AMUSEMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1917, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS

POLLARD’S PICTURES.

ETHEL CLAYTON, TO-NIGHT

“ The Bondage of Fear,” a big five act World Film star feature stars Ethel Clayton and Arthur Ashley in the leading roles at the Princess Theatre to-night. Nothingmore powerful has been done by the World Film ColiipaliV. The underworld, of New York with its,, fatal allurements in wine, women and song, is vividly pourtrayed in this great work—the home of the criminal. It is here that we see the slimy crook “Skinny” enjoying the frilitsof his blackmail. As a stealthy crook wielding without mercy the terrible weapon of blackmail, Arthur Ashley makes, a grim impressiveness, and Ethel Clavton gives a heart thrilling impersonation of the young wife tortured by the fear of disclosure. “ Give me some money or .I’ll tell your husband about killing, your lover in your room.’ This is the everlasting threat held out by the dangerous criminal who has secured a hold over the young wife in “ The Bondage of Fear.” Ethel Clayton gives a splendid performance, of the woman who in love with her husband is confronted with a big problem as the result of a former lover’s crazy deed. Blackmail is the weapon of the criminal “ Skinnv” but driven to desperation she can bear it no longer and when “ Skinny ” comes with the demand for an enormous sum, she seizes a pistol and kills him. She then phones to the police, telling them she is alone in the house and hears a burglar entering. There .is a pistol in her husband’s room. The burglar is approaching. What shall she do? The officer tells her to hold the burglar off until lielpcomes. With the receiver down, she fires a shot into the air. When the .officers arrive tliev pronounce the killing is self-defence, and Vesta is happy with her husband, knowing that her tormentor is out of the way.

McLEAN’S. PICTURES. At the Opera House on Friday evening the star feature is a Metro drama with May Allison and Harold Lockwood as tlie leading actors in “ Pidgin Island ” The story deals with a young girl just out of a convent, who enters the American secret service. About the same time a young man also enters the service, and they are both put to work to track a notorious gang of smugglers. They are each ignorant ot the other’s identity, and meet often in their pursuit of the gang. AVlien they reach the country where the gang is operating they naturally suspect, everyone they come acioss, and each thinks the other is a member of the gang. At first sight the man falls in love with the giii detdetive, and cannot imagine how one so beautiful could be mixed up with a gang of smugglers. She lias also “ taken a liking ” to her fellow detestive, but when they meet they give each other the cold shoulder. Some beautiful scenery is introduced and the story lias a pretty ending. The serial li Peg o’ the Ring ” will be continued and a good comedy completes a fine programme.

HENRI FRENCH COY. 1 The - Hmiri French Coy. which gives one night performance in the Princess Thcare°on Saturday with a matinee in the afternoon is well .spoken of by an East Coast paper which says it is the* mono wheel that M. Trench gives most startling turns. Hi s performance o n bicycle skates is also a treat to witness. Besides his own turn M. French introduces two animal performers, a monkey and a little pig six months old. The latter proved a' very popular item, the pig waltzing, see-sawing, and jumping hurdles, greatly to the amusement of the children in the audience. During the evening Mademoiselle* Deis sang two songs which were enthusiastically received. I In* pWj form mice all through was greatly enjoyed and M .French was continually greeted with applause ■