ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 16, 14 October 1918, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THE BEAST OF BERLIN." ,Tho title of the picture bei'.iß Bcretned at tho King'e Theatre this week—"Tho Kaiser, or 'lliio Boast of Berlin"—leaves no room for doubt 08 to the exact naturo ol tlio tlitmc; and it may bo euicl at tuo outsat that the picture; fully lives aip to its title, for it depicts witu a coneulerable deEi'eo of vividness many of those forms ot bestiality usually associated with tho Hun generally, and with his masters in particular. The opening scenes depict the happy and prosperous Belgium that existed prior to August of 1914. Then tho I Kaiser launched his blow for world power. \ Tho picture proceeds to illustrate in tell- I ing fashion the horrible method* employ- | ed by the Hun in order to "impose hia will" on tTio Belgians: methods which in- i volve wholeaale killing and burniiig-and | frequently something more terrible. For ; this purpose the producer utilises .1 story j of a Belsi&n blacUnmith and his family, | of Louvain, who eSTjI: a martyrdom o.t the j hands of the invaders which was prob- ; ably then-as we read of even now-typi- ; cal. A Herculean specimen of manhood is j this Beige Blacksmith, who at the right ! moment—when the Hun has gone the* limit j in tlie way of frightfulness—wreaks a ter- . rible vengeance on a particularly loath- . some exponent of Kultur. But the most ; interesting and by far the largest por- ) tion of the picture is which is de- ; voted to a portrayal of the Kaiser, pro- ; minent German soldiers and statesmen, and of the German Court, ' And it may be ; appropriate to here remark that the re- | presentation of the Kaiser is remarkably well done—it is such a lifelike portrayal ; (that is, judged by the more or less leli- ; able word pictures wo have had of this ■ vainglorious monarch) that it is alone : worth going: to see., There is depicted, j too, a Wilholm who is guilty of a certain susceptibility to the Bight and touch of beautilul hands. "The Beast of Berlin" is frankly melodramatic in its composition, but this is rarely too obtrusive, and never ge& the upper hand. It depicts only those things-with slight exaggerations in some cases, perhapE— thai nave been seen and experienced by the Beige, the Frenchman, and the Englishman, and it should prove an effective antidote to tie pacifist nuisance. How skilfully it is all produced—from the devastated Belgian village to the magnificent scenes representing the German Court, and again in thosa j Ecenes depicting America's answer to the j challenge of' the Hun-was Quickly recog- j nised by Saturday night's crowded audience, who were apparently unanimous in their manifestations of approval or disapproval as the case demanded. The 1 Beast 'of Berlin," which is supplemented by > e. Gazette and an instalment of "The Fatal j King," will be screened continuously throughout the week, from 2 p.m. daily. EVERYBODY'S THEATEE.

"Scandal" is the title of the lcadinE picture at Everybody's Theatre. It is an exciting story, having a somewhat unusual plot. A girl says she is married when she is not, and the man to whom she says she has been' allied refuses to treat the matter in the light ot a jokeas ono would hardly expect he would .'do. Really, the girl's difficulties have been brought about by her innocence, and the , picture reveals in lurid light the perils that beset a girl who, through being kept in ignorance, fails to realise the dangers in life. "Scandal" is a pictorial adaptation of the novel by Oosmo Hamilton, and it introduces Constance Tulffiadge, who makes her debflt as a "star" artist. Her excellent dramatic talent easily places her among the first rank of screen actresses. Her acting is marked by simplicity, but she portrays her part with much power and attractiveness. The story is distinctly uuconveutional. To get herself out of one predicament the spoiled society girl pretends that she has been secretly married, and thus gets into further trouble. The man to whom she., says eho has been married behaves in a startling manner at times, giving a stvong piquancy to the film. Thoueh at first he loathes her, the man afterwards finds that he ia falling in love with her. She rcslßts his'"advances coldly, despito his earnest pleading that they be married in order to put an end to the farce. Eventually, His love conquers and tho nair are united. The situations in "Scandal" are of a novel description, and the scenery ia remarkably flno. The yachting pictures are delightful, and tho part descriptive of the explosion of the engine of tho pleasure launch and the subsequent struggle for life of the two central figures of the story is thrilling. The marriage takes placo in an unusual manner; tile ceremony being performed at sea beyond the three-mile limit.' Altogether, ''Scandal" is a film well worth seeing, for it is at once a kinematoffraphic gem. and a highly instructive picture from the human point of view. The supporting items of the pvogtammc arc well up to the usual standard, tiro .Patho Gazette containing a number of very interesting scenes "dealing with the war. Ono portion of' the Gazetto is of local interest, as it shows the oeremony at which the New Zealand Colours woro presented to tho Mayor of Exeter. The programme will be repeated to-day.

EMPRESS THEATRE. Love versus passion is tho keynote of 'Journey's End," 11 splendid IVorld picturo at present being screened at the Empress Theatre. Tho production features Ethel Clayton, and with her are associated Prank Mayo, John Bowers, and Murir-1 Ofltriohe, the whole making an exceedingly strong cast. Tho picture is really a doublo love story, and the main portion of the scenes are set at Palm Beach, tho noted fashionable resort. With her husband ensnared in the meshes of a net carefully and wickedly laid by a heartless wretch, a vampire without a doubt, a wife determines to win back his faltering lovo. She adopts a startling schome to recapture him, and after many vloissitudes and perilous situations she succeeds in her endeavour. The climax of tho story has been splendidly thought out, and provides a very suitablo and happy termination. The second IOV6 theme in that of the wife's sister, whose lover, in trying to reunite the estranged couple, nearly sacrifices his own happiness. Admirably Btaged, the photography of the picture is really exquisite, and the settings are gorgeous. Apart from the general trend of the story, tho picture will appeal to the gentler sex, for Hα- dresses are sumptuous to a degree. Evidently no expense has been spared in tho preparation .of "Journey's End," far it is a lavish production 111 every way, and from all points of view is a perfect- picture. U'he remaining items on the programme are all of a high order of merit. Those who arc fond of a hearty laueh wul find, plenty to amuse them, and in addition the "Gazette" deals hvith a number of current topic?, of interest. The programme will bo repeated to-day. AIITCBAFT THEATRE. The usual doublo star programme at the Artcraft Theatre, Sydney Street, this week is headed' by a strong society drama entitled "The Saleslady," reaiurin e Hazel Dawn. Bbe graduates from a series of interesting experiences, from the shop counter to the stage, but .just when it looks like a life in tho ballet for her fate intervenes, and a pretty love story comes as a climax, with, of course, the usual happy ending. In the second star film we have tho reappearance of that popular screen favourite, Douglas Fairbanks, in the vivid dramar, "Headln' South." The title is the name of tho cowboy hero of the picture. "Hcadin' South" is a veritable bad man from Badvillc, and what he does not know of vice and wickedness is not worth knowing. The picture runs through an interesting series of wild adventures, but in the end "Headin' South" succumbs to the inevitable charm of femininity, and, fortunately for him, a good girl leads him into tho straight path of rectitude. The supporting film is a good, clean comedy entitled "Two Tough Tcndoiffeet." Tjiio programme will bo repeated to-day and throughout the week.

MURIEL STARR TOUR POSTPONED. Mr. William Russell, of the managerial fltaff of J. C. Williamson. Ltd., was ad. vised by cablegram on Saturday morning that the tour of the Williamson Dramatic Company, headed by Miss Muriel Starr, which was to have commenced in Christchurch on October 30, hae been postponed until Christmas. Mr. Ruesell, who was to have remained in New Zealand to manage the.company, left for Auckland on Saturday to join tho Niagara for Sydney.