TO-NIGHT’S PICTURES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 271, 1 November 1916, Page 3

TO-NIGHT’S PICTURES.

Empire Theatre, Napier.—The management of the Empire Theatre, Napier will present this evening “The Fighting Chance” dramatised from the book of that name by the American author Robert W. Chambers. The drama is said to follow the novel with fidelity. The plot turns on a beautiful society girl, who marries a man who has inherited the taint of alcoholism. Sho herself had the same taint, but won her battle against it, so she gives him a fighting chance of asserting his manhood and winning her love. The end sees him triumphant over the vice, with a woman’s aid. The tense situations in this forceful filming of a forceful book are brightened by many a flash of humour. The supporting films include “The presentation or medals to Anzacs by Sir Geo. Reid,” “In the Italian Alps,” a charming scenic film, and “Mr. Jack Hash Magnate,” a very fine Vitagraph comedy. Happy Jack is suddenly seized with high social aspirations ami decides to carry out his ideas, to i:.-- dismay of Lizzie Potts, the I’--. ,;t,< s up, taxis to the Giltmore. <u: ‘ ivgisters ns Count Li Woppo. Ali>. l.Gi.sy bailie. . a lien widow takes km for a prince iravelbng Being title i.'.ad she propose. 1 -nd he dazwdly accepts her. Tfi> prince a.’ Gves -and Jack ba-- to tight a dud .virli him. Faithful Li az'c i- ; :.-u trail, an’ ? s .kv> him back to his In- ii-ho’-ise, where they find everything hashed up by iiooligaiis. The French on the summit Al nun: Langekapt is’an official war iiun He'p those in need shows the making ul artificial limbs. The programme is one of exceptional variety. Princess Theatre, Hastings.— There was a big audience at the Princess, Hastings, last evening, when “Cabiria,” the wonderful motion-picture story of the Punic Wars, was screened. This film is without doubt the finest ever shown here, nothing having been spared to make it absolutely realistic. “Cabiria” takes one back to the 3rd Century 8.C., when Carthage, a kingdom situated in Northern Africa, challenged the mighty Roman Empire for the supremacy of the world. The principal events of the great war that ensued, including the crossing of the Alps by Hannibal, the burning of the Roman fleet, and the great siege of Cirta, are vividly produced. The story" cheifly centres round the life of Cabiria, a Sicilian child who has been parted from her parents, and who is involved in many thri’i ling adventures in ancient Carthage. The scenes of the big city, with its colossal temples and palaces, and its cruel gods to whom tiny children are sacrificed, are represented with almost impossible realism. The acting throughout is splendid, everyone of the hundreds taking part having been specially selected and trained. No one should miss seeing “Cabiria” to-night, when it will be screened for the last time in Hastings. Municipal Theatre, Hastings.—The The change at the Alunicipal Theatre this evening consists of a splendid variety of pictoral gems, the chief among them being a big Victor drama entitled “The Lure of the New AVorld” or “Just from Sweden,” a splendid picture of the Great North-west, featuring Robert Leonard and Ella Hall, and a splendid Gold Seal s feature entitled “Discontent,” a drama from life, featuring Marie Walcamp and Edward Brown. There are two fine comedies included in the bill and also the latest topical journal. Everybody’s Theatre, Hastings.— The chief attraction on the programme announced for to-night s change at this theatre is a six-act drama entitled “The Golden Lotus, in which Regina Badet, a French actress, takes the leading part. The story is a forceful one with plenty of dramatic situations and thrilling incidents. In support of this feature is a big educational film ‘The National Electrical Works’ showing the complete history cf the manufacture of electrical goods in the greatest works of the kind in the world. An enjoyable programme of music will be played by Everyoo ly’s orchestra.

GREATER THAN “QUO VADIS.” King’s Theatre, Hastings.—Both as a marvel of film production and as a popular favourite “Quo Vadis” has been ousted from its proud position at the head of ah film plays. There is a new picture in which all the most wonderful stunts of the cinema man have been combined with a thrilling play from the pen of the great Italian author, Gabriele d’ Annunzio. The film is called “Cabiria.” It is at once the most costly, the most successful, the most spectacular and the most complete picture play ever constructed. The Itala Film Company of Turin, Italy, already noted for its enterprise and originality is responsible for this picture. Apart from the plot and the live interest of the play both of which are ingenious and absorbing the picture is remarkable because its scenes are drawn from the Punic Wars —the long and fearful contests between ancient Rome and ancient Carthage, for th© dominion of the world. These wars took place in the third century before Christ, and that- is the epoch in which “Cabiria” is laid. No more fitting time could have been chosen for the production of the film than the present. The world is distraught with the horrors of the present war, and historians tell us that this present war against Germany exceeds in magnitude only the Punic Wars of 218 B.C. That was a war of extermination; a war for very existence as this one is. It ended in the triumph of Rome. Another large attendance is assured to-night.