ENTERTAINMENTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9474, 6 March 1922, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. “THE SECRET OF THE HILLS.” A very large number witnessed the screening at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night of a fine programme, headed by “The Secret of the Hills, ; a feature film in which Antonio Moreno takes the principal part. “The Secret of the Hills” is a photoplay that maintains an element of mystery throughout the_ entire production. It presents Antonio Moreno in a role to which he is well suited. _ Their© are many thrilling incidents in the story, and the action moves rapidly through a series of startling events, and includes many incidents of a striking nature, such as the finding of the murdered man, the discovery of the counterfeiters’ den, and buried treasure placed there by King James 111., King of Scotland. The opening scenes of the picture are exceptionally picturesque. They take place in a Chinese restaurant in which the Oriental atmosphere is well maintained. There is a good supporting programme, which, with the star film, will be screened for the last time this evening. It includes another instalment of “The Adventures of Tarzan,” a fine scenic, a good Topical, and a very funny comedy. “THE BLACK PANTHER’S CUB.” The fine programme which will bo presented at His Majesty’s Theatre to-morrow and Wednesday nights has as its predominating feature the unequalled screen success, “The Black Panther’s Cub,” a gigantic dramatic spectacle, presenting in the stellar role Florence Reed, the well-known actress. The picture is adapted from the story by Ethel Donohar —suggested by the immortal poem by Charles Swinburne, “Faustine.” The story of “The Black Panther’s Cub” is woven about the underworld life of Paris, with occasional flashes of the homes and life of the English aristocracy. It is produced on a scale of gorgeous lavishness beyond the power of description, and the story has a wealth of dramatic action, a fast-moving plot, and enthralling romance. In production and charcterisation this graphic offering establishes a high-wter mark of supremacy, and is guaranteed to captivate' the most hardened critic. Florence Reed, one of the brightest ■luminaries of the stage and screen, whose numerous -triumphs have made her one of the world’s most celebrated artists, has never before contributed a finer or more impressive portrayal than that which she gives in this production. Miss Reed is seen first as Faustine, the keeper of a notorious gambling bouse in Pains; second as Faustine’s daughter, who has been reared in the refinement of a quiet English country estate; third as the pseudo Faustine, who returns to Paris' in the role her mother formerly held; and last as the bedraggled old hag, the original Faustine, who has sunk to the depth of the Parisian, underworld mire. A large supporting cast of undeniable brilliance includes such well-known artists as Nocrman Trevor, Henry Stephenson, Paul Duret, Earle Fox, Tyrone Power, and numerous others. This tremendous production cost more than a quarter of a million dollars to produce, and includes some of the most wonderful double-exposure photography ever accomplished on the screen.