PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 16335, 30 January 1917, Page 6

PICTURE ENTERTAINMENTS

OCTAGON AND KING EDWARD THEATRES. Largo audiences were the order at the Octagon and King Edward Theatres last evening, when an entirely new peries of pictures were. screened. The lending subject is one that lias a very touching appeal, amounting on occasions to a deep pathos, and which is fraught throughout with a vi?ry human interest. The picture is entitled ‘ Tho Old Folks at Home,’ the theme of which is in many respects a very familiar one. The story is a sound one, and its intrinsic features have had an unusual degree of core bestowed upon them. The film is remarkable for the appearance in the leading role of tho great English actor, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. Told briefly, the story of the picture is that of a wealthy farmer named .James Colburn, who is elected to Congress, and who, with his wife and son Steve, leave for the city.Overcome with the glamor of the new life, Steve, who has plenty of money to spend, leads a gay existence, and causes much sadness of heart to “ tho old folks at home,” who, in the simple goodness of their natures, had imagined him turning out otherwise. One day his country sweetheart, Eleanor, who has obtained work in a <andy factory in the city, finds him lying in the street in a very intoxicated condition. She (secures. tho assistance of a middle-aged friend named Fynes to look after Steve, and between them they manage to keep his lapse a secret from the old people. Fynes bestows Iris attentions upon Eleanor, and persuades her to marry him and go to South America. When she tells,.Steve of this project he jumps to tho conclusion that she. has been betrayed, and, seeking out Fynes, he shoots him after a stormy scene. The old folks, who have come to the citv to pay Steve a surprise visit, find him' with a smoking revolver in his hand, and all other feelings being overcome hy their love for him, their one whole-MUiled desire is to save him. He- is taken hack to the farm —a sad and touching home-coming being witnessed. An .arrest follows at id two trials take place, at the latter of which an impassioned appeal by the mother for her son's life is success fill, the aid of “the unwritten law” being invoked to bring alxmt this result. Finallv Eleanor, who has been brought back from South. America, marries Stave, bringing happiness (o the old folks, and the picture ends on .a voi*y joyous nolo. Cnirf in(or?st centres in the acting of Sir Herbert Tree in the role of the father, which was handled m a. masterly manner. The acting of Josephine Crowell as tha mother "‘as also wonderfully pood, and was divested with a great, degree of intensity in the trial scene. The remainder „f the fist was ably filled, hut Miss Mildred Hams as Eleanor was particularly dainty ana convincing. The piclnr? is ■undoubtedly - particularly fine one, and should draw crowded houses at liot.li theatres during the week. Fir?re arc also several good supports, including a Keystone comedy railed 'Fills of Fcril' and a ‘ Fathe Gazette.' The stirring drama. 'Desire' heads ihn bill at the Plaza. 1 he lug attraction, at the Grand is the Frohnmn photo play • Sn.nV Snowflake.' ‘Manhattan Madness,' ;! . first-class comedy drama, is at, tho Queen's. At Everybody s the, detective drama ‘The (been Cloak' is proving a trump card. Topping the bill at the Empire is • The Eternal Question,' leauuing Madame Olga Petrov i.