ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2907, 20 October 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE KING'S. There will be a matinee to-dny at 2.30, and tho final presentation of "Tho 'Battle of the Somme" will take place this evening. The attendances have steadily increased each night since Saturday last, and tho management states that had it not been l'or tho daily matinee many anxious to see the picture would have been disappointed. Tho plan is at tho Bristol.

"THE BATTLE CRY OF PEACE." The abovo tlie title of tlie next big picture at - the King's. Tho Auckland "Star" said of this production"One of tlie largest audiences that has ever attended the Lyric Theatre assembled when the photo-play 'The Battle Cry of Peace' was screened for the first time. This, picture is unquestionably one of the most impressive and powerful shown in Auckland, for while other sensational and magnificently produced films have been screened here, 'The Battle Cry of Peace' deals with. . . . the fate of a. nation utterly unprepared 'for war, and subjected to hostile attack of the same ruthless and ghastly nature as has characterised the invasion of defenceless countries in tho present war. The story does more than sound .the cry of war in a general way. It carries war direct into tho heart of the homo in a way that brings out all war's grim hornors in tlieir most dreadful aspect. Tho story centres round the home life of two American families, one where nil thought of war is hated, the other where the danger is realised. A period of uneasiness and suspense culminates in the actual invasion and bombardment of New York. The tragedy of tlie following scenes is intense. Hostile warships shell the city from the sea, aeroplanes bomb it from the sky, v sky-scrapers, burst into flame, whole blocks of buildings crash to earth, and presently hordes of armed soldiers come swarming into the ruined streets, while thousands of panic-stricken mi-n, women and children block every Madleading from the city. Amid this wild turmoil, tho story itself develops into supremo tragedy, the women-folk of one family being killed outright by the bursting of a shell, while a still more fearful climax is rcached in tlio other family, tlio mother finally taking the lives of her two daughters sooner tliau see them the victims of the drunken soldiery. But tho picture is by no means a mero heaping of horror on horror; it is ono that must make even the most careless take thought. As a recruiting agency, it makes powerful and impressive appeal, and its screening at the present time ... is most opportune, for it dopicts tho fate of a nation whoso men' are unready or unwilling to save their country from just such horrors as those described." "Tho Battle Cry of Peace" commences at tho King's on Saturday evening. Tho ho xplan will open at the Bristol this morning.

, HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. e Miss Wish Wynne's attractivo turn at His Majesty 's Theatre has "won her hosts of admirers. In fact, sho is the chief attraction at tho theatre, and her original method of delivery is always entertaining, Miss Wynne is nightly accorded demonstrative applause, and tho encores are most insistent. There is an excellent supporting programme, which will be repeated this and to-iuorrow evening for tho last time. The usual matineo will be held to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 2.30 o'clock.

"IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE." Of courso it pays to advertise; there is no doubt whatever that it does, but in theso times a person must positively have tho goods with which to back up his advertisements, othenviao he must go to tho wall. Tho new comedy, "It Pays to Advertise," which is to bo staged at the Grand Opera House next Monday evening, by Mr. Halo Hamilton, Miss Afyrtlo Tonnchill-, and J. C. Williamson's Comedy Company, has been proven by tho record riins it enjoyed in London, Now York, and Australia. It is said to bo a brilliantly clever comedy. Mr. Hamilton comes with a world-wiuo reputation, which ho has more than justified in Australia. Ho is said to resemble in many respects Mr. Prcd Niblo, who inado suich a success here in "Oiet-Iticli-Quick Wallingfovd," but Mr. Hamilton does not rely so much upon his own individuality us does Mi. IJiblo, therefore ho gives a distinctly different representation of eaoh role no enacts. Tho part of tho I'ross agent is said to givo Mr. Hamilton every opportunity for the display of hia histrionic rtalents. Ho played the .name part in "Gct-Rich-(jukk Walliugford" iu London, and he created this part when tho piece was first staged in New York. Prow, tho minute she appears on the 6tago, Miss Myrtle Tannehill is said to establish herself a firm favourite. On her last night in Sydney, prior to' her departure for Melbourne, it is claimed that she was accorded ono of tho most enthusiastic "send-offs" ever experienced by an artist in thut city. Mr. Donald Bowles, in tho iu/venile parts, has established himself firmly in the affections of Australian playgoers. "It Pays to Advertiso" is described as' ono of those irresistibly funny comedics which, no niatter what mood- you may be in, it nevertheless makes you laugh heartily. The dialogue is said to do urilliant, and the plot'.uufolds a fascinating lovo story. Only a few representations can be given of "It Pay 6 to Advertise," aS during the season will also be staged "Twin Beds" and "The Boomerang,'' each for three nights. The box plans for the entire season will bo opened at the Bristol this morning at 9 o'clock.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE."The Bartered Bride," a Triangle society drcyma, starring 11. B. Warner, will be screened for the last tiino to-night at Everybody's. A specially strong selection of films support the 6tar item. At the change on Satunay the Triangle Company \will present Douglas : Fairbanks, the second highest paid film artist in the world, in their latest success, "The Half Broed," adapted from the novel of the sanio name by Bret Harte. The story is set in tho littlo town of Excelsior, on tho edge of the Corquinez woods, iu California, ■ and depicts the struggle of a boy with' a white -father and a Cherokee mother. Life is rmade very hard for him by the bitterness of the white people, but in tho end he finds happiness: The acting is good, and there are many interesting glimpses of lifo in the 'fifties, when little towns like Excelsior sprang up to mark the trail of the great gold rush. Supporting items will Ire the great war topical, "With the, Ku ; t Relief Porco in Mesopotamia,", and other items.

EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Pawn of Pate" will conclude its successful run at the Empress Theatre to-night. It is a story that grips, and has a delightfully happy ending. A stirring programme of varied subjects is shown with tho star feature. • To-jnonw a big attractive bill will be screened, the headliner being George Barr M'Cutcheon's fine story. "Nedra." It has been dramatised in five reels, and is said lo follow tlie book in every detail. One of tho outstanding merits of tho production, is the wealth of scenery -that forms the background of the play. Those who have read the l»9k will be ablo to seo how a photo-drama intensifies and emphasises the written word.

OVERLiND FILM. The interesting example of the use of tho kinematograph to describe a modern industrial plant is tho motion picture of the Willys-Overland Company 6 " huge plant at Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A., will be shown to-night, to-imorrow afternoon and evening at the King's and Star Theatres. It shows tho building of automobiles from raw materials to the birth of cars—at tho rato of 100 a day, and other inetresting sights to bo seen daily at tho Willys-Overland factory, whero 17,(100 people are working. Tho picture really represents an inetresting story of tho modern motor-car industry, and as much care was used in its preparation as a scenario manager exercises in producing a novel for the screen. While the completo pioturo can be seon in forty miuutes, it required export camera mon two montlis'to make tho.two thousand feet of film. Many interesting mid novel experiences wero encountered.