AMUSEMENTS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3322, 29 October 1919, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

THE KING-’S. A ' “WOMAN ’ ’—TO‘-'NI_GrHT. The frailties of woman -are daringly revealed in a mammoth production by ;the great creator of modern Pageantry, Maurice Tourneur, ‘and entitled” “WODI-311,” showing at the King’s tO~ night. The producer is a veritable artist, marshalling the mass of human figures, 1-obed and disrobed, into a tremelldlous :decorative and: hlll9.gol'iCifl composition worthy of the great masters -of other days. The story traces ‘the development of woman through the centuries, marks the evolution of her foibles, and shows the efiect she has had on history. It has a prologue, epilogue, and five episodes. with different stars and castes for each, and one after another, these wonderfully beautiful episodes are shown, 1-ivalling classical paintings i.n -their loveliness. In “Woman,” Maurice Tourneur’s spendid screen classic; the story is imaginative, and deals with “Woman” and her influence on man ‘in the Garden of Eden, through «the ages to the present time, denlonstrati_ng that human nature has not changed, but the same l-ove and passion prevail, tempered by convention, but fundamentally unchanged. It is a pageant of wonderful representations of a magnificence that classes it as unique.

I ‘TOWN HALL PICTURES. .i._._._, ‘ WILLIAM FARNUM IN “ROUGH ! AND READY.’-’ I “‘“ . [ or all the film stars who have ‘climbed to the top of the ladder of fame William Farnum surely stands supreme. He is the idol of the public, and the fact that he is billed to take part in a picture is usually sutfieient ‘top fill the house. Williaiii Farnum has appeared in many‘ outstanding film successes, but it is questionable if any of them can rival .“Rough and Ready‘.’ showing at the Town I-lall,to-night, which by‘ competent critics. is conceded to be one of the most powerful pictures ever" screened. The story depicts, in great bold strokes a man’s sturdy fight in‘ the far northland to right a deep wrong_ There are enough dramatic motinents in "‘Rough and Ready” for a dozen films. [Here -are a_ few of ~them:———The dash lover the ‘precipice of maddened dogs and sleigh; tlle'tel-rific fight between Stratton (Farnum) and Belmont ‘(Alphonze Ethiei-)—a man to man battle yvithout an equal; Bill Stratton’s promisc to live a life of truth; the ab-urial of Stratton in the snow-drifts; Stratton’s dramatic saving of Bess Brown. pinning the crooked faro dcaler’s sleeve to the table with a dagger; the grim meeting in the north.-west. of: Stratton and Belmont, and the path—j ictic meeting of Durant and his daugh—ter; the Indian-’s sacrifice for his mas—, ter; and Stra.t:ton’s imprisonment in} the blazing cabin. Though the drama! is essenitialy that of strong men, there is a. pathetic and lleart—'t:»uc-hiiig love. story running tlir-ough it, while the] scenery and photographic effects are" themselves alone worth seeing. The‘ other pictures constituting the Dl'o- - are really excellent, “The' Bearded Lady” being a side-sDlit'f-in)?‘ comedy which will make the mO-St lugubrious individual smile. _ i