PEERLESS PICTURES.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1918, Page 1

PEERLESS PICTURES.

OPERA HOUSE, MONDAY.

‘THE DAUGHTER OP THE GODS.”

After a record season of four weeks in Christchurch when hundreds were turned away at each and every performance. unable to gain admission, William Fox’s mighty million dollar spectacle, “ A Daughter of-the Gods,” featuring, that most beautifully formed woman in the world, Miss Annette Kellerman, opens it's season in Hokitika on Monday afternoon and night, at- the Opera House. The film lias been described as a “ million dollar production,” but the phrase does not convey any adequate impression of the merit of the picture, or the stupendous undertaking of its production. The conception of the film is so natural that one could well imagine having entered some hitherto unknown country of tlie East, and there secured the representations of its romantic history- The story has all the essential features of a fairy tale. The central figure in the production is Annette Kellerman, who plays the title role, and, on account of her natural beauty and prowess she simply carries all before her. The story proceeds to show that after being taken a captive in the desert Anita is sent to a slave market, from which she is taken to the Sultan’s liarem. For refusing to accept his attentions she is thrown to the crocodiles, and by the interception of a good fairy the crocodiles are turned into swans. Anita is next precipitated into a swirling torrent of water, when, although bound, she gives a remarkable display of swimming, ultimately reaching the sea. In a second attempt to escape from the Sultan she dives from a tower 100 feet high into an angry sea. She. succeeds in escaping the slaves of the Sultan who pursue her, and in the seclusion of the forest gives further displays of her swimming abilities. A fairy touch turns the forest people intoa band of warriors, who, with Anita for their leader, go to the rescue of her lover and make war ou the Sultan. The fight and the burning of the city are wonderful and spectacular portrayals. The final scene'shows the bodies of Anita and her lover being committed to the deep where they are re-converted into mermaids. This section of the film is wonderfully impressive and makes a fitting conclusion to a story of enrapturing interest. The photography throughout is of a high order, whilst the staging, effects and costuming are simply gorgeous. The Peerless Orchestra from Greymouth will play the incidental music.