ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1917, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"INTOLERANCE"-GRIPFrnPS COLOSSAL SPECTACLE. That much discussed but universally .popular and colossal picture spectacle, Intolerance," will be sliowu here for two nights and a matinee in Everybody's Theatre on Thursday and Friday next with the special matinee on the Friday .it two o'clock, under the direction of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Strange to say those condemning the picture—a small section of the clergy—never saw the picture; but against this the management has to back it up the almost universal approbation of tlio public and the majority of the press of the Dominion. It is interesting to reproduce one or two of the more prominent. The Otago Daily Times printed: "There is no doubt that Mr. Griffith (the producer) has touched his theme with the brain of genius, and in the Babylonian scenes especially he has obtained a dazzling, awe inspiring effect." The Wellington Times printed: "One can readily imagine that one of the greatest creations in the picture world up to the present is "Intolerance." In the language of Dominic Samson it was ''prodigious." "Intolerance" demonstrates the highest development of the moving picture art. "Intolerance" represents something that can never be put on the ordinary dramatic stage. is represented on a most massive scale." The Wellington Dominion printed: "A really stupendous pictorial achievement has resulted." Then the Auckland Herald printed: "Intolerance" contains stupendous spectacles and a very riot of realism. It created something in the nature of a sensation. It is certainly one of the most extraordinary cinema attractions to date. The magnitude of the effort realised in the film cannot be imagined without witnessing it. In the Babylonian scenes it reaches its greatest heights spectacularly. Sensationalism is outdone. The splendor of Belshazzar's banquet, the women's forms, draped rather than clothed, the license and the abandon of it all are remarkable as reproductions of a heathenish age. The spectacular displays are little short of marvellous, the costuming and grouping being gorgeous." The Auckland Star in a eulogistic notice printed: "The magnitude of the scenes places the picture beyond anything which has preceded it and almost beyond criticism. "Intolerance" caused something more than a sensation." This remarkable picture will only be shown here for these two nights while there will be a special matinee in order to suit the convenience of mothers and children, on Friday at 2p.m. when children will be admitted at half price. The box plan is now open at Collier's, Devon street, where seats can be reserved without any booking fee. There will lie no return season of "Intolerance" here. A BRILLIANT WORLD FILM AT EVERYBODY'S. "THE ANGEL OP MERCY.' Sumptuous scenes of the gatheringplaces of the Russian aristocracy open the splendid World film drama, "The Angel of Mercy," starring Alice Brady, which is screening for the last time at Everybody's to-night. The Russian atmosphere is almost miraculous, the cast being chosen to contain a number of foreign men who give the'-.film great distinction. The story has bne of the best plots that have lately been written, and the action never lags for one moment. The heroine i 9 a young violinist whose brother is a writer slowly becoming entangled in the Nihilist movement. He loves and secretly marries a lovely young aristocrat, and the heroine is adored by a splendid type of Russian noble. The whole tragedy of the four lives is caused by the scheming and ambitious parents. The play affords vivid glimpses of the violence and wickedness of the despotism which was the curse of Russia. In one scene, the girl violinist refuses to play the Russian National Anthem, and she is beaten with the lash. The central incident of the play is the seizure and trial of the violinist and her lover. The vindictive chief of the police-springs at an opportunity for cruel revenge, before he is displaced by the lover's father at midnight. Black despair seizes him, however, when he finds that his own daughter is an accomplice, and his successor promptly metes out similar pitiless treatment. The programme also includes the second episode of "The Secret of the Submarine" and Charlie Chaplin in the Mutual comedy, "Behind the Screens." A SPLENDID PROGRAMME AT THE EMPIRE TO-NIGHT. "THE MILLIONAIRE VAGRANT." 0 A man respects no law when the woman he loves is in danger. This is illustrated in 'The Millionaire Vagrant," the brilliant Triangle production being screened at the Empire to-night. Charles Ray puts up a great fight when the police come to arrest his sweetheart, dashing over roof-tops, clambering down waerspouts. balancing on narrow window ledges and at Jast diving headlong through a skylight to land on top of the very gang who are after him. "Her Nature Dance," a rollicking Keystone comedy shows a most daring and dainty exhibition of the Keyslone girls in very primitive costumes. The dancing in this picjxire is wonderful.