ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4141, 19 January 1916, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

“NEPTUNE’S DAUGHTER.’'

.There is always something wholly fascinating about the ocean. Perhaps this is why New York audiences, reputed the hardest to please, crowded to see “Neptune’s Daughter,” the wonderful photoplay,. that ran at tlie Globe Theatre, Broadway, for ten consecutive months. It was different; every scene was away from the beaten path, and every incident was novel. Then again, it gave a wonderful opportunity of seeing Annette Kellerman, the star of the film play, in her own natural element. This popular Australian artist, who holds the unique reputation of being the “Perfect Woman,” is a real mermaid, if there ever was one. The tanks in which she has heretofore exhibited have all been too small. It requires the vast ocean with cliffs 60. feet high to show just what she can do, and all this has been screened with wonderful fidelity. Annette Kellerman, in “Neptune’s Daughter,” will be shown at His Majesty’s Theatre next Wednesday evening. It is said that the enormous strides which Miss Kellerman has made in dramatic art, as well as in her aquatic feats, since leaving Australia, can only be appreciated by seeing tliis thrilling romance in .pictures. From the first moment, when Miss Kellerman, with her lithe limbs encased in a fish’s tail, is seen sporting on the beach, till' the last moment when the curtain goes down with her as tli bride of the handsome young king, she is said to hold the audience spellbound by ber beauty and daring. The box plans for reserved seats open at Miller’s on Monday next.

PATHE PICTURES.

Gisborne picture-goers will remember a fine film entitled “The Middleman”- which was highly praised some months ago. Just such another picture as this, though on a far more elaborate scale, is “Money”—the attraction at His Majesty’s Theatre tonight. “Money” is a highly sensational romance of high society and industrial life. It depicts, on the one side, the ill-effects of exploitation of the workers by the lowering of the \yage in a huge steel works; the poverty, riots, strikes, and conspiracies of the workmen. On the other side it shows the remarkable lengths to which the idle rich go in the craise for sensationalism —magnificent banquets, at which the kings of finance and the queens of society indulge in high revelry and gorgeously furnished palaces with Orientally-garbed ’ attendants. A novel scene is the champagne bath, from which a daintilyrobed maiden fills the glasses of tlie jostling guests who crowd around. Very pretty is the oyster dance, in which a huge bivalve upon the banquet table opens and reveals a beautiful dancing girl. Some fine seascape scenes occur during the exciting chase of a yacht by the New York police launch. The wreck scene and that showing tlie lovers trapped in tlie fast-filling cabin are well carried out. The burning of the great palace is said to be one- of tlie finest fire scenes the camera has recorded. The end shows the betterment of the toilers’ conditions, and the liarrev ending of the romance which runs through the play. The balance of the films are above the ordinary and include two remarkably fine comedies and a couple of interesting war budgets.

WORLD’S PICTURES

The Famous Players’ great emotional drama “The" Unwelcome Mrs Hatch,” featuring Henrietta Grossman, is being' serened by the World's Pictures this afternoon. Marian Lor imer palls upon Irer coarse-n at tired husband, and lie turns to the waiting arms of Madge - Creighton. jealous and angry. Marian listens xo the false counsel of the liushaiid’s trusted friend, and consents to elope, telling Lorimcr in a note that sire has gone. On tlie strength -of the fatal note, I.orimer obtains a divorce, witii the . custody of his child, and marries -theother woman. Marian °nes West, taking the name of “Mrs Hatch. Years pass, and one day she reads m the paper that her child is about to be married. The longing motner returns and begs her former husband for one glimpse of her daugn' er. She is denied but as a modiste, bearing tue wedding gown of her daughter, Marian creeps into her old home, and sees tier loved one without the latter s knowledge of their relationship. former husband and his wife discover her presence and learn her icienti v, and they threaten Marian, who steals away. ‘ How the other woman is justly punished, the cruel husband humbled, and mother and child at last united, is dranitically unfolded m this powerful photo-play.

OPERA HOUSE PICTURES

“The Silent Plea,” a Broadway feature, is the outstanding film m the new change of programme to be screened at the Opera House tins evening. A young widow is left penniless. ° Her children are placed in an orphanage, but- they are becoming incorrigibles. The little widow appeals to an old friend, a Senator, who pleads so well in Congress that provision ' is made to meet such cases.' Every scene is full of charm and pathos,’ the end having a delightful thrill all its own. The Electric Company submit a novelty farce, “When Charlie Was Young.” This is a clever skit on the Keystone productions of Charles Chaplin. All the parts are played by extremely talented children. The fun is excellent and unceasing. “The Soul of a Vase” is an appealing and. pathetic dirama. A potter is so enamored of liis work that !he forgets all else. How he is made to remember material things and regains his wife’s love is charmingly told. The “Australian Gazette” shows items of interest and cartoons of the moment, .while “Ham at the Beach” is an uproarious comedy, and completed this brilliant programme.

THE COMEDY WANDERERS

Quite a lot of interest is already disnlayed at the approaching visit on Friday evening, in His Majesty’s Theatre, of Madame Phoebe’s Comedy Wanderrs, open a season of fun, frolic, and gaiety. The Wanderers have bad a most successful season in New Zealand, and aro now on their way to Auckland to open a return season of 14 nights. Madame Phoeeb has earned a great name by the press of New Zealand for her French posing, which is entirely new to us, in fact in Wellington her clever act was recalled and recalled. “It is indeed beautiful,” says the Auckland “Star.’’ The company altogether are a crowd of laughter-makers, and the audience is kept in roars of laughter, especially with Archibald, the clever comedian. His little friend Paddy is indeed ouaint, and causes much laughter as soon as he is seen, but when he speaks shrieks of laughter can be heard all over the theatre. The Wanderers announce that they are compelled to limit their season to one night only, so as to . enable them to return to open their date in Auckland next week. Lenox and Stubbs, eccentric and char actor comedians are said to be very clever. Pauline Roshea will also be heard to the best advantage. South and May in their sketch “The New Recruit, ’’ make a big hit with their audiences. Plans open at Miller’s at 9 a.m. on Thursday. There will be no extra charge for hooking.