ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EVERYBODY’S A SPLENDID PICTURE. • “The Prodigal Judge” which was shown to a crowded house at Everylast night and screens again tonight, brings to the screen a character who has long lived in fiction and has become endeared to the hearts of fiction lovers. Eloquent at every bar, Falstaffian in capacity of appetite and intellect, the Judge is a man to be reckoned with. Tn him the ridiculous struggles for mastery with the sublime, the spectator laughs over him and then loves him, and in the end rises to a point of delighted admiration for the vagabond Avho still remains the hignminded, great-hearted gentleman. He is the most striking character in a picture of many striking characters; a romance rich in incident, hearty in humour. full-flowing in a broad current of life and events. Love and hate and private feud, true friendship and evu ambition, the mysterious and unexpected, all have their place in the plot of this great picture. And the very core and focus of interest is the unforgettable. magnificent figure of the prodigal judge. It has been termed a Rembrandt of the screen and the greatest picture of the year. The final screening is announced for to-night. EVERYBODY’S “DISRAELI” TO-MORROW. Adapted for the screen by Henry Kolker, Louis N. Parker’s “Disraeli” will be seen at Everybody’s to-morrow and Friday. “Disraeli” is distinctly one of the finest attractions among recent motion pictures. It is such films which will win new followers for the screen. The film version of Louis N. Parker’s play is remarkable for many features, among them being the delicate subtitles . and shadings. The characterisations rendered by George Arliss as Disraeli, Prime Minister of England, forced to play a lone hand against Russian diplomacy and intrigue, to gain possession of the Suez Canal in order perfect his Queen’s Empire, is one of the finest pieces of acting the silent drama can boast. Arliss plays the part with his whole mind on the alert. The spectator can see, not only the excellent make-up of Disraeli, but a picture of the inner workings of his brain, all the quick changes of thought being re vealed in unmistakable action and facial expression. The scenarist and director have maintained the thrill and ’ suspense of the historical drama to a well-nigh perfect degree, as well as the meritorious production, and one that must give a great deal of pleasure to picture-lovers. The season is positively limited to two nights. THE PEOPLE’S. “BUCK” JONES TO-NIGHT. Tn “Trooper O’Neill” Buck Jones’ latest William Fox Production which screens to-night at the People’s, the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police is represented with exceptional fidelity, to which i the artistic photography adds not a little. Standing out from the welldrawn background, in bold relief, is a swirl of stirring events that whip action to a high pitch. Through it all. - delicately moulded, is a long interest that is most appealing and convincing. It is a romance of engrossing interest and speedy action and contains an element of mystery that grips the imagination hard. It sets forth the heart- . reaching struggle of Duty versus Love. ! It spreads before the spectator the wondrous natural beauty of furthest Canada. Its final climax carries a tremendously strong appeal. An excellent supporting programme is included with this feature: Sunshine comedy, ‘The Landlord,” Cartoon and Topifals.