ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3584, 9 March 1914, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PATHE PICTURES. With such an attraction as “A Message from Mars” it is not surprising that Pathe Picture*, had crowded houses at both afternoon and evening performances on -Saturday. That famous actor, Charles Hawtrey, has never visited New' Zealand, yet by the aid of the kinematograph the Gisborne publio were afforded the rare pleasure on Saturday of seeing the eminent player and his admirable London company in the play they have made fan* ous throughout the world. The audienece followed the wonderful story intently throughout the whole 4500 feet, of the brilliant film. Never before has the great lesson on the evils of selfishness been so impressively presented. The manner in which the Messenger from Mars cures a selfish club man of his besetting sin is one of the most fascinating incursions ever made into the realms of fancy. The melancholy man from Mars, cast out of the planet and doomed to walk this earth through selfishness, suddenly appeal’s before Horace Parker, and to cure him of the same sin transforms him into a tramp. The luxurious club man tastes the bitter curse of poverty and i s forced to take part in the terrible struggle for existence. He sinks to the lowest depths of poverty, and consorts with the poor and the downtrodden. All sorts and conditions of men, waifs and strays of the street, the flotsam and jetsam of life, pass in review upon the screen. When Parker at Last awakens from his dream, the wonderful vision he has seen is so indelibly impressed upon his mind that he alters his old manner of existence, and become*; a kindly and sympathetic man. The splendid moral was brilliantly pointed by the famous actors on Saturday night, and the large audience gave’ the production a rousing reception. The supporting films were of a high order of merit. “The Flirt” was a capital story by the popular Vita graph players, who cleverly showed how a husband taught a foolish wife a most salutary lesson. “When the Monsoon Blows” made a fine scenic subject, while much merriment was created by the bright comedy, “When Dreams Come True.” The “Pathe Gazette” contained many interesting items, including a stirring view of the s.s. Scotsayke on fire in mid-Channel, a view o’f Mr. Lee Temple, hte boy aeronaut flying upside down, tho Pekin elections, and a close glimpse of a British sailing ship ashore at Oregon, U.S.A. The N.Z. Animated News showmd many interesting happenings in Maoriland, all of which were worth seeing. This big budget of attractions will be repeated to-night.

OPERA HOUSE PICTURES. After an interval of some days the picture season will be resumed at the Opera House this evening with a bright now scries of films headed by a thrilling drama of the wilds of Africa, under tho title of “Alone in the Jungle.” The story is an exciting one from start to finish and is sure of wide popularity in its two-night season. Jack Arden, son of an English planter, has fallen in love with Helen Brown, but her father discourages the lovers, saying she is too young to bo married. Some time later Jack comes for another shoot. On his way to’the Brown’s home Hie knocks down Concho, an overseer, for being cruel to one of the slaves. In honor of Jack, the family start on a lion hunt. The next day", when Jack is going away, Helen accompanies him a. little distance. Concho follows. On her wav homo Helen starts to pick some wild flowers until her attention is attracted by a lion cub. Concho accosts her, and at the momonGwhen she seems to be at his complete mercy a leopard leaps from the undergrowth and attacks the villainous overseer. Helen makes her way to where she left her horse, but discovers a lion devouring tho mangled remains of her mount. Concho escapes from the leopard, crawls to the plantation, and declares that Jack Arden had abducted Helen Brown, and the boys overtake Jack, only to discover they have been tricked. Jack returns with the party to search for Helen, who in the meantime has been chased to the river bank by the frenzied lions. She fails from a cliff into the stream below, an.d swims to the oposite side, the lions fol’owing. Jack sees them and fires, and on reaching Helen the lion is Found lying across her body dead. Helen has sustained only slight wounds, and the clasp of Arden brings her back to life. The Vitagraph players supply a powerful story in “The Courage of the Gomonplaoe,” which deals with all-too-oemmon episodes m life in a dramatic manner. “Aunts Too Many” is an A.B. comedy of more than average merit, and “Two Old Tars” is another delightfully funny story. “How Boots are Made” forms an absorbing industrial subject, and “A Daughter of Romany” deals with a Gip-sy subject in an admirable arid telling story. There are a, couple of ■find scenics' in the series which is completed by the addition of the latest Gaumont Graphic. This programme will foe shown only to-night and tomorrow. night.