PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 15916, 23 September 1915, Page 6

PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

KING EDWARD, A story of real life, one that grips and touches a responsive chord in tie heart, is a story that -will attract and hold tho attention and live in the memory. Such, a story is ‘ The Bond of Womanhood,’ which was shown at the King Edward Theatre to-day for the first time. It telle of the lives of two women who go through poignant experiences such as might befall any woman ; homes are broken up, despair reigns for a while, but finally the clouds disperse and two couples are reunited in happiness. The situations are dramatic and powerful, and the acting and photography strikingly good. One of the most recent Keystone releases, ‘A Versatile Villain,’ is excruciatingly funny. Another laughter-maker is the comic film,- | The Moustacheless Magician,’ in which is featured Little Herman. An Edison play entitled ‘ A Chip of the Old Block ‘ is a_ good thing, and an interesting ‘Australian Gazette’ and a series of cartoons complete an entertaining programme. PLAZA. It frequently happens that when .a Charlie Chaplin comedy is screened it has been found desirable to continue showing it for an extended period. This is now the case with the frolicsome ‘ Charlie by the Sea,’ which has been showing at the Plaza since the beginning of the week, and proved such a draw that the management announce that it will be retained for three more days. The rest of the programme is new, and includes an absorbing drama entitled ‘The Bcturn of Richard Neal.’ It is a story of two powerful wills, those of Richard Neal and “Count” Nikola, the former working for good and the latter for evil. Doris Blake, the heroine, falls under the hypnotic spell of Nikola, who endeavors to use her in his nefarious schemes of robbery. But Neal, who is described as a specialist in psychology, is called in, and setting a trap" for Nikola wins the battle of wills. Two comedies. ‘ Lily, Tomboy ’ and ‘ When. Shall We Meet Again V are really good, and with an interesting ‘Eclair Journal’ complete a programme that is worth while. QUEEN’S. To-day at the Queen’s a fresh channel is opened up for the letting loose of hearty laughter. This is brought about per me--dium of a new Keystone comedy entitled ‘ Our Daredevil Chief,’ in which is featured Ford Sterling as a distinctly unconventional chief of police. And tho very feet of his being so “ unlike anything yet” in the role of policeman makes for fun. ‘The Understudy’ provides some dramatic situations. It is a story of a scheme of rovengo for unrequited love—a scheme, however, that was frustrated at ■the very last moment. Throe actors, it appears, are in love with an actress, Lolitia, and she chooses one. A second—a player of villains’ parts —then plans the fiendish revenge by substituting ball cartridge for blank in a revolver used in tha •play. The third lover (the understudy] it is -who falls a victim to the plot, and as the villain meets with his deserts tho hero is left in undisputed possession of Lolitia. ‘ The Haunting Memory ’ is a, pathetic little play of a deserting "husband who is, years later, found by his son, now an accomplished violinist. The seen© in which the father identifies his son bv an air which he taught him to play is 'dramatic. A comedy, ‘Out for a Stroll.’ in a good thing, and the ‘ Rathe Gazette ’ is full of interesting features. ‘THE SPOILERS.’ Monday next, at the Octagon Theatre, will see the first screening- of this 9.000 ft photo-play. The ‘ Dominion ’ (Wellington) says:—“ Great crowds are besieging the King’s Theatre to see the filmed version of Rex Beach’s book ‘The Spoilers.’ Miss Kathlyn Williams, who ph ys the part of Cherry Malotte, gives one of hsr finest portrayals, and William Far.mm, well known for bis long association with tho Famous Players Company, plays tho part of Glenister, the headstrong young miner. It is not generally known that the role of Dertrv,_ the long-headed partner of ‘ Glenister/ is played by Mi- Prank Clark, who was at one time well known in Australia and tno Dominion ic vaudeville. He joined the Se% 0 apiany when the photo-drama was but r shadow of what it is to-day, and qnioklv oclablhhed a reputation as a '•haiacter letd. ‘ The Spoilers ’ undoubtedly ranis as one of tho greatest photo-plav* ever screened in Wellington.* Tho plan is now open at The Bristol, and the management advise tha| the bookings will be very heavy, Spoilers’ will bo shown 'for a six-nights? season. To-day a -charming drama entitled ‘ A Wild Irish Rose* was Bcwtnod at' ■‘ae Grand for the first time, It is a delightful romance of Irish life. Tho 11th episode of ‘ The Master Key ’ will he continued for the rest of tho week Tho last throe nights of ‘Three Weeks/ the film that has been filling the Octagon Hall all tho week, are a» nonnoed. On Monday noxt another 'big attraction in ‘The Spoilers/ a story adapted from Rex Beach's popular book, ypill bo^-screened*