AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1917, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

POLLARD’S PICTURES. 1 ANITA STEWART & CHARLIE CHAPLIN TO-NIGHT. Anita Stewart and the new leading man Ralph Cameron, in the Greater Vitagraph big 5-act feature play, “Clover’s Rebellion,” and Charlie Chaplin in the latest Chaplin-Mutual comedy, “ The Rink,” should prove a draw at the Princess Theatre to-night, “ American Heiress Arrested tor Murder of a Titled Suitor ” : “ Held Prisoner Until Her Rival Admits the Crime”—such are the two startling headlines which make their appearance in the dailies after the death of Count Boris, a man to whom “Clover” (Anita Stewart) was to be sold as the highest bidder ; a worthless aristocrat who was the suitor of “ Clover.” Modern society and its money-mad phases is mercilessly dealt with in this great, play, and Anita Stewart gives a moving and wonderful interpretation of the fate of a girl who was born within the social prison walls of modern society.

Everybody, even the most melancholy, will find their eyes wet with laughter when they meet Charlie Chaplin in “ The Rink,” the latest and best of his Chaplin-Mutual comedies. Charlie is as much at home on wheels as he is on his quaint feet, and with the skates on flies through two reels of new laughs so much faster than an express train that mirth control is impossible. Like the old days of the Keystones, Charlie Chaplin has surrounded himself with a large and excellent company.

PEERLESS PICTURES. TO-NIGHT! ‘SONS OF THE EMPIRE’ To-night at the Westland Opera House* tin* Peerless pictures will present the British Government’s Latest War Film “Sons of the Empire” 11000 feet in length. The War Office guarantees that no faking takes place, each picture being taken by the War Office Official Operators upon tho spot', and giving the spectator a more vivid idea of the actual happenings of the battle that any one correspondent of a newspaper could obtain.

The attack on Bapaumo is screened. Particular interest attaches to the pictures “of our own New Zealand men entraining for the front, whilst men from all parts of the Empire are shown all engaged with the object ol upholding the glory of tho British Empire, and defence of justice and righteous treatment for all.. Touching and pathetic scenes at the front. The Chaplain working in the midst of wounded. IT.M.S. “Lion” is pictured shortly alter the Jutland Battle, also submarines preparing for their deadly work etc. Some wonderful new pictures of the Tanks in action are also shown. Views of the graveyards behind the- lines where our fallen heroes are interred are also shown. J his picture created extraordinary interest throughout Great .Britain. The public are now becoming alive to the fact that these are the only authentic moving pictures taken at the British Front within the area covered by the , British Army.

“ MY FIGHTING GENTLEMAN,” XMAS NIGHT. A special holiday attraction lias been arranged for Xmas evening at tlie Opera House, when the Peerless Pictures will screen a Mutual masterpiece de Luxe which features William Russell in “ My Fighting Gentleman,” 6,000 ft. It is a stirring story of love and the presen' great war, and shows the unmasking of a strange and awful plot. The story, which has more to do with the romantic side of life in colonial days than with any military spectacle, centres about the career ot the sou of a Southern colonel, whose sympathies leaned toward the North. The wai o\er, and his father killed in battle, he is in time ostracized by neighbours, friends and sweethearts. The carnet-bagger from the North is introduced into the story with good effect, and with the hero of the story nominated for senator, the action of the play is kept going at a lively pace. The incidents of the story in an indirect way touch on what are authentic facts in the history of the South, there is the murder of a negro by a young Southern aiistocrat because oi an ssault on his sister: there is liis cowardly denial and shifting of the blame on another, mid the final cleaning up of the matter in genuine moving picture style, with pieteuce of having administered poisoned wine to extract a confession from the murderer. It is drama, puie drama, the gripping realm and tragedy of which will carrv von along from the opening until the closing scene. Beautiful scenery and a specially strong caste make this feature a masterpiece. A splendid supporting programme ot films of varied interest has been arranged, while i,the music will be of the best obtainable.