AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16405, 27 December 1918, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

"HEARTS OF THE WORLD." A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACULAR PICTURE. It'was but natural that after his triumphs in* "The Birth of a Nation" and "Intoler- ' ance/'-Mr- D. W. . Griffith sighed for other , worlds to .'conquer, and,' happier than Alexander of. Macedon,. found such another world '.in the stupendous conflict that so recently shook tho foundations of civilisation 'and saw so largo a proportion of the human race arrayed upon the embattled plain. ■- The result is "Hearts of the World," the magnificent super-photo drama which was.ecrcened yesterday ■ at the Theatre Royal by the J. 0. Williamson management,' and which, as the result of' the wide publicity given to its great and numerous attractions, was witnessed by very-largo audiences at both afternoon and <evening exhibitions^.. There have been screened in this city vuri- , ons - cinema productions, official and otherwise, , designed to convey some idea of what .modern , warfare really. means. It would be .inexact, to say'that they failed: some of the 'official.^cinematograph war pictures were highly'successful in enabling their beholders to realise wharf; those who fought for liberty and for civilisation were called upon to do and suffer;-and some of the non-official pictures,' .despite the simulation of "the real thing," more or less easily detected, were not altogether unconvincing. But tho por- j tions of "Hearts of the World" devoted to | scenes of actual fighting by their vivid, their almost .painful, realism completely cast in the shade, previous essays .to depict modern.! war* as it actually is, and. makes tlwm no- j pear as "Satyr to'Hyperion, as a rushlight to, the sun." The fact that many of the ; scenes depicted in "Heart® of the World" < were jphotographed in or near the front line j trenches is forcibly impressed upon those who witness the screening of the film. Com-, parisons - have been instituted between "Hesurta'of th6.World" and->Mr Griffith's previotOT mammoth productions—"The . Birth of a .Nation"'. and ; "Intolerance"—but, aa may bet .-imagined when the three, subjects are taken/, into, consideration, there is practically little , common ground on which to base a comparison. .True, war is a factor in all three .productions,' but they difier in so many other -essentials .that-.to institute a. comparison on -that> basis would be highly mislead-' ing. Considered from the, point of view of the' producoT,'' altogether, apant from subject, the palm' easily' belongs to "Hearts of the World."* In-it we have a maturer judgment end taste than was apparent in "The Birth of v a Nation," and a coherency and unity that "Intolerance," from the very nature of-'the scheme of-that production, did not display-to .the same extent. The outlines of the story of "Hearts of tlie World" have been made fairly familiar. It is an intensely human_ story, constructed and- developed -with consistency, and never losing toUoh ; .with probability. Most marked /and clramatio is the sharp contrast between : the -idyllic "life of the principal characters in the quiet, sleepy, but picturesque, French village and the .tragic and barbaxio conditions that followed upon the Hun's. invasion ' and • the death, devastation, and mis-

ory he left - in his wake. ,The main thflme 'of the • etwy is (the love of a-young; author < fox his comely neighbour, and the diversion of-'"the course of true love" by the sudden outbreak of war. For the greater portion of the first pari of the Gtory there is no hint' of ' the approaching tragedy, but with much'.detailed ■ incident are introduced to *he daily life of the principal characters, the doings m the village, and all : the hundred and one matters that go to make up life •"when it is meandering h&Emonicrasly under normal conditions. tjpon the eve of the wedding day comes the news of the outbreak of war and 'the order to mobilise follows it fast and sunders the lovers. Through many dangers and through most of the different phases of modern warfare the story of the Idvera and of the subsidiary "characters develops. The peaceful. village is bombarded V and ' occupied by the Germane, its people

put to forccd labour, and its ..young women selected by the invaders for deportation to work in German munition factories; but tho gallant French troops, and those of the Allies recapture it, releasing the women from their forced labour and preventing the deportations, An intensely dramatic scene is that in which the lovers are besieged in an upper room in an inn, and aro Baved from imminent slaughter by .; the recapture of the village. But to fully appreciate the story, it must be followed aa it develops on the screen, with the accompaniment of facial expression, movement, and Ecenic background. It savours somewhat of the superfluous to note that the acting i 3 in most capable hands, whether tho principal characters are considered or those apparently of lesser importance. Robert Harron, as the Boy, Douglas Gordon Hamilton, gives a fine representation of tho hero and lover, and Ben Alexander, as • his twelve-year-old brother, ehows marvellous talent for one so young in his interpretation of somewhat complex emotions, Lillian Gish is the Girl, Marie Stephenson, ahd gives a consistent and pleasing reading of the part. Much of tho numour which now and then relieves tho serious portions of tho story, is due to the Little Disturber, the girl street singer, admirably interpreted by Dorothy Gish. Monsieur Cuckoo, played by Robert Anderson, and the Village Carpenter, played by Georgo Fawcett, also add considerably to the gayer portions of the story. Goorgo A. Siegmann, as Von Strohm, gives an exceedingly reai listic interpretation of the character of the agent of German autocracy. The caste is ! a lengthy one, and' the- other characters are admirably portrayed. From the spectacular point of view, I "Heart® of tho World" can be only ade- | quately described as stupendous. To attempt anything like a comprehensive description of tho battle scenes' would bo to court disaster. The actual trenches are pictured, fully manned; the onrush of the attackers, the desperate bayonet fighting, the terrific hand-to-hand encounters must be' witnessed in order to fully comprehend their intense realism. High explosivo shells burst in the vicinity of the trench, and tho next minute the sides are Been falling in* and engulfing the human tide thoy contain. The enemy, in massed formation, rushes to the attack, they dislodge the men in tho trenches, then cornea the counter-attack, and the repulse of the enemy. The cumberous but highly efficient tanks aro seen in action, tho "aerial navies" drop their death-dealing missiles, the deadly poison gas is seen being despatched on its' work of destruction, and all tho other instruments, mothods, and apparatus of grim visaged modern war aro pictured. As an example of what cinematography can accomplish, the scenes in the German trenches during a heavy rainstorm stand, a out as most noteworthy, and as highly realistic. From the point of view of direction, the recapture of the village by the French and their Alliej is moßt impressive in its stark realism, ana tho absence of anything savouring of the theatrical—the individuals are not actorff, the building 9 are solid stone. _ "When all is said, however, there is wanting the effect that is conveyed by actually witnessing the picture, and the higrhly artistic photography which characterises it.

