PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 16220, 15 September 1916, Page 6

PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE. A play of powerfully dramatic situations is ‘The Kiss of Hate,’ the Russian story filmed to-day at the Empire for the first time. (Miss Ethel Ba rrymoro, whose advent as a Metro star artist was awaited with interest, fully justified the good reports that have preceded hor. Her acting in the part of Nadia Turgeneff, tho young Russian girl who through such agony of body and mind, who is the victim of the villainy of Michael Orzoff. the brutal Prefect of Police, is intensely thrilling; indeed, it amounts to a dramatic sensation. _A series of gripping episodes culminates in the highly dramatic situation in which Nadia finds that tho youim Imperial officer with whom she has‘fallen in love, and who gives shelter to her ami her dying brother in his hunting lodge, is the son of tho Prefect of Police, Human who had murdered her father and brother and brought her to her stricken state. It must bo said that ‘ The Kiss of Hate is one of the most powerful and interesting of the many fine Metros that have been shown at‘this theatre. Another good film is tho Metro Drew comedy, ‘At the Stroke of Ten.’ This gives the Drews plenty of scope for their funmducing powers, and is creative of much hearty, healthy laughter. A particularly interesting scenic is that depicting tho shell-torn battlefield of Neuve Chapelle. The Empire orchestra plays nightly from 6.30, and the management advise patrons to take advantage of tho early evening session. There will be the usual special children’s matinee to-morrow.

‘ THE BIRTH OF A NATION.’ To-morrow morning at The Bristol the box plans for the entire season of the'film spectacle ‘The Birth of a Nation’ will be The season will commence at His (Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday next, and will bo under the direction ot J C Williamson, Ltd. Anybody doubtfui of B. \v. Griffith’s genius of film production, in the widest' sense of the term, will no longer remain sceptical after sittirm through tho marvellous two and a-hall hours during which ‘ The Birth of a Nation is reeled off. Some unthinking perfions have a hazy idea that a film produces itseif, tnat tho actors simply rush around and make faces while a mail takes photographs. ‘The Birth of a Nation’ should oispel all such ideas. Tim battles are appalling m tho master-likeness of their 1 handling, and it is easy to believe that D. : ”• Griffith must have worked them by i means of a network of ’phones extending ! in every direction. But even more won- j derful than the battle pictures are those half-dozen showing the riots and street ' fighting. Not one life was lost in obtain- : nig this film, though the surging masses in the narrow streets dealing out blowy right and left with waddies and clubbed lilies, until finally a body of some hundreds of horsemen dash through the crowds : at a gallop, might lead one to expect to hear that a score of regrettable fatalities 1 had taken place. The horsemen gallop through, knocking men down on all sides ; and leaving their prostrate bodies for the rear rank to trample. It is a marvellous piece of work. The season hero will bo for six mshts, and a matinee will be- given on Satin da j, the 2ord inst. There are no booking fees or early-door charges. j The current programme at tiro Queen’s i is drawing big houses. “' i At tho_ Plaza the main attraction is the ; five-act drama ‘ The Siren’s Song.’ Marguerite Clark in ‘Helene of the North ’ is proving a powerful magnet at Everybody's.

10-mght the offirial war films of the Trench fighting front will be screened for tho last time at the Grand.

Tho picturesque drama ‘lris.’ featurin'* Henry Ainloy and Alma Taylor, provides a. capital evening’s entertainment at the Octagon.

South Dunedin picture-lovers have good entertainm-pnt offered at the King Edward, where the principal film is ‘The Great Pearl Mystery.'