ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1606, 5 September 1916, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“OUR PICTURES.” “THE GOLDEN CLAW.” Still another Triangle film, “The Golden Claw,” is to be shown at the Town Hall to-morrow night. It. is a five-reel drama produced by Thomas 11. Inee, one of the Triangle famous trio of producers, which tells the story of a, woman, who, having tasted the sweets of life and being neglected by her husband, went in pursuit of phantom pleasures until a reversal of fortune to her husband woke both of them up to the follies and frailties of life, and they decided that the Mecca of marriage was trust and faith in each other. Miss Bessie Barriscale, who plays the lead in this production, came prominently before the American public as Lovely Alary in “Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,” and since then she has played continuously for the movies, one of her biggest successes being in Belasco’s drama picture, “Rose of the Rancho.” “The Golden Claw” is a picture that makes a strong appeal, and the original theme is sure to arrest attention. Supporting pictures include “Anzac Day in London,” a (iOOft. exclusive film, depicting our heroes in London and being decorated by Gen. Sir F. W. Birdwood.

THURSDAY AND KHI DAY.

“THE HEART OE A PAINTED

WOMAN,

Alan Dale, America’s foremost dramatic critic, and dean of his profession, has consistently refused to review motion picture productions. After seeing the stately Empress of Emotion, Mine. Olga Petrova in “The Heart of a Painted Woman,’’ this is what he wrote and syndicated through the thousands of papers he writes for: “I saw a picture release the, other day that almost reconciled my jealous dramatic soul to the vogue that the “movies” have established for themselves. It was called ‘The Heart of a Painted Woman,’ and it was exceedingly fascinating and spectacular. The average ‘movies’ leave me absolutely cold, because it is usually undrama,tic, and I find it hard to concentrate myself upon its incessant changes. This told its story exquisitely, - and it. was, moreover, admirably taken. It was the versatile actress Olga Petrova who jdu.ved the ‘lead’ —the second picture, I am told, that she has ever made. Well, to my mind, she has (ho wellestablished ‘movie’ artists beaten at their own game. You could at least detect good acting and wonderful, poise, and I’ll venture to say that the pictorial ladies of Ihe usual ‘movie’ concerns fail to emphasise these. I’ve looked in vain among (he favourites of the ‘screen’ for any symptom of dramatic ability or ‘magnetism,’ and I’ve tried hard to discover these. A dramatic critic could review ‘The Heart of a. Painted Woman’ and could do himself justice—or injustice—as the case might be; one could say and think things about it. I never slept once, and that is a, record for me, as far as pictures are concerned. Usually a splendid drowsiness steals over me and my numbed faculties yield me no sensation. I won’t say that I have made an exhaustive study of pictures, because that would be untrue. Others there may be just as good as ‘The Heart of a Painted Woman,’ but 1 have not seen them, and, well, I’m from Missouri. In any case, you will admit that I am candid, and admit a certain ignorance. If ever I see anything better than the aforesaid picture I’ll come right out and say so.” Supporting items of interest constitute a tip-top programme.