ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10384, 1 May 1925, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. LURE OF THE "MOVIES." SEARCH FOR SCREEN TYPES. Mr Beaumont Smith, the well-known Australian picture produce;-, is at present touring New Zealanu i~* Ji© purpose of discovering fresh personalities to use in his forthcoming productions, and will conduct screen tests at His Majesty's Theatre at to-morrow's matinee and again at night. Mr Smith is known throughout Australia as the pioneer of the motion picture industry in Australia, and he has produced all the pictures of any note there during the past 10 years. Now Mr Smith has decided to use New Zealand talent. To that end he has entered into an agreement with the management of the various theatres throughout New Zealand enabling his producer, Mr it. Petersen, to appear in person on the stages, and there to conduct thorough tests as to the ability fnd personality of any aspirants to screen fame, and he undertakes to give lucrative engagements either in New Zealand or Australia to any people who meet with his requirements. Mr Smith is firmly convinced that "movie" stars are born and not made. Beauty, though of value, is by no means the greatest asset to screen success. Two much more important factors are screen personality and ability. Many people of widely different ages and personalities have shown promise of an unusual nature, and several have already been given definite engagements in a picture which is at present being made in New Zealand. Still, he requires' about CO persons of ability and ne hopes to find some of them in Ashburton.

"813." Most lovers of detective literature have read stories of Arsene Lupin, who, in his way, is quite as remarkable a character as Sherlock Holmes. The film "813," to be screened at His Majesty's Theatre this evening, at tomorrow's matinee, and again in the evening, presents him in an entertaining role. Lupin is a clever criminal who entirely baffles the police by asI suming the dual personality of criminal 1 and criminal hunter. In the story of "813" Lupin is suspected of having committed a murder, and all the circumstances point to him as being the criminal. There is one police oriioer, however, who is satisfied that Lupin is not guilty, because he knows that, although Lupin is a "crook," he never stoops to murder. The unravelling of the mystery surrounding the crime and two even more baffling murders, which I follow, forms the main theme of the j story. When the murderer is unmasked there follow explanations as to the motive for the crime, and the reason why the story is entitled "813" is also made clear. The plot is said to be very cleverly constructed, and there is no straining* after sensational but quite impossible events. Each incident is the natural outcome of the preceding one.

A comedy, "Pitfalls of a Big City;" a scenic, "Life on the Rockies," and a Patho Gazette will be screened in support.

EUCHRE TOURNAMENT. The attendance at the second session of the Ashburton Amateur Swimming Club's euchre tournament last evening was disappointing. Mr F. Hume was the winner last evening, and in the play-off with Mr O. Stills, the previous week's winner, Mr Stills wonV The prize was a lady's bicycle.