AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16665, 25 September 1914, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

GRAND THEATRE

An interesting dramatic film, ontitled " The Devil's Eye," was the principal item on the new programme submitted yesterday to patrons of the Grand Theatre. A wealthy countess, the owner of a beautiful diamond called " The Devil's Eye," gave a masked ball. Amongst the guests were two jewel thieves, who induced the countess to give her guests a glimpse of the diamond. The thieves waylaid the lady companion sent to get the diamond, murdered her, and escaped with the jewel. They then resumed their old rolo of guests. Suspicion fell on a young count who was in love with the countess, but she assisted him to escape. After many adventures he arrived in Amsterdam, where, in disguise, he entered a drinking booth and got a clue from a drunken accomplice of the jewel thieves. The count then placed a dictaphone in the thieves' house, and it recorded their conversation and the whereabouts of tho diamond was revealed. He secured the jewel, tho thieves were arrested, and the count, married the owner of the diamond. Other films, comprising "Broncho Billy, Gunman," ''Warwick Chronicle." and "Only One. Shirt," completed the programme, which will be repeated to-day. QUEEN'S THEATRE. The new programme of pictures presented at the Queen's Theatre yesterday was appreciably enjoyed by the large audiences which attended each session. The chief film was a twoact dtfama, entitled "The Substitute," and it dealt .with a series of incidents that' occurred during tho American Civil War. The story commenced with the drumming-out of the service of a sergeant who had been found guilty of theft. Later a lieutenant, who had just graduated, and was returning to his company in Arizona, was joined in a coach journey by the ex-sergeant, who bore a striking resemblance to him. On the way the coach horses bolted, and in rounding a curve on a hillside road the coach overbalanced and rolled down the hill. The ex-sergeant was the first to recover from the accident, and he decided to impersonate tho lieutenant, whom he thought was dead. The impersonation succeeded for a time, but after A few months, the lieutenant, who had lost his memory through the accident, arrived in the town, and was finally able to prove, his identitv. and assume his proper position in'the force. The other _pictnres were:—"The Country Girl' (drama), "On the Steps" (comedy), "Love's Old Dream" (comedy, "Pathe Gazette" (topical), and "Exercises in the Riding School of Officers." Tho same pictures will bo shown at to-day's sessions. GLOBE THEATRE. A change of programme was made at the Globe Theatre yesterday, and " Between Man and Beast " was shown as the "star" item. The picture, which is in three sections, dealt chiefly with a tiger hunt in India, and the scenes of the junglo, the "bagging of tho big game, and an interesting plot, made it very enjoyable. A young officer was on holiday in India, but was captured by a hostile tribe. His wife, in Europe, received the news, and set out to find him, and in the course of her journey went through a number of exciting adventures. The " Pathe Gazette" contained an interesting budget of news, tho chief of which were scenes at the trial of Madame Caillaux in Paris. "A Bad Game" was a humorous film which was thoroughly enjoyed. The programme concluded with a film showing the training of officers in the British Army. The same pictures will ,bo shown to-day. FULLER'S PICTURES. "Antony and Cleopatra" was repeated at tho Colosseum last evening before a good attendanco of patrons, and the many thrilling episodes in this sensational representation of an old story were fully appreciated. The same film will.be shown this evening. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. ""England's Menace" and the excellent miscellaneous programme of moving pictures comprising the week's programme at His Majesty's Theatre were well received by a large audience last evening. The same pictures will be shown this evening. SYDENHAM PICTURES. There was. a large and interested audience at tho Sydenham Theatre last evening, when the patriotic drama, " England's Menace," was (screened. Tho plot dealt with the operations of a foreign spy, who secured a position as butler to a member of tho British Cabinet, and who, by theft ' and espionage, obtained secret information,, which he transferred to his'employers. The foreign King decided to invade. England and ordered out the .fleet, to land men on the coast of England. Shortly before this was done the children of the Cabinet Minister, who had a wireless station us a plaything, intercepted two of the messages sent to the spy. The . Prime Minister took immediate steps, and the Army, and Navy were ordered out. The discovery of the enemy's secret code was used to send an order to the admiral of the invading fleet, instructing him to return, as England., had been forewarned. The attempted invasion ended in failure, and the spy met his death. The piece was notable for several stirring pictures of British soldiers and sailors, and a squadron of British vessels. There were also some very imposing pictures of a' fleet advancing in line ahead and lino abreast on a smooth sea at night. The other films on the programme were the " Gaumont Graphic," "Pups on the R,ampage," "A Wild Sea and a Stormy Sunset" (scenic), "Mabel's Married Life"'and "Too Much Parcel Post" (comedies), and "In the Days of Slavery " (drama). The same pictures will bo shown to-night. , CHRISTCHURCH MUSICAL SOCIETY. The second subscription concert of the Christchurch Musical Society will be held in His Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday, October 6, at 8 p.m. Tho concert, which will be of a miscellaneous nature, will include choruses from Dvorak'6 "Stabat Mater," "At the Foot of the Cross," "Hear My Prayer," and a composition of the conductor, Mr Walter Handel Thorley, entitled " Ave Verum." The other items will be Schumann's "Quartet," songs by Miss Maud. Stringer and Mr Leonard Barnes, and violin solos. "THE~DANDIES." Every member of "The Dandies" company, which will appear in the Opera House on Monday, comes with a reputation for versatility There are three capable lady performers a« d seven male performers i n the company. Miss Ethel Walkor is a soorauo singer of merit, Miss Linda Bradford is sa; to be one of the,finest contraltos at present appearing .before the miblic, and Miss Naomi M'Quoin i s described as. a vivacious comedienne There are two tenor singers, M r . David Lyle alld Mr Andrew Pace; Mr Harry Webster is a character comedian Mr George Taylor.a light- comedian,' and Mr Roland Henry Wdmg. ..comedian and monologue entertainer Mr Herbert Brahams, the,pianist of the coropwtf' is well known ,n tho Dominion already. Mr Arthur Ke.gliky, £ prod ucer, is an English artist of ability