AMUSEMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1920, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS

POLLARD’S PICTURES. TO-NIGHT. A hirst National Production, “The lliird Iloor Back,” with Sir Johnston !■’ orbes-Bonertson as “The Stranger.” Jerome K. Jerome’s wonder-play with, a world message. The ‘‘Third Floor Back” marks an epoch in screen literature. The world’s greatest actor in his favourite creation. Every man, woman and child can witness this production and learn a lesson. A notable caste supports the great actor, and the production stands alone as a work of fidelity to type. The theme of this play has been the basis of sermons all over the world. The greatest orator cannot visualise the story as the picture does. The story is in a large measure symbolical, picturing the compelling force of love and understanding in solving the ills of human misery and weakness. Aside from its spiritual message, it lias many humorous and dramatic qualities. To a dingy London boarding-house in sombre Bloomsbury Square, house beset with misunderstanding, bitterness and rancour, and peopled witli unhappy souls made cruel with their light against circumstance, there conies at dusk a sweet-faced stranger—seeking quarters—a passerby with eyes that radiate light, and a smile that seems to understand the troubles of all. Without meddling, hut simply out of innate kindness and pity, lie seeks to adjust the human glement in thin miserable chaos. To each person, in turn, lie brings a non and •''finer understanding of life. One after the other they become morally rehabilitated. Before his smile and understanding words their bickerings and meanness disappear. They grow more tolerant toward each other, and at the same time strangely happy. Finally, when love has replaced hatred as the governing spirit of the household, the stranger passes from their midst as mysteriously as he came.

On .Monday npxt Pollards will present Clara Kimball Young in “The Bond Through the Hark.”

McLEAN’S PICTURES.

“THE BLUE BIRD” FRIDAY

At the Princess Theatre to-morrow night Mr McLean will produce Materlinck’s “Blue Bird.” Maurice Tour neur, the master producer, has exceeded himself in the filming of Maeterlinck’s immortal story, “The Blue Bird,” which, as a Paramount-Artcraft Masterpiece is to he screened to-morrow night. As a collection of gorgeous spectacles it would be. impossible to conceive anything more varied than the many wonderful and vivicl scenes that Mr Tourner had obtained in depicting the search after happiness, as told in Maeterlinck’s story. There is a. scene of impressive grandeur that needs special mention. A myriad of mothers can be seen on n mountain outlined against the rising sun, with arms outstretched awaiting a great ship that sails out of the Heavens. This ship contains the babes whom the great Creator has sent to gladden the earth. “The Blue Bird” is a veritable triumph of artistry. The supports include the serial “The Grey Seal.” ' On Tuesday night “’Hie Lee Kids,” in “You Should Worry,” will bo screen-