AMUSEMENTS

Taihape Daily Times, 12 October 1918, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

KING'S THEATRE. At this theatre to-night tho second of the Goldwyn productions will be shown, entitled 'The Spreading Dawn," and an orchestra has been specially engaged to accompany this film. A brief synopsis of star picture is as follows: Jane Cowl makes her debut as a Goldwyn star in "The Spreading Dawn" and although her reputation on the speaking stage was great it must bo much greater after this appearance on the screen. Jane Cowl is shown as the elderly aunt who threatens to disinherit her neice if she dares to think of such a thing as love. In response to the girl's pleading the old lady produces a diary kept when she was young. The picture then follows the story of that diary through an absorbing series of incidents showing how the aunt had loved, and doubted 'and been rescued from a burning theatre by her lover, whom she then married. At dawn, the day after the wedding he has to join his regiment. After a long absence he returns and has hardly greeted his wife when a message arrives and he leaves her post haste to go to the "other woman" who had caused trouble before the two had married. Tho devoucment is as unexpected as could possibly be and the whole picture is a masterpiece from every point of view. EVERYBODY'S. ~.. HASHIMURA TOGA. Had Paramount, which will release a five-reel picturization of "Hashimura Togo" to be shown to-night at the Town Hall, done Wallace Irwin's naive letter writing Japanese into a series instead of merely to single feature, it would have deprived the reviewer of the only salient criticism of the production. For Hashimura, created for the screen by Sussue Hayakawa, is by way of being one of the most delightful comedy characters the films have produced. From Japan to America and back again the plot takes him and the story balances on the edge of tragedy now and again—just often enough to give added zest to the telling. Picture Sessue togged out in a bob-tailed coat that fits too. soon, with a bumpkin necktie and horn-rimmed spectacles and an oval derby! "To get. job," he hears, "you must have boastful manuscript telling all things you cannot do, written by former boss." Hashimura always had been his own boss, so he writes his own recommendation and gets a job as butler — and ex-offieio guardian angel—in the home of the American girl he adores. When the girl's crdoked guardian tries to coerce her into receiving his attentions by threatening her with a note to which he (has iforged| her dead father's namc,Hashiinura informs the guardian of the presence of another suitor. Of course, Hashimura exposes the guardian as you expect—but not in tho manner you might expect. He happens in just before tho wedding ceremony is completed, garbed in white burial robes and his derby. Sessus Hayakawa never (appeared in a better part, nor even in one which gave such opportunity for humorous subtlety as —oil as quiet dramatic intensity. On no account miss seeing him at Everybody's to-night. In addition there is another star on the programme, featuring Mary Miles Minter in "Her Country's Call." Dainty Mary is seen at her best as the daughter of an outlaw, who under trying circumstances upholds the honour of her country.