Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING'S THEATRE.

Tliere are excoptional attractions in the programme of entertainment ac tho King's Theatre this week not only for tho■ lover.of good pictures-, but also for thi) lover' of good music.. !Tho management has of late augmented the personnel of tho orchestra and has seen to it that, tlie greatest care is exorcised in the selection of music; so ihat,_ wnilo the Average picture theatre is still employing, music because it is more or less necessary to distract attention from the absence of dialogue in the screen productions, the KingVmay claim to have put into practice ideas more in accord with tho veneration due to the musician's art. Among the pieces played on Saturday (and well played, it\ may .be confidently asserted) were "Nocturne 12" by. Chopin, the "Jeanne d'Are" overturo by Verdi, and selections from "Tlia Belle of New \ork," "Maritana," and ■"The Blue Moon." So much for the music. 'Ihe principal picture screened* was "Ghosts of Yesterday,'' a beautiful adaptation of llupert Hughes's powerful play, "Two Women." The plot is, 111 outline, simple. , To interest, it- has no need of many complications. .The ceiitral idea once conceded, the whole tiling is. so real, so convincing, that (it goes right to the heart. Howard Viurston, one who, though young, has seen too much of the gaieties or iife, determines to kill luKiSck, and is saved from doing so only by lbs entreaties of a pathetic is tlie oLraugor, wiiom in after iife lie is to know, lirsi r,s liis wife, .then as a l:auiitine_ memory, under the name of Uutii. Tiie tivo in course of time are wedded, but, the hand of Death parts them just when the worldly forv.uiss of tho man are re-established. It is impossible for .Marston to forget the little woman who has meant so miicli to him, antl his one consoling fancy, after lie has sought refuge from grief in the 'study of art at Paris, is the idea that she -is ever -hear and living still. Led one night by a friend to tho Bal Tabarin, Marstou receives ' ir. that resort of pleasure the-greatest sliock of all his lifetime; for in the guise of the gayest of gay danseuses he nahoids the living embodiment of liis iirn-3 wife. Jeanne la Fleur is the physical image of Kutli, but her wild dissipation and her reekless mirth seem to betray the absence of all that tenderness and depth of sympathy which were die charm of Marston's. idol. Nevertheless, Marston is stirred to liis very soul, and he conceives the.design of asking Jeanno. la Fleur to pose for his completion of Ruth's portrait, which he lias long since begun. She agrees, scarce knowing why, but instinctively aware that she is on the threshold of some great experience. What influence her consent' has upon her destiny and that of Marston' it would be a pity abruptly to disclose. Suffice it to fay that tlie story is enthralling and that its end is just and beautiful. "A Clever Dummy" (comedy) and "The Fatal Ring" (serial) are billed along with "The Ghosts of Yesterday." • "HEARTS OF THE WORLD." When. the announcement was made that the greatest;; American producer D.- W; Griffith had in ■ the making a "big" picture' dealing with the war, and when it was further learnt that, not only had lie been to France to see and to learn but that he had been granted special-privileges by the War Offices .of France tho moving picture world "took notice." This picture, called "Hearts of the World/' has reached Wellington, and was initially screened ; at. the Grand Opera "Jtfqiise. on Saturday, when more people tr.ieji] to gain admission than tho nian'agou\ont could:; conveniently nccoramo•;date. The title ''Hearts of the World" has been interpreted .as meaning the hearts of those who before the war were called the common people, but. who have, in the fire; of war, become tho world's heroes. Comparisons, we are told,, are odious. Yet one, is al- j niost tempted "to compare "Hearts of! the. World" with: other, big Griffith pro- j ductions—hut it would bo hardly fair, j "The-Birth of a 'Nation" (in the opinion of many thfe greatest motion" picture | yet produced) had for its tliemo events I whicli -made, perhaps, a more restrict- J ed appeal. ."Hearts of tho World," on the other hand, is bound to appeal to all mankind—that is,- all those people who are neither Hun nor Bolshevik. Its theme are the hideous sufferings endured by those tinfortunato French people' who, during the early days of the war, fell under the-heel of the Hun; tho incomparable bravery of the French soldier—and of the British soldier too; tho bravery, fortitude,' and fidelity of French women and children; tho wonderful war efforts of . Britain— "a race of shopkeepers and amateurs" —and the heroic sacrifices of France; and lastly the unutterable brutality and beastiality of the Hun. Let it not be concluded that all the things this picture describes emanate from the lively brain of an imaginative motion picture producer.- They do\not; Griffith has been to France and has seen many of these things, and he knows. Hp actually took pictures within fifty yards of the Hun trenches. The effec-

tive presentation of what the Allied armies and peoples were up against was evidently the chief mission of "Hearts of the World," and as a piece of Allied propaganda (it is to be "'remembered, that the film was screened in the United States and Europe long before the conclusion of the armistice) it is certainly wonderfully effective. This being_ the case, the actual story matters little. This, however,. is enacted by such capable and favourite artists as Robert Harron, Lillian and Dorothy Gisb, and a- truly wonderful child actor, Ben Alexander, supported by over a score of pconle who fill the lesser parts capably. What really mattrrs is the idea—the impression left on the mind of the spectators. And this is where the producer comes in. Never had producer greater opportunities— bis background is the tremelnlous battlefield on which the- two greatest nations in history and the two greatest armies in history cjid engage—in the end victoriously—for four long .years the powers of reaction. In the glimpses of actual war (and there are many) Mr. Griffith has _done\iustico to his unique opportunities. Particularly in his scenes of the actual trench war does he excel; anything more real and vivid than his representations of trench raids and hand-to-hand fighting. and what happens when a big high explosive shell lands in a trench, would bo hard to imagine.. The interweaving of numerous scenes taken behind the lines serves to emphasise tho terrible might of a nation in arms fighting for a cause that is fight. The scrconing had a remarkable effect on the speotators—at times one could "feel" the silence, onjv to be broken bv such an outburst of cheering rarely (if ever before ,in Wellington) heard at a picture screening. Tho efforts of s>. full operatic orchestra (under the direction of Mr. John F. Woodward) deserve special notice. It was earlv evident that; pre»V jinins had been taken with the-musical score, and tlie result was. entirplv'plen.sing.

