ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1672, 8 February 1917, Page 1

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“OUR PICTURES.” The change of programme screened at the Town Hall last evening proved very interesting and entertaining, containing as it did several items of more than usual interest. The star item was a new World Film, production entitled “The Pawn of Fate,” featuring beautiful Doris Kenyon. This is the pathetic and thrilling story of what happened to a poor peasant with a pretty wife when they were lured to Paris by an unscrupulous artist who wanted the wife for himself. Pierre has his revenge, and the telling of the story is performed in a remarkably able manner. A good number of the Gaumont Graphic is included in the entertainment, and also a very nice scenic subject ,“Winter Scenes in Sweden.” Like all the landscapes of the colder countries, Norway affords some charming studies in landscape subjects. The comedy element is introduced by a funny item entitled “Kurnel Knutt wins a j wife,” and a further topical sub- _ I ject of immediate interest is proi vided in “Observing for the British j Heavy Guns.” This capital programme will he repeated to-night. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. The change of programme arranged for Friday and Saturday evenings will, as usual, include a further instalment of the Stingaree serial. In this instalment Stingaree and his “pal” Howie set out to “purify” MulferaMulfera being one of the worst of the small Australian settlements. During their adventures, Stingaree and Howie are secured in captivity at Mulfera, but happily Ethel Porter, Stingaroe’s former sweetheart, is at (he village, and assists in their escape at an opportune moment. This is a very good number of (he series, and includes unusually good desert; scenes and some real riding. Comedy and melodrama is freely intermingled in this number. The star item of the evening is to be “The Commanding Officer,” a drama by (he Famous Players Company, a photo adaptation of the noted military romance. It combines in a thrilling and absorbing manner a novel and varied environment and an original plot that often attains an intensity of dramatic power and appeal seldom contained in a screen play. With the interest of the theme centred about the beautiful young wife of (he commanding officer, who is unjustly accused of an immoral deed of which she is thoroughly guiltless, the development of the plot is marked by a uniformity of merit and a consistency of suspense that results in a complete conquest of the sympathies of the audience. Needless to say, before the termination of this four-part feature the intricate situations and circumstantial episodes that for a time endanger the honour of the accused woman are logically explained, and the pall that threatens the repute and happiness of the commanding officer’s wife rises into the clouds that drift into nowhere. A counterplot of remarkable power adds to the overwhelming interest of the story. There are a fine lot of supporting items, including a film of exceptional interest, depicting a visit to the Western Front by the late Earl Kitchener.