THE PICTURE SHOW.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 14 July 1913, Page 7

THE PICTURE SHOW.

BY AN OCCASIONAL VISITOR. lam fond of puiuu. :.h>«s. Whon I travel abroad, ! sample ihem. Often when I go-t.> Wellington I patronise two or shows in one day. The time spent i*nut wasted, for I get enjoyment serv><i up with more or tess valuable iuforimition, I have often been to the showa in Mastertoil. For ft time. ,~r hud only one show—Thompson-Payne's and the pictures were very tino. Now, wo have two shows, ami it is this that compels me to write. On Saturday nidit, with some members of my family, I went to the Town Hall to see the pictures. TJ»e attendance seemed the reverse of satisfactory. On the last occasion that I visited Wellington I joined the ranks of the sixpenny godß, who get as near heaven as possible in "His Majesty's," a new building that accommodates about four thousand persons, or more than the. fine Town Hall. The elevated semi-circle that forma the cheapest part of the auditorium was so full, that, under directions. I had to march to the farther side of the building and then I found myself, like the dove from the ark. unable to find a resting, place. I tried to count the number of welldressed men, women and young people, who occupied the broad steps that rose above each other at an angle of 45 degrees, and I reckoned there were over six hundred persons in this part of the house. Early on the evening following, I went to the "Empress," in Willis-street. It was packed, and after standing for nearly an hour I stepped across the street to "Short's," only to find it in an almost similar condition. The contrast with Masterton was painfully surprising, for here was a fine building, awaiting an exhibition, with hundreds of seats ."to let." What could be the matter? The charge for admission —"prices as usual"—was not prohibitive. Was the show destitute of merit? The screen—a largo i one—was everything that could be | desired, and only a querulous critic Could find fault with the music, which was soul-inspiring, if not above the average. Now for the pictures. The Pathe Gazette embraces the stirring events of the day, represented in the brightest and most convincing shades, and brings everyone into close relationship with renowned aviators, pugilists, athletes, and royalty. The opening of the British Rtj||ment and regatta scenes are brilliant. The next item, "Peter's Pledge,'', introduces an old maid and bachelor, who are awkwardly situated owing to the will of a relative that bequeaths them a legacy on condition that thev get married and "Peter," the black sheep of the family, signs the pledge. The"love-making of the determined spinster, and the difficulties she encounters in weaning the festive Peter from the bottle and agreeing to be a total abstainer, are mirth-provoking in the extreme. "Winter Sports at St. Moritz" vividly portrays the skating, toboganning, sledge-racing, and other" diversions / that give a peculiar zest to life at the famous and picturesque healthresort in the Upper Engadine, Switzerland, 6000 feet above the sea level, j The "El Dorado Lode," a sensational drama of the gold-prospeoiing cbys in California, tells of a c!?::;?er and his wife fhom. poverty an I a sick child drive almost to desperation. To secure surgical aid for his child and save its life, the miner offers "his claim to a couple of rival speculators, who, visiting the mine discover almost "simultaneously a lode of fabulous value. In the race for wealth, they pursue the miner, who is ready to sell out for a mere song, and bidding frantically against each other the digger reaps a rich reward and saves his daughter's life. A fine drama, full of emotional details, and exceedingly realistic. "Bedoni, Hardnip" varies the emotional with a sidesplitter. Bedoni, a young spendthrift, failing in his appeal to his uncle, a rich banker, for assistance, secures a situation as waiter in a leading hotel, gets his uncle involved in a love intrigue, and extorts a huge bribe for hig silence. "Chateaux de "Blois" introduces ■ the spectator to some wonderful buildings, renowned for their antiquity, their great size, historic memories, and architectural features. The piece d' resistance, however, is the star drama, "The Vengeance of Burand." A description of this drama would occupy more space than, you could probably afford. Prom beginning to end the acting is superb. Lytton's portrayal of ■ Durand, the central figure m the plot, is a masterpiece. The mobility of; his features,, expressing jealousy, hatred and x revenge, is marvellous. The fire scene towards the end, in which Durand loses his life, and the man against whom hig vengeance is directed, heroically savinghis daughter, for genuine realism has probably ■ never been excelled. "Calino's Panther" sends everyone away in a happy mood. One word to sum up. The foregoing is no puff written to order. It is a spontaneous tribute to merit. I have seen hundreds of pictures, but a better, brighter, clearer or more enjoyable series than was pre- | sented at the Town Hall on Saturday night I have never witnessed.