ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 86, 6 January 1919, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"HEARTS OF' THE "WORLD." Although the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management will .have a musical comedy company and a dramatic company in New Zealand during th<> coming season, it is stated that they regard the D. AY. Griffith moving picture "Hearts of the World," which is to be presented for a brief season beginning at ' the Grand Opera House on Saturday night next, as their most important attraction. lu a, competitive market J. C. Williamson, Ltd., had to pay X 15.000 for the Australasian rights of "Hearts of the' World," but their enterprise has already been rewarded by the great business which has been won by the picture in Sydney and Melbourne. "Hearts of the World" is claimed to be the greatest triumph yet achieved by that remarkable film • pro-, ducer Mr. D. W. Griffith, who, it will be remembered, was responsible for both "Intolerance" and, "The. Birth of a Nation." To take the war pictures Mr. Griffith had to obtain the special per' mission of the British War Office, and the prologue of "Hearts of the World" depicts Mr. Lloyd George, England's Prime Minister, shaking hands with the famous picture producer prior to the latter's departure for the battlefields of France. The .picture covers great areas, contains larger stenes and maiiy more peopje than were 'concerned in "Intolerance," and it is claimed that it also possesses warm humanity, great. sincerity and sweetness, those delectable touches of intermingled laughter and tears which are the hallmark of genuine art, and subject matter which comes rousingly home to every man on earth who has not been mechanically deprived of his virility or born with his foot under the neck of an infallible monarch. . A feature will .be the specially written music which will be performed by a full operatic orchestra, and realistic effects will be worked by a staff of J."C. Williamson, Ltd., mechanical artists from Sydney. The box . i;ians will be opened at the/Bristol on 'ihuriiday morning. l

KING'S THEATRE.

Every seat was filled at tyie King's Theatre on Saturday evening'. There waa no lack of variety in the bul offered. It comprised a "Pathe Gazette," a "<jaumont Oraphic," a screamingly funny Keystone comedy, a tnnliing instalment or "The Fatal Hing," and a drama entitled , "Marionettes.'' Tho last-named production was tlie big feature of the Bvening's entertainment. . , tells, in brief, of the timely message conveyed to a neglected bride by the marionettes of Monsieur de Nizeiolles. Fernande, whoso pai't is played by the beautiful Clara Kimball l r oui\g, is a simple country girl, and the neighbour of ltoger, Marquis de Montclars (Nigel BarrieJ. 'I'iie latter, having eaten up his fortune in ' a riot of returns from Paris to his estate, and disclos:s to his mother the state of his finances. The mother, to induce him to lead a quieter life, promises that if he will wed the bride of her'choice she will'give him an income for life; and ltoger agrees, notwithstanding his attachment to a certain Madame de Jussy, who possesses no despicable stock of outward personal attractions.Fernande, simple, modest, and : conventbred, is selected to be Soger's-wife. The idea of such a union has few recommendations in Roger's eyes, and almost immediately after the marriage ho calmly announces that he is off to Monte Carlo. He departs, in the company of Madame Jussy, and his bride, who is hopelessly in love with him, is left to mourn his absence. Matters, however, take a turn for the better, when M.- de • Nizerolles holds a marionette party,, at which Fernando.attends. It is given- to. the: funny little puppets to teach Fernande a lesson, and that lesson, properly digested, works wondrous changes. Fernande suddenly realises what she lacks, 1 and schemes 'accordingly. What her scheme is it would be a pity to disclose, but it works i-ight ,well, and in what is to tho spectator a series of delightfully humorous events, brings' her domestic troubles, ■at 'last to a liappy conclusion. ■ Clara Young plays her part brilliantly as usual, and Nigel 'Barrie makes a superlatively handsome marquis. A. charming feature T>f the entertainment as 'n whole was the 'work of the large orchestra; which rendered, among numerous.' other compositions of merit,-Chopin's great. "Battle Seats may be booked', at tthe Bristol. -

