AMUSEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 15395, 20 January 1914, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS

FULLERS’ PICTURES. The nine pictures constituting the new programme .screened at the Princess Theatre last night formed an agreeable entertamment to most, but, with a few exceptions, were of a fairly tame order, and not such, as to excite more than ordinary interest. ‘ The Intruder,’ a Vitagraph production, was tho chief picture. It tells the story- of Gilbert Gray, a wealthy man "ho inherits his ancle’s estate. A farm on the estate is occupied by Henry Pendragon, a poverty-stricken old gentleman who has lived there rent free tor yearand who is much distressed when he hears that Gray is to visit the farm, fearing that he may be dispossessed of it. Nancv, his »!fa’- Who n^ S iiVed W * th him and hi * £ f LT C t- h / >r . SOn ]eft for the Klondike famTlv l l f ° rtUne ’. and who supports the m i y ( h6r acts as the maid in order to conceal from Gray their ex wit^ e \’ POVerty , H °w Cray falls in love fini-h* f nCy u a " d niarnes iler forms a happv finish to the story. Two very prettv stones are told in ‘The Way to Hapnii'n S Merrv L i V . in * Doll In ‘Sports l England the makers seem to have got somewhat mixed, for, i„ addirLc'inl 0 ?hp tUreS ° f otter - hunti ng and horseracing. theio appears on the screen a pro an S d Sl, ‘Max SUtf^ U - ‘ The Speed King and . and the Portmanteau’ are twr comic films, both of which give the specThe current n’umber of the Pathe Gazette ’ is quite as inbe Repeated ttnlght wi!i

HAYWARDS’ PICTURES f n ° mol '° P o Pular type of fi]m Civ I W a?S ? aat,sd the American +hl i a^- ln Panting last even inthe latest addition to an already long t in The Battle of Gettysburg,’ the management of The Octagon unfolded a picture which won instantaneous favor with a large audience. Gettysburg was the decisive battle of the long struggle between North and South, and in (attempting to grve anything approaching a realistic impression of that historic encounter the producers faced a prodigious task. It must, however, be admitted that they liave achieved something of a triumph, for nc battle picture— not even Waterloo, whirl* was admittedly a fine achievement—has been so realistic, or has gripped an audience as does the production of the New York Motion Picture Company. The film, which is 4,300 ft long, is divided into four sections, and the opening scenes disclose a charming love story, with one intensely dramatic situation which hammers home the unvarnished truth that the firmest of friends in peace, when faced with the stern realities of civil war and arraigned on opposite sides, are foes, and martial law forbids any quarter. But all that, is merely introductory, and it is the grimness of the battle on which attention becomes riveted. The action is fierce from the outset, and the pace never slackens for a minute. The hill slopes are alive with the men in blue and grey uniforms, and the dashing charges of the cavalry and the heavy cannonading of the artillery provide the finest spectacular di-play ever witnessed on a cinematograph screen. The horrors of the fight are depicted without flinching, the charge and counter-charge being realistic to a degree. The smoke from the artillery duel, which wages unceasingly, at times provides an impenetrable curtain, but clears away and reveals the battle raging in unabated fury, with the dead and dying lying about. The finish is superb, Pickett’s Brigade, known as “ the flower of the South,” being swept into action with the vain hope of turnins the tide of defeat. And then—the retreat. General Lee is depicted bowed in grief, and the end is not long in coming. It is undeniably a great picture. The “star” film occupies the entire second half of the programme, but the re mainder of the entertainment is excellent. The current issue of the ‘ Gauniont Graphic ’ contains some splendid “ snaps " ; the Pat he Freres’ nature-study picture •.! caterpillars is most interesting; and there is a full complement of dramatic and comic films. They form a solid line of supports to the headline attraction. ■

PLAZA PICTURES. Chief among the attractions at the Plaza Pictures is tine film depicting the triumphant victory of the All Blacks over America in the test match. It is a splendii picture, in which the Otago represent;! lives may be clearly recognised. Support ing films include ‘ The Globe of Death (drama), ‘The Rube and the Baron’ iKeystone comedy), and ‘Her Hero's Pred(lament’ (comedy). The Plaza Orchestra contribute delightful selections. NEW QUEEN'S THEATRE. The headline attraction at the Queen’s Theatre is a powerful drama entitled The Plot Against the Governor,' which is one of the finest photo plays yet presented. But the programme as a whole is a good one. being nicely varied. One picture shows the international football match England v. Ireland. THE KING'S THEATRE. A programme of tine diversity and unique worth was presented at the King's Theatre last night to an audience of large dimensions and considerable enthusiasm. Foremost among the new vaudeville specialists appearing was Leonard Willard, an American comedian and sinaer. who rirotided a distinctly novel turn entitled ' Calling His Bluff.’ It is impossible to describe the act without giving away to some extent the secret that constitutes its novelty - viz., that though Willard is billed as a single turn, he is associated throughout, and in the most surprising way. with a lady who contributes in an even greater degree than he to the amusement engendered by the polyglot offering. Everyone will now he trying to guess the secret,"and our advice to them is, having guessed, to go and verify their intuition. The act ;s worth while. The Strattons, a pair ol Scottish entertainers —chafferers. singers, and dancers —also made a first appearance, and were received with every manifestation of delight; while the Phillips sisters, a pair of duettists and dancers of repute and charm, made an unqualified hit. But even without these new attractions the programme is of sterling calibre, including, as it does, the work of those fine tumblers and comedy jugglers, the Creightons : Baby Lewis, m fresh ragtime specialties; Miss Geraldine Moreton, a fresh soprano, who sang ‘ Angus Macdonald and The Last Rose of Bummer * with fine spirit and feeling; Professor Lewis, in feats of legerdemain ; and Ktleen Capel, serio and Gog dancer. We confidently recommend the entertainment.