PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 16225, 21 September 1916, Page 6

PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

EVERYBODY’S!

1 he star film in the. new programme at Lverybody s is one dealing with tho dru S taking.' It is entitlcd Hie Secret Sin.’ mid tells the story of a, girl. Grace Martin, who falls a victim to the habit. She is persuaded ?- f outset to enter “ Chinatown ” (New 1 on;) and purchase opium, and this starts her on a career that goes from bad to worse. A doctor prescribes morphine for her during an illness, and tliis gives her a craving for that drug also. So she goes on deteriorating physically and morally. She becomes jealous of her sister, and endeuvors to harm her in the eves of tho man she is about to marrv by 'luring her to a fake’ opium den and having her arrested. Ihe plot is partly successful, but fails m its ultimate purpose, Grace being discovered as the real drug fiend Tho story may probably convey a lesson ns a is claimed to do, to dwellers in cities whore the vice of drug iakinv is obtaining or has obtained a hold, "the popular actress Blanche Sweete takes tho leading part in the play, and, needless to sax takes it well. Sessuo Hayakawa- who neatecl tl favorable impression in ‘ The Cheat, js also in tho cast. There -rn uorno particularly good pictures of life“ m Chinatown incidental to the story. Tho supports are good. QUEEN’S, the now programme at the Queen’s Rnbnrf 8 w u y • 1 fi!m vcrsi °n of ‘Th Cl ™ nberss popular story 1 , Fmhting Chance.’ Readers of the nove will remember the tense struggle of Stephen Seward against his craving for drink. How he tried and tried but wa= beaten and became an outcast,' shunned pv respectable members of society .1 hen tne. old power of love comes to (he rescue; he meets Sylvia. Laudfis. and ft knowing his- fading, sets ~nt to cure it! telling _ him that he had a “ fi-htim! chance of curing himself if h 0 would only take it He tries, fails, once more; but, spurred by her sympathy mid helm m tries again, and “ comes back " to riVl anqni.-h an unscrupulous mal for bylvia s love. This strug-de L a most exciting one; it takes place in Stephen s office. where both men are melted in, and it goes on to the grim and bitter end. The film story of the novel is entirely satisfactory, and F K Lnicdn, late of the Vitagraph Company! ah ft 8 -in 16 cl,aracter "f Stephen admir?<vr; t , VT P0 r s lnclur]e a eoraedv Mr Jack Hash Magnate’). a- war film ( French on the Sunuhit of Langekant’l ami an interesting topical budget. ' "

‘THE NE'ER DO WELL.’ The Panama Canal films, shown' in Dunft? yraTS «B°. wll Kivo some Wca, ot the surroundings in which Selin’* company of players enacted ‘ The Ne’m Do Well, for they were all tail to 1 anama m order to get the proper atmosphere for the story. The picture is a thmg as big and fine na ‘The Spoilers’ of two seasons ag o, which at that* time was the worlds best photo-play. Tho Sydney •Lun, in its criticism, : •’ The film production actually improves on ike storv. It is in nine reels, every foot of the nine reels is interesting, and in theso days of much _ presentation and small satisfaction anything that holds one past five reds must be great. The story Is the diary transcript of an irresponsible but likeable young mal© animal of good nature and heavy sex-punch. . . . w e have never teen a more adroit, moro finished, or cleverer characterisation than Kathlvn Williams’s Mrs Cortlandt. As a master fid, reposeful study this picture is mope than photography; it is something that should ba depended on for perpetuity In the Louvre of creative accomplishment. Wheeler Uakrean docs the work of his life as Kirk Anthony.” ‘The Ne’er Do Well’ will be shown at the Octagon Theatre on Monday next, and a special Inducement is offered to early bookers, particulars of which appear in our advertising columns, ‘The Seven Bisters,’ the big feature at Tiie Octagon, is delighting largo audiences nightly.A Triangle Keystone comedy entitled ‘His Bread and Butler’ will ba tho big feature at the King Edward this evening. Tho Russian drama, ‘The Kiss of Hate,’ which has attracted considerable at teuton at the Empire Theatre pinco tho original screening last week, will bo shown finally to-night. The pkfui e is wdl worth a visit. ‘The Guts© of a Nation,’ which is being -shown at the Grand,’ ancl hac> been attracting considerable attention, is a powerful depiction. The supports are tip to the usual good standard.