AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1921, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

POLLARD'S PICTURES.

DOUBLE STAR BILL, TO-NIGHT,

To-night two of the screen’s most popular players will be seen in Pollard’s double star programme. Olive Thomas pays the leading role in Selzncck’s latest comedy drama entitled “Upstairs and Down,” a five reel production. Alive Joyce as the star of “The Sporting Duchess,” the picturised version of the famous old Drury Lane melodrama, does some of the best acting of her long and generally happy association with the drama that overcomes its modesty in celluloid. Miss Joyce is one of tho very best of our screen actresses, exhibiting a poise and freedom from affectation which produces excellent results upon the wide-eyed witness of the screen solution of dramatic problems. The plot of the Drury Lane melodrama lends itself excellently to the extravagance of the screen in pictorial settings, and the story is sufficiently absorbing to keep the temperature of the audience at 104 or thereabouts until the final happy moment when the villain is clutched by the eager hands of the law; the hero by the eager -hands of the heroine, and the final close-up by the eager hands of the movie director. “The Sporting Duchess” provides excellent entertainment. Several well known jockeys appear in the racing scenes, mounted on famous horses. The big racing scenes were taken at tho Fair Grounds in New Orleans, during the racing season in that city. Every effort -has been made to give the production the English atmosphere, and to make the race a typical Derby. Every detail has been worked out by experts until it has all the earmarks of a British production. The American scenery and architecture lend themselves well to the English atmosphere, many old estates being replicas of some European manor. On Wednesday Pollards are presenting a Select drama, “Ruling Passions,” starring Julia Dean and Edward Arden.

MCLEAN’S PICTURES.

“PINK TIGHTS,” TUESDAY

Tuesday’s programme lias as its main feature a Universal special entitled “Pink Tights.” The glitter and glamour of the circus, which appeals to children of all ages from six to sixty, ai’e one reason for the more than ordinary interest displayed in the coming of “Pink Tights,” a romance of the tented world, the tanhark ring and the “big top.” Its heroine is little Mivde Darnton, known on the bill-hoards ns M’lle Gahrielle St Simon, whose specialty is to ascend to the clouds in a balloon and then drop to the earth with a parachute. Mnzie is sick of the life she is leading—the ceaseless travel, the dirt, and the grime—and she longs to remain in one of the small towns through which they pass. When the circus reaches Pleasanton a few narrowminded women of the churoh rise in their wrath against the silken-tighted M’lle Gahrielle as pictured on the hills and appeal to the young minister to forbid the exhibition. In the meanwhile Mnzie making her afternoon ascension, is carried far from the lot by a high wind, and in dropping from the balloon lands on the roof of the minister’s house. The parson stands the shock quite well, but, afraid of its effect on the militant women of his congregation, hides Mazie in his bedroom pending the departure of the committee. And it is this situation which gives rise to a series of most nppealng incidents, leading to a climax as unusual as it is unexpected. The second star of a great programme will be “Treasure Island” one of the mor/, sensational productions of the day, which deals with dark and daring deeds of men who knew no fear. It is a romance of the Spanish Main a great pirate hunt for gold. See the great rush for the stockade at Treasure Island.

PEOPLES PICTURES

OPERA HOUSE, TUESDAY.

The Peoples Pictures open in the Opera House, Revel 1 Street, to-morrow (Tuesday) night, when they will inaugurate regular picture entertainments on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week. The -Opera House has been thoroughly overhauled and many improvements made for the comfort of patrons who will find that their enjoyment will he well catered for. The new management are out to cater for the. entertainment of the residents at a reasonable figure, and invite support of their programmes for which popular prices of ninepence and one shilling, free of tax will he charged. For the opening programme to-mor-row (Tuesday) night, an excellent display of the latest film releases is hilled. The leading attraction will he a super production by the British and Continental Film Company, entitled “Might and the Mite,” a thrilling drama presented in five sensational parts, the magnitude of the story requiring this extended production. The action carries the spectators from scenes of poverty to those of Parisien wealth, the scenes being wonderfully spectacular. The caste comprises a number of talented and prominent players all new to local audiences. The supports include a Charlie Chaplin comedy entitled "The Hot Hop',” full of irrestible comedy, and amusing and original situations. Other items will include a Topical Budget, an educational and a scenic of great beauty