrates somo of. tho numerous activities of bacteriologists in. tracking down .'disease, and . discovering remedies. ■; Tho picture is comprehensive.. ; It. shows people living, in ■ tho unwholesome- conditions /.that en- ; gender disease, aud. succeeding scenes pic- ; turo bacteriologists, "doctors, and nurses engaged in their, humanitarian activities. The later scenes show' cures ;in progress. As ; a' wholo tho picture .presents an interesting story, J combined with a groat deal • of soundly practical advice, 1 which is perhaps much morc.likoly,to bo taken when, advanced in this 'realistic fashion'than if an attempt word made to convey it by . word of mouth. "High Tide" is an 011tertaining. story, of two fisher .girls who , become- enamoured of the same man, a i casual visitor to 'their- pleasant- seaside home. / Jealousy makes-' them quarrel - bitterly, but they, presently discover: that; the man or their, choice -'/loves another." They then patch up their differences,- and uuito in .taking a humorous revenge upon their quondam lover. The same pictures, will bo screened 'to-dayand to-night. ' KING'S: THEATRE. : : . ~'X' The most entertaining.of tho. pictures now Being'screened at the : King's Theatre is "The Gipsy's Hate." -,Th© supporting items 'are also ' very enjoyable. '.'Tho .Thunderbolt" and ''With tho Colours" 1 being tho ,most: striking. . A'.' complete change is announced for. Monday. ... PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE/. .'"From tho' Regions' of Darkness" was tlip chief attraction at tho People's Pic--turo Palace in Mahnor.s Street fast evening. This film.was' a: Pasquali master- ■ fiiecc— a cleverly acted drama of circus ife. An employee of tho circus troop named Tony, falls .in love, with. his employer's daughter, but is rejected in favour of a young, nobleman, who frequents the snow.. .The' girl is' thrown'from .her horsa and- falls over a-cliff. When she is rescued by Tony-it .is found- that the shock has deprived her of her eyesight. Tho nobleman thereafter does not-wish to marry a blind girl, but .Tony remains faithful. When her sight is suddenly restored sho realises tho difference-in-the two men, "and Tony, is then the accepted lover. ; Tho ■ new-"programme contained, Mother interesting films, including scenic, .'dramatic and eomio studies. Other pic-.- : lures of note were "Sheljfish," "Cattle , 'Rustlers,"- "Eclair Journal," ."Pat the 'Soothsayer," -and "Simple Simon. Ends thftVCoal Strike." Tho programme' will do repeated until further notice:/''...'. I .. EMPRESS ' ■ " .. .'- The change programme 'screened at the Empress. Theatre yesterday attracted = lib- '. era! patronago all day, and in the.evening' there'were" very few'empty- soatsV-'Oiuv-was retained' from tho previous, programme, "Monte Cristo," a remark-, ably well produced pictorial adoptioh ; of , the, famous novel by Alexander Dumas.;The story which :it unfolds is full .of in'tcrest in all its developments/, and for, . technical quality the film could not'well; be surpassed. "The Moving Finger" is a vivid presentation of a life-tragedy. The opening scene introduces.an unhappy figure of a woman, old, ugly, and" hettvily marked 'by 'destitution and drunkenness. ,Tho, scenes-that follow are picture! of tho visions of her.'past, whioh. Ilit'through her mind as. she lies: in uneasy .slumber. She is shown first as the wife of a working miner.. Dissatisfied with her lot she 'is tempted'to , run :away with a rich scoundrel, who harbours hor for a time and thentturns:i r ns: her into tne street. "The' Warwick Chronicle"-'is an interesting record of topic'al"events, and two amusing comic pictures are. "Polidor Without n ' Hat" and "A. Chip of tho" Old Block." Two new pictures which are promised for to-day are "The Stain" aud "My Hero." The first is a.romantic drama introducing in one of its scenes a spirited representation of a duel with rapiers. "My :H«ro" is a 1 story of adventure in North wilds with a party of immi.grants and roving bands of Indians as characters. The programme as a whole ' covers a wide range of' interesting - and entertaining subjects.,'■"'.. 1 . ■'. . SHORTTS'""PICTURES.', { . i'. Varied arid, interesting were tho new : series:of moving pictures screened at Shortts' Continuous Picture Theatre in Willis,Street 'yesterday. The "star".at-. 1 traction was,a dramatic film, "Tho Loyalty of Sylvia."' Thoro were other 1 good pictures in 'the- programme. In- - eluded anions these were "Lack of Edu-, cation," "Well: Matched," "Patho Gaz- , ette," "Tlio Hindoo Curse," and "A Noise Like a Fortune." '-'■■' ■-.'•■ ,■' ■'■

Additions are being made to tho local telephone exchange to accommodate the new switchboard ;for tlio' 500 automatic telephones Which are to be installed shortly to relievo tho immediate pressure in tho system and as a- step preliminary to the full installation of ■ automatic telephones. 'i . ■./ ' ' ijho ladies'connected with tho Plunket Kurain'g Association havo been granted permission to use tho grounds of Awarua Houso on Saturday'next for tho garden fete in aid of the funds of their association.

Mr. John Baillie, who brought a collection of pictures by English-artiste out to' •Wellington last year, arrived .in .London again in December, but was;riot too well in health. : Aftor devoting a few months to his own gallery, ho will commenco arranging for thp ,'bjg; show'of'.pictures which ho/is" to bring out under arrangement with the committee of.tho Auckland Exhibition,'.; '-This will mean his leaving London in' October at tho latest, in order to havo the gallery ready for the opening in December/ :■. ■ .