AMUSEMENTS

Taihape Daily Times, 17 June 1918, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

KING'S THEATRE. Great novels picturised are always successes and "The Mother of Dartmoor" is no exception. It is the work of the London Film Company, and follows Eden Philpott's great book exactly. Elizabeth Risden is the star and her acting is almost in the region of the miraculous. From a young and pretty girl, she transforms herself into a dainty and charming old woman The supporting cast is also strong, there being not one weak piece of work throughout. The headstrong son, the worthless woman, the heroine, and all the minor parts are types that are true to the life, The story is the wonderful one of <mother love, and concerns the clever schemes of the mother of a wilful youth to save him from the perils of youth and make him a worthy man. The schemes are full of xip« cleverness and motherly wisdom, and the story is full of surprises. The dramatic climax occurs when the worthless woman whom the mother fears so much, gets Sick of her husband and exercises her old fascination on the boy. A runaway match is planned and is only thwarted at the last 'moment by the keen wits of the mother. The supports are up to the usual standard.

EVERYBODY'S.

"TALE OF TWO CITIES." There has been no expense spared in the great Fox studios to make "The Tale of Two Cities," the picture reproduction of the wonderful Charles Dickens story dealing with events of the French revolution, the most perfect visualisation- possible of this romance. "The Tale of Two Cities," is being screened tonmorrow (Tuesday) at the Town Hall and in the production the well known charactor, William Farnum, is at the head of a long and strong cast. There are many interesting moments in the film for its plot follows exactly upon the lines laid down by the author of the immortal book. William' Farnum in this picture plays in a dual role, for his work is to supply a fitting part for the characters of both Charles Darnay, the aristocrat, and Sidney Carton, the ne'er-do-well. Or it will be remembered by the multitudes, who have the incidents of "The Tale of Two. Cities'' at their finger-ends that Darnay and Carton were two men who were precisely alike in feature, and possessed each of a character the antithesis of the other yet their love is for the same woman. Lucie Manette is the object of this love, and she favours the gentlemanly Darnay, French and aristocratic, while" through the whole course of this mighty drama the audience may see Sidney Carton, the happy-go-lucky Englishman, making his worship from afar. Then comes the reign of terror while the Paris (mob is raving mad, and the effects of this bring sorrow to the principal characters of the story when Darnay is dragged by ruthless men from his home and from the arms of Lucie, now his wife. He is put on trial for his life, but Sidney Carton, mainly in the interest of Lucie's happiness, appears as a witness for him, and Darnay is released. But his relief is- not for long, and the mob drags him again to his trial. This time there is no hope, so Carton himself aided by his facial likeness to Darnay, takes the place of the latter, and goes to his sacrifice at the guillotine. This, in very brief, is the story, as it is being told by this picture with such a wealth of detail. The scenes are often intense and occasionally spectacular. The part of Lucie Manette, the heroine, is taken by Miss Jewel Carmen, and with Farnum, the pair make a fine lead to the many other players in the cast. "The Tale of Two Cities" will be screened for 0-0 night only.