PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 16265, 7 November 1916, Page 6

PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

OCTAGON ANT} KING EDWARD. The great film spectacle 'The Battle-cry of Peace' was shown at the Octagon and King Edward Theatres last evening for tho first timo. The film deals witih the problem of a nation utterly unprepared for war, and shows tho horrors that would be endured by such a nation in conflict with a ruthless and well-equipped aggressor. The picture ia framed on an astonishingly elaborate scale. One sees battleships in action doing .deadly execution against a city representing "New York, buildings aiiro with shells, and crashing to tho ground, and hordes of armed soldier 3 swarming into the ruined streets. The story pictures a. typical American homo, where the war is regarded gs an impossibility. The master of tho house, a prominent pacificist, entertains unawares spies, tha forerunners of an invading nation, who, claiming Puirritania, as their homeland, bear a striking resemblance to Germans. While the spies assist in the peace propaganda, tho Ruritanian navy annihilates the- altogether inadequate American navy, although not before tho heroic little fleet has wrought havoc on the victors. The victorious float bombards New York, lands troops, and rout* the American army. Incidentally they perpetrate upon defenceless citizens outrages so typically chara.cteri.Btio of Germany as to strip from them the last jshreds of tho Ruritanian discuise. Her "lusband and her elder daughter's lover lined up with.' others before a ma/hine gun, tho distracted mother shoots lier two daughters to save them from a wor3o fate. It is without doubt a powerful recruiting sermon. Thus, in a forceful maimer this film shows the criminal folly of peace babbling while a powerful nation exists, possessed of blood lust and an ambition fox world domination* The sv.pporfcing films' are good.

An unusual drama, "The Pawn of Fate,' is the headliner at the Queen's. • 'The Divinity of Motherhood' is the Plaza's most impressive attraction, A film version of ' Carmen' is drawing big business to the Grand. A new Metro, ' The Spell of the Yukon,' heads the bill at the Empire. On £he current programme at Everybody's the drama ' The Fatal Card * takes first place. '