ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

EVERYBODY’S. “THE TEN DOLLAR RAISE. Lovers of Peter B. Kyne’s stories will welcome the Associated Producers’ feature, “The Ten Dollar Raise,” ' at Everybody’s theatre to-night. - ..The ; leading roles are interpreted by William V. Mong and Marguerite De La Mptte. It is the story, the same old story <sf every day oceurences, the Story of a maM grown old in the service of hie enployer, who looked upon him ab ail enployer, lucky to hold a job that a beginner vVotiTd take for less. The audience will see s.Qme °f the situations, and. mentally -say, “Why that’s, so in my case?” They may see some of theiiown situations brought home. ..There, is a beautiful love romance ruiinihg through the story, which" contains, the substance of one of the most 'human pictures which have ever graced the screen, and the climax, of the story shows there are always possibilities for the man of character.

THE PEOPLE’S. , “BIRTH OF NEW ZEALAND.” This first big ambitious picture, produced in New Plymouth by New Zealanders, Was screened at the People’s last night. The picture tells the story of the first twenty-five years of New Zealand’s history, and tells it right well. It opens by showing the birth-place of Captain Cook, the great explorer and discoverer. Next, Captain Cook is seen in his barque, the Endeavour, sighting the coast-line of New Zealand. The Maori King goes out to meet him, and, on arriving on board, the Maoris are much struck with a crate of pigs. In pantomime, they request a present, and to their great delight, Captain Cook gave them two of the animals, thus first introducing the pig to New Zealand. Captain Cook’s arrival at Hawaii, and his tragic death, are shown on the screen. The story then moves forward, and Queen Street, Auckland, in 1-842, is pictured, an exact reproduction being given of drawings in the Auckland Art Gallery. Next, Hone Heke is seen cutting down the historic flagpole at Kororareka. There follows a wild haka in celebration of the declaration of war. Then came the burning of Kororareka and the defeat of the rebels, The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi is very realistically pictured, as also is the annexation of the South Island ’by Captain Stanley, with the interesting incidents which led to the Union Jack being hoisted at Akaroa just five hours before a French officer arrived to claim the island for France. The burning ana sacking of Kororareka constitute a remarkably fine example of motion picture work, the fire scene especially being beautifully rendered. The Gabriel’s Gully gold rush also provides occasion for some particularly good work. The old sluices and cradles are used, and the water had to be conveyed a very long distance for the purpose. It is very .interesting to see the old Wain s Hotel and livery stables, Dunedin, and Cobbe and Co.’s coach standing outside the hotel, ready for a trip to Gabriel’s Gully. An old-time romance is skilfully woven into the film, and the troubles and trials, hardships and dangers encountered by the early pioneers, who so well and truly laid the foundation for the Dominion as we know it to-day, are very powerfully portrayed. The superb acting of the Maori participants in the production of the film deserves a special word of praise, the scene where the old warrior chief stirs up his men against the intruding-pakehas being particularly good. EMPIRE THEATRE.

“‘THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS” TO-MORROW. A rugged mountain pass, a gang of ruffianly brigands, and gorgeous music interspersed with thrills remniiscent of the actual drama, are portions of the ingredients responsible for the intense interest which enthrals the audience the moment the curtain rises on the opening act. As the act develops, so .he mystic charm embraces the onlooker, and little wonder is expressed in the matter of the stupendous run of six consecutive months in Melbourne, and its remarkable success wherever it is staged. Mr. Lionel Walsh, who is directing f tour, and plays the part of Baldsarre (the brigand chief), will -be best remembered for his fine work as Joe Carson in “Within the Law,” Father Kelly in “The Rosary,’ and Old Bill in “The Better ’Ole.” One of the many features of “The Maid of the Mountains” is the scenic effect on the rise of the curtain in the first act, showing the moon faintly beaming from behind the scurrying clouds. The box plans are now rapidly filling at Collier’s.