"Hearts of the World" -will be screened ' twice' daily until further notice.

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. Owing to the great success of tho feature, " A Million Bid," when it was first presented,' itwas decided to release it again, and on Saturday night it was welcomed by a crowded house at Everybody's Theatro. n ""~ taken b,y Anita Stew-

art, and she is ably supported by a very strong cast ; * including Harry Morey, E. IC. Lincoln, Julia Swayuo Gordon, and Gladden James. The story is exceptionally emotional, and works up to a thrilling luish. It is full of dramatic situations, tho. fhijvwreck scene being intensely and realistically powerful. "A Million Bid" describes how an unscrupulous mother resorts to questionable methods in order to get her daughter allied to a man of wealth. She intercepts letters which the -daughter has had transmitted to her from her first love, the r<-- . suit being that' tlio two genuine lovers are parted. Subsequently the daimhter marries an Australian millionaire, but it is only a marriage in name. The honeymoon trip is spent on the husband's luxurious private yacht. ' A terrible wrtck occurs, and the husband is thought to be drowned. .Tho. widow returns to. New York, w&ere sho marries the man she had all along been true to, and who has become a noted brain specialist. Strange to say, the first husband thou turns up, but having lost his memory he remember past events. Then follows" a serios of lieart-moving scones, which, fortunately, end happily, as the first husband' very conveniently dies on the operating table. Throughout tho picture Anita.Stewart givs'ample evidence of her marvellous dramatic appeal. Her acting is vivid, and.her pathos cannot but make an impression on all who behold her. The rest of the cast all execute their tasks well, but the work of Julia Swavue Gordon, , in the role of the scheming mother, appears to be a trifio strained. The appointments of the picture are luxurious, and the, scenes are well staged. The remainder of tho programme is made up of n choice selection of lopieil and humorous films. EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Heart of a Girl" is the. title of a delightful World drama at present beiug screened at the Empress Theatre. Barbara Cnstleton trices the leading part, Avhile Irving flunimings plays opposite to her. The story deals with the tortuous course of a young couple's love affair, and sustains. the interest from start tc finish. _It depicts in- a striking manner the evils of gambling,' and bears testimony to_ the influence of a wompn on an American's nomination for the Governorship of his Stato. A rival for tho girl's hand arouses suspicion, and by this means jeopardises' the chances of her real lover's success in the political world. ''Allegations of'participation in the meretricious pleasures of a gambling den are hurled at the young man's head, and as a result he- very nearly loses his nomination . for the gubernatorial post, as the women of tho State are vehemently opposed to the slightest suggestion' of gambling. At the last moment, however the heroine BUcceeds in appearing before the convention, and discloses the -real facts. The result is "that her true lover is easily victorious. "Tho Heart of a Girl" ig an entertaining and thriving P'oture, and it is admirably staged. All of tho scenes, are splendid and vidid in ' t]ieir ' presentation, and the • photography of . the film is vjiry good. Tho acting of the principals is clean,and convincing, that of Barbara Castelton being ma'rked with much dramatic energy and power. Irving Cnmmings fully 'sustains his difficult, task, and makes a captivating hero. "Tho .Heart of a Girl" is a picture well worth seeinsr. Tho re-, maininw items,of the programme are of a very hinh standard. The topical subjects dealing with events incidental ; to the grent war are of a most .interesting description. Those who aro fond of a laugh will find sufficient, ill tho humorous element to satisfy thoir wishes in this respect. The programme will -bo repeated to-day. - ■ QUEEN'S THEATRE: ■ : "Jack -and the Beanstalk," a picture which is said to have cofct half a (million dollars to produce—with its thirteen hundred children, its diminutive stars, its ' foot .giant, its castle, and its walled city, built solsv for this wonderful Fox picture now being shown at the Queen's Theatre—has an appeal to grown-ups as well as to children. Tho story as it is made has a modern introduction, showing two children who elude their nurse, journey into s - tlie woods, and •fall asleep as night' js coming on. "Jack and tlie Beanstalk" is being screened at the afternoon sessions omly. _ On the evening programmo the principal items is "Tlie Golden Idiot," which may bo classed as one of the best examples of tho kincma art. Bryant Washburn stars in -tlie leading role a very lovablo character of .a_ young man who is an adbpt at smiling in' tho face of misfortune. . A NICHT AVI'. BURNS.

Tho Scots of Wellington have decided to celebrate - the advent of Robert Burns 160 years ago 'by a grand national concert of Scottish song ' and music. This will be given in the Town Hall on Saturday, January 25, the anniversary of the poet's birth. The programme will include pipe-play-iug and dancing by members of the Scottish Society (uuder whose auspices .the concert will be held), and somo of Wellington's most noted artists will interpret tho' over-popular lyrics of Caledonia. A special feature of the Concert is the issiio to every' Batron of an artistic brochure and souvenir programme, containing a miscellany on Burns from the pens of classic authors and local writers. Further particulars will be advertised later.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190113.2.6

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
2,132

ENTERTAINMENTS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 92, 13 January 1919, Page 3

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert