ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1244, 12 May 1914, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MUNICIPAL PICTURES

The programme for to-morrow promises to be an exceptionally attractive one and one that should draw a good audience as it is of such a varied nature. The star picture “The Chinese Death Thorn ” is a Kaietn masterplay and tells how Martin Avery, opium fiend and member of the Chinese Crime Syndicate, is assigned to a midnight burglary by the leader, Moi Ling. The robbery is successfully perpetrated, but Martin barely escapes capture. The theif turns in the proceeds. He later rolls into a bunk in Moi Ling’s den and orders an opium layout. Dearborn, a banker, enters the den with his daughter Mildred and several of her friends, on a slumming tour. Moi Ling falls in love with Mildred and entraps her in one of his rooms. Martin sees him. He goes to the rescue. Dearborn learns of Martin’s heroism and in gratitude gives him a position. The boy is eventually made cashier. Moi Ling learns of his former tool’s rise and plots to get him in his power. The cashier becomes Moi Ling’s prisoner as the result of the Chinaman’s strategy. The same night the members of the Crime Syndicate raid the bank. News of the robbery precipitates a run on the bank. Dick learns of Martin’s whereabouts and enters the den. Moi Ling captures Dick and taking a Chinese death thorn —the slightest scratch of which means instant death—he approaches him. The police break in at the same instant and find the stolen funds and return in time to avert a failure. The other drama, “Sunny, or the Cattle Thief,’’ is a thoroughly convincing Vitagraph western ranch play, telling how a girl’s act done in a spirit of fun brings suspicion on her lover. There is a strong human touch running through the fine story. Both the topical films are such that they portray the pictorial panorama of passing events both at Home and in our own Dominion, The educational films, “ The Lucca Cavalry,’’ anc}/‘The Marble Industry at Carrara,” are two fine pictures. The beautiful coloured study, “Plants and Flowers,” is capitally executed and well presented. The two comics are real mirth producers.