The screening of "Hearte of the World" was accompanied by selections by an orchestra of nine performers. Music has been specially written for tho picture, but awing t<p the fact that the scoreß will not arrive in town till to-day, the music at yesterday's exhibitions was that arranged by Mr J. Woodward, and was appropriate m character. "Hearts of tho World" will be screened again this afternoon and evening.

FISK JUBILEE SINGERS. There was a large and very appreciative audience at the Choral Hall last night, when the Fisk Jubilee Singers opened their present season in Christchurch with a specially selected "request" ' programme. Thia embraced many of the favourite items given by the company during their previous visit, and made the programme doubly attractive, for the old songe still have their charm for the majority of "people. The company were particularly good in> their concerted work, their voices blending nicely, and the quaint old choruses being sung with excellent effect. They opened with "My Lord, What a Morning," which was followed by "Away in Heaven." • Another chorus entitled "Sun and Storm" • followed, and "In the Morning" concluded the first portion of the part singing.-- Mr Harold Wilson, who has a

well-controlled base voice, sang "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," and for an encoro "Going Back to Dixie" with chorus. The company then gave an amusing and bright musical medley, in which many well-known airs were blended, and for an encore eang "John, Will You Sing. This Song?" Mr Marshal Palmer's pleasing baritone voice was heard to advantage in a song' which extolled the deeds of the Gallipoli heroes, "On the Shorea of the Aegean Sea," and there followed two more concerted items, the first being tho ever popular "Peter, Go Ring Dem Bolls," and the second a quaint melody in a minor Key "Run! Mary, Run!" Miss Leila Wyburd sang "For All Eternity," and responded to an insistant recall with _ tho favourite Irish ballad, "The Dear Little Shamrock." "Hear Dem Bells" was given by the company by extra special request, and then Mr Sydney Haines, who is a great favouri'o, sang "Till the Sands of the Desert Grow Cold," being twice encored, and responding with "Until the Boys Come Home" and "I am Going Back to .the Shack Where the Black-eyed Susan Grows." A sleigh ride song by tho company completed tho first part of the programme. A glea "Over the Hills" opened tho second half, and then Mr Huntley Spencer sang "Adieu, Marie" very charmingly, being recalled, and responding with "Way Down Upon tho Swanee River." Miss Belle Gibbons had a great reception in her first eolo, "She was Bred in Old Kentucky," and Miss Claire Solly was as warmly applauded for her singin? of "The Slave Song," responding with • Sympathv." The excerpt from II Trovatore," "Hark! What Means This Voice," was excellently sung by tho company, and a ragtime eolo by Mr Haiifes, "Way Back Home," and a chorus concluded a very enjoyable evening's entertainment. The company will appear at New Brighton this evening, and .in the Choral Hall again tomorrow night. OPERA HOUSE.

A splendid audience gave ft most appreciative reception to iho varied and • higi-claae programme submitted by Fuller'a Vaudeville Company at the Opera House lastnighit. The merriment in the first part was provided by those talented performers, comprising the Mammoth Minstrels, whose "Pun in a Cabaret" went brightly. Many new eongs and jokes were introduced, and the dresses were a noteworthy -feature of the entertainment. In tlio second part Leonard Nelson proved as popular as ever with his quaint and characteristic humorous songs.; Nellie Kolle again scored heavily with her catchy songs and choruses; Maud Courtney and: Mr C. kept tho audience highly delighted with humorous song and story; Bomaine played several violin selections with grealt artistic effect; and tho acrobatio and contortionist act by Boy Bonham was cleverly done. To-night the same programme will be repeated. The forthcoming appearance of Sa-Heian, ■the mind-reader and thought transference expert is already creating a good deal of : interest. She is said to be an exceptionally brilliant exponent of mental telepathic processes. It is claimed that whatever the question put to her, she can supply the correct answer. An exceptionally good supporting programme is promised, for which seats may now be booked at Milner and Thompson's.

LIBERTY THEATRE. Tlie programme to be screened at Liberty Theatre to-day is headed by the fine war drama, "The Belgian," and there are several excellent supporting films. CRYSTAL PALACE. The headliner at the Crystal Palace this afternoon and evening is .the William Focc production, "A Soldier's Oath.'* The supports. include "The Magic Mirror" and Two Tougk Tenderfeet." GRAND THEATRE. The special holiday programme at the Grand Theatre this afternoon and evening in headed by "The Slacker," featuring Emily Stevens. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The attractive programme to be screened at Everybody's Theatre this afternoon and evening includes "The Knife," featuring Alice Brady, and "My Old Dutch," featuring Albert Chevalier. STRAND THEATRE. Mary Pickford in "Amarilly of Clothesline Alley" is the principal attraction at the Strand this afternoon and evening. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "The Country Boy/' featuring Mamhal Neilan, and a fine supporting programme will be screened this afternoon and evening at the Queen's Theatre.