ENTERTAINMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1356, 4 February 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENT.

ROYAL PICTURES

“Soldiers of the Desert,’’ the star film at the Royal to-night, is a great picture that has drawn record bouses in Wellington during the past week. The picture was taken in Algeria, and shows life with the French troops there. It Is a well-told story, and the mounting and acting all that could be desired. The supporting films arc well up to the usual standard, and include a comic by the favourite Keystone Company. On Saturday night the sixth series of Lucille Love will be shown.

MUNICIPAL PICTURES

A most attractive programme will be shown at the above pictures to-morrow night. The star drama, “The Mystery of the Stolen Documents,’’ is a great insight into detective methods, being the dramatisation of a peculiar and puzzling theft. The'Minister tor Foreign Affairs is involved in a secret treaty that is being made to preserve peace between Spain and Portugal. • The knowledge of the contents of the document concerning each nation is valuable iu certain quarters. The treaty is passed to the Minister of Justice for a legal definition ; he has it for a moment, and it disappears as if by magic. The consternation is appalling. By wonderful deduction and care the treaty is discovered. Where it is discovered will make the most expert solvers of problems and guessers of riddles keep on their mettle. The play is full of natural and exciting situations, and love is a powerful element iu the unravelling of the plot. It is produced by the Gaumont Company. The other items are : “The Topical Budget’’ (topical), “Latin Blood’’ (drama), “The Fjords of Norway” (scenic), “A Foolish Agreement” (drama), “The Living Statue” (comic), “Mons. Gaston, from Paris” (comic). Lovers of the works of Charles Dickens will receive a literary treat on Monday night, when bis great masterpiece, “David Copperfieid,” will be seen in motion photography. Everyone is familiar with “David Copperfieid.” It is considered by a great many to be Charles Dickens’ greatest work. Many of the characters, as those of Micawber, and Uriah Keep, have been immortalised, and these names have become part and parcel of the English language. The Hepworth Company were engaged for nine months in producing the cinematograph picture, which is now presented to the public. Most of the scenes were duematographed in the homes from which they were taken by Dickens. Wherever this picture is exhibited an immense amount ol interest is sure to be aroused. The story deals with the life of David Copperfieid from his earliest days. We follow him in his unhappy life with his step father, and his still more wretched experience at school. We see him iu Canterbury, haunted by the villainous machinations of Uriah Keep, and accompanied by his iaithful admirer, Micawber. Again we see the elopement of Little Emily with Steerforth—Poggoty’s v.iiu j search—Little Emily’s rescue from i the anger ot Rosa Dartle, and I Steerforth’s unhappy end. The story is followed in natural sequence, bringing iu every character and incident that is depicted in the novel, showing the delightful scenes with the child wife, and then the subsequent calmer and happier days with David's devoted and faithful helpmate, Agnes. The final scene depicts an old-time Yule-tide gathering, with the Old Year rung out and the New Year rung iu.