LYRIC PICTURES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 October 1917, Page 3

LYRIC PICTURES.

—Friday Evening—

" Esmeralda-"—Adjectives for describing the charm of Mary Pickford have quite run out in the American papers. Her popularity increases like a snowball, and in her latest appearance as " Esmeralda " she is seen at her very best.. The 4 play is by Francis Hodgson Burnett, the writer of "Little Lord Fauntleroy," and is a simple and human story with the impress of naturalness and genuine sympathy in every scene. The wedding scene in which the brave little woman faces a loveless marriage for the sake of her mother's social ambition is almost heartbreaking, but the long arm of coincidence brings the ". lover at a dramatic moment and all ends happily. The supporting cast is strong and the production excellent; —Saturday Evening— "The Warrens of Virginia"—Agatha Warren (Blanche Sweet), daughter of aristocratic Southern General Warren, has, before the Civil War, fallen in love with Ned Burton, of New York. With the beginning of hostilities, General Warren takes command of many of the Southern troops", ' and Burton becomes lieutenant in the Union Army, the lovers being separated, by their different sympathies. Most of the action of the drama takes place during the closing days of the war, when Warren's soldiers are suffering from lack of supplies. Burton is forced to use his intimacy with the Warren family in carrying out a, ruse which leads to the defeat of the supply trains. When he is captured, Agatha, still loving him in spite of herself, offers him the means of escape, whioh he is too proud to accept. The timely surrender of Lee at Appomattox is all that saves him from being shot. The sequel to these stirring events is the ultimate re-unipn of the lovers. A splendid supporting list includes " British Monster Guns in A.ction," and episode 13 of " Lucille Love." —Tuesday Evening— . " The Battle-Cry of Peace"—" To. keep peace, prepare for war," says on old maxim, and this' is the thence of .this magnificent war drama, Muoh controversy in the United States and, elsewhere has ranged round what is alleged to be the unpreparedness of that country for war, and the question involved is one of world-wide interest and concern. The production has been prepared on an elaborate scale, and depicts the shelling of New York by a hostile fleet. It is stated that some 38,000 soldiers and others appear in the picture, and that the incidents 'described in some of the scenes are unusually thrilling, The story tells how the daughter of a " peace-at-any-price" advocate of New York is engaged to a young man who is a supporter of the policy of being prepared. The father of the girl objects, on account of the views held by man. However, the day cqines when shells crash into New York with tragic results, the peace advocate is shot, while the man is bayoneted before his sweetheart's eyes. From this point the story is forked out in an interesting manner.