AMUSEMENTS.

Evening Star, Issue 14630, 28 July 1911, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

FULLERS’ PICTURES. ‘ Th© Royal Divorce ’ continues to prove a potent magnet at the Princess Theatre. Last night’s audience was but little smaller than that of Wednesday night, when numbers were turned away. The theme is indeed well suited to the powers and limitations of the picture drama, combining pageantry with pathos or the most sentimental kind. Few that have read the real story of Josephine’s erring life have been able to restrain their tears, and how much more poignantly is the divorced Empress’s position displayed in this drama. 'Hie truth is that Napoleon was heartily sick of the fickle, painted Josephine when he forced the Austrian marriage, and even at death his heart still belonged to Marie Louise, who never gave him anything but the caresses and obedience of fear. “ I desire,” he said near the end, “ that you preserve my heart in spirits of wine, and that you carry it to Parma to my dear Mane Louise.” Thus the truth. But the drama is a law unto itself, and the fiction of Josephine and Napoleon parting solely for reasons of state makes good drama and a pitiful story. This picture will bo staged to-night and to-rnorrow afternoon and night. As for the rest of tho programme, the principal subjects were all descriptive of royalty and informed with tho pomp of processions. A really groat film was ‘ The Royal Ascot,’ depicting tho approach of the royal party to the Ascot course, the great reception accorded from the grand stand, and some graphic races, pulsing with excitement. ‘ The luvestitute of the Prince of Wales ’ was another magnificent panorama, while ‘ The Manufacture of Coronation Fireworks ’ was a spectacle of sheer splendor, tho focal movement of the partihuod fights into illuminated pictures of their Majesties stirring the audience to enthusiasm. The remaining films—dramatic, scenic, and comic—all reached tho standard of entertainment that tho firm consistently maintain, and special reference to the vitagraph comedy, ‘An Unexpected Review,’" must bo made. It was a most entertaining comedy, magnificently acted, and is one of tho headline features of tho programme. The only fly in tho am her of appreciation is tho rather stale comedy of the Foolshoad pattern, which, truth to tell, is becoming rather unprofitable. For tho rest it is a great show, which every amusement lover should see either tonight or to-morrow afternoon or night, when the subjects will be finally screened. THE KING’S THEATRE. Vaudeville as supplied by Messrs Fuller’s artists in tho popular and attractive Dowling street theatre gives no signs of waning in public favor. The original scon a, 1 H.M.S. New Zealand,’ provided by the talented patter comedians Dolavale and Gilbert, and the turns of Doc Rowe, Maud Failing, and Koko would provide entertainment enough for any audience, but when there is added the contributions of several other clever artists an entertainment of exceptional merit is offered. HAYWARDS’ PICTURES. Owing to tho Burns Hall being otherwise engaged there will be no picture exhibition there to-night. To-morrow afternoon and evening tho Hayward management will present a new programme, one of the features of which will bo a film entitled ‘ Logging in Italy.’ SCARLET TROUBADOURS. The Scarlet Troubadours concluded a very successful season at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when tho members of the company were accorded a hearty send off. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. ‘ It is Never Too Late to Mend,’ to bo presented as a photo-play on Tuesday evening next by Messrs Johnson and Gibson, is, as its name denotes, a resume of the leading incidents in Charles Rcade’s great masterpiece. It is adapted from the book by Mr W. J. Lincoln, and is an entirely Australian production, photographed in Australia and acted by Australian artists, and the unanimous oninion of those who have seen it is that it compares more than favorably with any similar works produced by any of the Continental or English manufacturers. In the construction of tho story for picture purpose's the adapter has endeavored to retain all the main and salient features of the novel, allowing for the bridging over of many incidents to make a natural sequence and clear-cut story. Mr Alfred Boothman, the well-known platform speaker, will outline tho story as the film proceeds. In addition another strong attraction will be pictures of the Coronation ceremony and festivities in London, which arrive by tho English mail on Monday. Popular prices will rule for tho strictly limited season of five nights. ARCADIA PICTURE PALACE. A new programme will he shown at Cargill’s Corner to-night, when one of the funniest comedies yet produced (‘ The Men-haters’ Club ’) will he screened. Other pictures are 1 Puritans and Indians,’ ‘ Won in the Desert,’ ‘ Cowboy and the Squaw,’ ‘ Rose Leaves,’ etc., also a number of comic and scenic pictures. A grand prize matinee is advertised for to-morrow.