.EVERYBOD 1"S THEA.TBE. ' ' . Deeds of derring-do in a South American revolution, and tlie winning' of a girl, form the basis of a highly thrilling 'and well-screened picture called "Soldiers of, Chance," at present being,shown at, Everybody's Theatre. .This is a. Vitagraph production, of a somewhat more realistic and sensible type, than < many kiuematograph dramatic stories'., Evart Overton heads, the casb in the, role of Billy Mountain, alias' Captain Josslyn, and is ably supported by Miriani Fouclie (Josephine Winton). Mountain 'starts a revolution in South America'in order' that .lie may be enabled -to- exploit mahogany concessions. His enemy, Peter liawlor (Charles Henderson), joins the Federal forces, and betrays Mountain, Jivho is captured along with Josephine Winton, and sentenced to death. Miss Winton ' succeeds in informing . the revolutionaries of Mountain's plight, and subsequently there follows a; most .terrific battle, from which the rebels emerge triumphant, "and Mountain's,saved .just in time to prevent his dispatch to "another place." The various . situations in the story are dramatically tense, and the acting is performed-in clean and convincing style. Especially exciting nre the scenes showing the battle, between the Federal troops and the revolutionaries., This is a most desperate encounter, in which one gets a glimpse of big guns firing, "whizzbangs" exploding, and high explosives causing devastation. The rebels succeed in capturing a machine-gun Trorn . their adversaries, and . with- : this they , perpetrate all manner of doughty; exploits. Finally, the Government troops are vanquished, 'and Mountain and Josephine Winton' coiiie to the only possible conclusion in tho circumstances—Cupid has fired an arrow, the lafet shot in the campaign. The photography of the film is I 'very good, and the picture is nicely balanced. It js lengthy, but ns the s.tory grows increasingly interesting, it is in no way burdensome. The costuming is appropriate, and the broadi sombrero hats of. the'revolutionaries, combined with the general characteristics of the scenery, lend a vivid Latin-American colour to the picture. The remaining items of the' programme comprise a topical selection of Pathe Freres war tit-bits, made up largely of views of American Independence celebrations, and an educational film with a novel title, "Makin? of the Plot-: less Picture." This describes the way in which kinematograph studios are ; produced. "His Hidden Talent" is ■ a Triangle comedy, of a screamingly funny kind. Tho programme will be repeated to-day. . EMPRESS THEATRE. Excellent business was recorded at tho Empress Theatre on Saturday, when the now programme was'shown. A splendid World film production, entitled "The Beautiful Mrs. Reynolds," is the star attraction. The cast is led by June Elvidge as Mrs. Reynolds, the beautiful woman who was bandied about, sold first to her husband, and then 6old b.v him to a friend, and eventually finding love only where its call could lead to naught iiut tragedy. Carlylc Blackwell plays the part of Captain Hamilton and Arthur Ashley is Major Burr, in addition "to which Evelyn Greeley lias: an important role. All the scencs ure set on a gorgeous scale, while the dressing is quite a feature of this splendid photoplay. which is certainly well worthy of patronage. The American "Gazette" is an interesting numbor, which depicts many historical events, such as a roview of the American Navy and a record motor caravan, extending in length for a distance of seven miles. The ever oomilar "Topical Gazette" depicts many interesting ivar scones and notable events in Europe and England. The programme will be'repeated to-day. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Tho Queen's Theatre, Cuba Street, is showing an excellent two-foature programme this week. George Walsh, in a bright and morry play , entitled "This ; Is tho Life," is being highly appreciated,. as well as Jewel Carmen in "Tho Ifing--1 dom of Love." Apart from the popular--1 ity of these two stars, tho productions I are both of particular merit, and are attracting big houses. Tho photography [ is of the '[meritorious quality always found ivith Fox films.

HYPNOTIC ENTERTAINMENT. To further illustrate his powers as a hypnotist, Professor Anderson put a "subject" under his influence, through the medium of the telephone, on Saturday afternoon at the Grand Opera House. The hypnotist 'phoned the Opera House from the Coitrtenay I'laco slot telephone, and on being connected with his subject, promptly placed him under hypnotic influence/ t'he hypnotist, then returned to the theatre and released the subject from the trance. A number of people witnessed tho demonstration. J'rior to the conclusion of Saturday evening's pet-,, formance, the hypnotist put a- man to sleep in the theatre, and one of the scenes of this evening's performance will be the awakening of this individual. In addition to this, Professor Anderson intends to further illustrate his hypnotic powers by extracting teeth from a volunteer patient under hypnotic influence. Further demonstrations of the power of hypnotism over such ailments as rheumatism, etc., will be offered by Professor Anderson. Among other mirth-pro-voking acts to be performed to-night will be the hypnotic auctioneer, the singing school, the tailor scene, and the "Kaiser's liist move," illustrated y in living statuary.-