ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8270, 15 October 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HAYWARD'S PICTURES.

"The best picture we have seen for months," was the unanimous verdict or tlie large audience 'which attended at, His Majesty's Theatre last evening to witness the screening of "The Spoilers," a picturi&ation ot Rex Beach's story ot that name. This author has gained a world-wide reputation tor pumung word-pictures ot the rough ufe or the men who seek to win gold irdm. the unwilling soil, and to live, peniaps more arduous lives, -in the terrible climate of Alaska. His characters live vividly for the readers of ins books, and little imagination is needed tor them to picture in their own minds the deeds of the men and women he writes about. For those who have read "The Spoilers," the story in'film form is a veritable treat. Mr Beach himself says:—"An author may feel proud and plume himseli when he has succeeded in writing a successful book, in 100 3 000 or 125,000 words, but when he sees the pith and marrow of it—including the charac!ter6, atmosphere and story—visualised in moving pictures, in which only 200 or 300 words are used for sub-titles, he cannot but feel the great superiority of moving pictures over the written word." AVhile one does not-secure the detail in a moving picture that the space of the book allows, the graphic portrayal of the characters as shown by the film is infinitely superior to the other way of dealing with the story. The parts of the principals in the play are most difficult to portray, and versatility must be a dominant quality with the actors if, they wish to carry out their parts successfully.* To say that the picture was a success is to pay the highest tribute to the men and , women who made it. ( "The Spoilers" was a success in' every way. It would be practically impossible to 'give even a brief outline of the story. :Suffice it ■.•»tox-say ..that it y deals .with 'men arid women in primitive surroundings, and with their various ways of, obtaining a, thing which thfey have set their hearts upon. The picture is worth seeing. ■ A good topical film was the only other picture on the programme, which will be screened again this evening. .