LYRIC PICTURES.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 October 1917, Page 3

LYRIC PICTURES.

—Friday Evening—

" The Masqueraders " — Aristocratic modern socfety is stripped bare of glamour in this picturization of the play by H. A. Jones of " Liars" and " Hypocrites " fames. The heroine is a young girl of good birth who goes to work as a barmaid at the Stag Inn, and finding the life dull and tedious marries the totally worthless Sir Brice. The play is full of sudden twists and surprising turns, and is staged with lavish completeness. Hazel Dawn, the pretty young actress from Salt Lake City, is adorable as the heroine, and the supporting cast is strong. The plot culminates in an intensely dramatic scene where the lover plays the worthless husband at cards for the heroine's happiness. There is well filled list of supporting pictures. —Saturday Evening— "The Stepping Stone" —a new Triangle Kay-Bee photoplay, featuring Frank Keenan and Mary Boland. A woman has been so faithful to her husband through the early trials of her married life that when he rises to success he thinks he has outgrown her. His rise really is the work of a wealthy master of finance, who loves the wife, and foresees that he has but to wait, and the husband will secure a divorce, and leave her free to his advances. His calculation is shrewd, but he has reckoned without the woman. She loves her husband, and when the time comes that she learns she stands in his way to what he presumes are better things, she takes an unexpected course that is a " punch " of tremendous force in a thrilling picture. It is full of powerfully presented situation, while the acting of Keenan is really wonderful. In addition to a big supportr ing programme the splendid Vitagraph comedy " More Money than Sense," and the 14th episode of Lucille Love (" The Girl of Mystery ") will be screened. —Tuesday Evening— " The Phantom Crook " —is a powerful drama in which the expert society swindler is shown in a new light. The plot hinges on the theft of a very valuable pearl necklace. " The Phantom "is a Society man named Parrel. He is suspected by the Police of being a swindler, and is warned to leave America. He promises to do so, but before departing determines to obtain the celebrated necklace which is to be worn at a grand function. He introduces himself to the host as a detective. He falls in love with the daughter of the house, and she returns his love. While the girl is showing the guests her.necklace the lights go out, and when they are turned on the jewel case is empty. From this on the action is tense and highly dramatic, and the audience is kept guessing who it was that stole the jewels right up to the last minute. The love element in the play is nicely introduced, and the production throughout is excellent. For • unexpectedness and novelty it is claimed that this picture outdoes even Conan Doyle's hero Sherlock Holmes. The supporting pictures are particularly fine.