AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1925, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

MCLEAN’S PICTURES.

“ DISCONTENTED WIVES” —FRIDAY. An interesting study in hands will he presented in “Discontented Wives,” the Playgoers feature starring J. P. McGowan at the Princess Theatre on Friday night by McLean’s Pictures. Ruth Galord, as portrayed by Fritrii Brunette, contrasts the soft, well-mani-cured hands of Kirk Harding, whom she might have married, with those of her husband, rough and toil-scarred from working to give her the luxuries that were her right. The comparison was the final straw to her discontent, and she fled from the poverty, the loneliness and desolation of the little shack in the Californian hills to the beautiful home of her parents in New York. “ Discontented Wives ” is not a problem plnv, hut an interesting drama, 0 f a woman who, taken from hci natural environment, found love overbalanced by the hardships of a. primitive life and had to bring suffering to others before slie found herself. J - - McGowan directed “Discontented Wives” from the original story by Fre.l Windemero. The cast in his support besides Fritz! Brunette, includes Jean Perry. Andy Waldron, 0. S. McGregor and little Jackie Condon. A two-reel comedy entitled “ Take Next Car,” a Bathe Review and Cartoon will complete a huge programme. McLean’s Orchestra will yonder the incidental selections and usual prices will prevail Saturday—lrene Castles, America’s liest dressed woman in ‘‘ Slim Shoulders,” a magnificent 6-act picture drama.

MASTER PICTURES. “H A LF-A-DO Lb A 1! BILL”— FRIDAY . “Half a Dollar Bill” is one of the most' gripping human documents that the motion picture industry has presented. Tt is filled with human interest and appeal with a thrilling story finely acted by an excellent east and handled with care bv the director. Jhe resultant whole is a clean, wholesome, gripping and sensational story that will please the most blase of fans. Half a Dollar Bill” is a picture that wi make them lailgn and cry, that wi males them gf’ip the edge of the seat with the tense exciting moments ami that will entertain with the surprising dramatic qualities of the picture. Ihe story is as follows:—Captain M(-Teague (William T. Carleton) of the ship Grampus and his cook, Noodles (Raymond Hatton), find an abandoned hoy. whom they name llalf-a-Dollar Bill because there is a torn dollar hill pinned to his clothing and a note from a broken-hearted mother wlio kept the other half, hoping some day to regain her son. 1 lalf-a-Dollar Bill (Frankie Dana) grows to the age of four. Returning on the Grampus from a voyage. the Captain gives his first officer. [art Webber (George MacQuiirvie) a severe heating for his slurs on Bill’s birth. But Webber has found the torn bill and note the Captain preserved, and he swears revenge on McTeugue. When the Grampus docks, little Bill prevents an unfortunate woman Loin throwing herself off the wharf, and the Captain and Noodles takes her to theii home. The woman (Anna (). Nilsson) lives there as housekeeper, in spite of ,r o ssip. But the captain has grown to hive her. Webber, going there one day, is amazed to recognise the woman as'his wife whom he deserted. She eonfosses she gave up her baby that he might live, and shows him the birth certificate mid torn hill she kept, both of which lie wrenches from her. Webber has enlisted the aid of I’npcolo Joe (Mitchell Lewis). who hears a grudge •imiinst the Captain, and that night they kidnap Bill. The hoy’s dog,leads the Captain to a shack oil the waterfront where Bill was taken, and in a terrific light McToague rescues the buy. The Grampus sails at daylight, but Webber, Rupee! c Joe and a deputy sheriff come in a lunch with a writ to claim Bill. The woman learns Bill is her son. But they are on the high seas, where the captain is law. and in (lii> ensuing excitement Webber is killed bv a knife flung bv Bapeete Joe at the Captain, leaving the woman tree and MeTengue in possession of her son.