LYRIC PICTURES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 October 1917, Page 3

LYRIC PICTURES.

—Friday Evening— " Return of Draw Egan " —Western drama has often been of poor quality, and consequently its popularity has been on the wane. To W. S. Hart belongs the honour of redeeming it from mediocrity and endowing it with appeal to the public, and in this picture you will see him at his best. The story is most ingenious, and the surprise of the mining town that gets the notorious " Draw " for its sheriff, and finds him determined to keep law and order, is splendidly done. Louise Glaum, as the central figure,in the palace of vice, is as alluring as ever, and forms a sharp contrast in method to dainty little Margery Wilson, who is the heroine responsible for " Draw's " change of heart. The programme includes a splendid Keystone " The Surf Girl." —Saturday Evening— " The Half-Breed"—A virile, vigorous, and decidedly swift-moving film success, picturizing Bret Harte's widely-read story "In the Heart of the Carquinez Woods." It has everywhere attracted large audience, and the story is of deep interest throughout. Douglas Fairbanks makes yet another a big hit as Lo, the the Indian half-bred. Beautiful Jewel Carmen plays coquettishly as the flirt Nell Gwynne, and Alma Reuben is soundly dramatic in the emotional role of Teresa. The Californian scenery is exceptionall well produced. A picture of realvalue, and one that it would be difficult to praise too highly is " With the Kut Relief Force in Mesopotamia." This great record of modern warfare is pregnant with interest. It shows in over 100 ft the actual geographical | position of Mesopotamia, native scenes, historic landmarks, Indian troops on active service, motor transports, armoured cars, Turkish trenches captured by British, and other interesting features. —Tuesday Evening— " A Trip to Rotorua " —lt is claimed that for every New Zealander who goes to view the Thermal marvels of his country, there are three Americans and two Australians, but possibly the presentation of so beautiful a series of pictures' as contained in this film will serve to -awaken the home-folk to the wonderful attractions of the Rotorua district. The film is comprehensive to a degree, it depicts not only thermal scenery, but interesting scenes connected with the native life of these regions. The graceful poi dance by Maori women, the diving of the pickaninies for pennies, canoe races on the lake, and Maori women cooking in boiling cauldrons, are all shown. Among the most beautiful of the many striking scenes depicted may be mentioned the Whakarewarewa geysers in eruption, views of Ohinemutu, steaming cliffs of Rotomahana, and the Hamurana Spring, while the closing picture, sunset over Lake Rotorua, was a veritable triumph of the photographer's art. Miss Mary Anderson is seen to advantage in tha thrilling Vitagraph drama " The Hoyden." In addition there is a splendid picture of the Grand National Steeplechase recently run at Christchurch, the winner being Master Strov/an,