AMUSEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17982, 26 December 1918, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

"HEARTS OF THE WORLD." .it the Theatre Royal this afternoon, _ at two o'clook snd this evening at eight o'clock. J. C. Williamson, Limited, will present for the first time to the public of Christchurch, D. W. Griffith's supreme- and world-famed famous spectacular motion picture drama, " Hearts of the World," which, i: is said, quite outo.asses both "Intolerance " and the " Birth of a Nation," iuid it has also smashed to smithereens the records .established by these two pictures in Kow lorlc, London and Australia. Naturally special interest has boon infused into the production or "Hearts of the World" by the fact that it was taken at the express direction or the- British and French War Offices, and that Mr Lloyd George- took a personal interest in its aia.nufar.turo. In Older 10 obtain realistic war episodes, Mr Griffith and his principal artists spent many months on the battlefields of France, but with the exception of tho producer himself, who was twice bit by the explosion of shrapnel, they all escaped any serious mishap, although Li'ian and Dorothy and Mirs Gish buffered badly from nerve troubles for some time after their return to America. It is stated that it is not possible to give, too iKcaczarated an idea of tin* magnitude ot

'•Hearts of ilia World," but judging by Press ,-cports from England and America, the extreme- limit has boon attained by Mr Griffith in his latest and most wonderful achievement. Although ' Hearts of thWor d " deals extensively with the war, it is tho heart interest invested in what is said to be the sweetest love story ever told, which has been instrumental in making it a. greater success than " Intolerance." It plays on all the omotions. One minute it will have you in tears, tho next you wit] be cheering with dolisht when the jrnllant French soldiers win back the village which previously had been taken by tho Germans; then you will 3niile at the LiUo Disturber [Dorofhy Gish.) Your whole sou! will go cut to little Ben ArmAfro:"- who, in the role of tho {jailant French baby horo, displays hi> patriotism for his country and his wonderful love for his mother. Later you wiii laugh through your tears, von will grit your teeth at the terrible Huns, and yott will hold you: breath with excitement when the Littlo Disturber throws a hand rr.rcnß.do amonsst the Germans who have surrounded the hut which shelters the hero, tho heroin-: and utile Ben. The svectator is token from a simple French villageon to tho actual battlefield, where are seen miles of artillery, a million flshting men, scores of tanks and squads of aircraft. Tho ecencs arc, it is said, so realistic that, you will be forgiven if you ima-nie that you are looking at real happenings. Children will find the film partitu.any _ interesting, as apart from the niagniiioeni speetaeia and tho intensely interesting story which must appeal to them as well as to the grown-ups, thev will cniov a real affection for littlo Bon, the child hero. A special feature of tho presentation will bo tho grand operatic orchestra, which will P l:l i' specially writton music, and tho and appropriate effects will add to tho reality of the different episodes. The plan and day sales are at the Toy Cave confectionery establishment.

OPEIU HOUSE. At the Opera llousu an exceptionally strong programme hwa been arranged for tins current week. Tho Minstrel first part which registered an instantaneous hit, is replete with now songs, dresses and gags, and this i-cetion of the programme i s exceedingly entertaining. , .... !l ° second half Leonard Nelson, tho brilliant ant | versatile comedian, is hoard inan entirely new selection from his extensive repertory. Those clever and popular entertainers, T^ aud Courtney and Mr C, present an entirely now collection of songs Wd stones. Other performers arc Ncliie hoi to (ma o mipcrsonattor), Romaine (roaming vwmist) and Boy Bonham (contortionist). A special matinee will be held to-day. A new attraction . »* promised for the Opera- House next Monday m Madame SaHera, who is described ao tho "Milado Woman." This lady « said to bo an exceptionally gifted thought-reader and her tour through 'Australasia A" 3 "P w the present been visited with enormous success. The box plan for this attraction will open tomorrow morning at Mi.nei and Thompson's. QUEEN'S THEATRE. Tho programme tit the Queen's Theatre is headed bv "Tho Country Boy a paramount production, in which the._ 1010 of the country boy is portrayed bj Marsha! Xeilan, and that of the «***s-&* Florence Dagruar, a- very chaimmy , nd attrßctlvo young phbtoplft-y if 0 supporting Pictures iuciuda *". ■* Hr ? CUa Pter of tho

sensational Helen Holmes serial, " The Railroad Raiders," " a Hack Senuctt comedy, "That Night," one of tho smaitii and brightest productions imaginable, an instructive Uurton Holmes travelogue, showing the cotlou. and cocoa plantations oi Ecuador, and an interesting Australian Gazette. The pictures will be screened again at each session to-day and to-night. GRAND THEATRE. Tho programme shown ut the Grand Theatre on Tuesday attracted largo audiences at both sessions. "' The Slacker," a six-part Metro production do luxe, featuring Emily Stevens, heads the programme. There aro two topical gazettes, " Patho News" and "Australian Gazette." and the comedy portion includes two extremely humorous comedies, "His .Bitter Fate" and "Won by a Fowl." Ditrnar's animal study, "Jungle Vaudeville," shows various small animals in some of their festive and laughablo moods. The thirteenth chapter of "Tho Great Secret" is quite as exciting as its predecessors, and (he music is again ft feature. The same filing will be shown again at both sessions to-day and to-night. STRAND THEATRE. Good attendances witnessed the screening at tho Strand Theatre on Tuesday of the Artcra.it star picture, " Amari;iy of Clothesline Alley," in which the principal character is taken by I\'ary Pickford. Of exceptional interest v-.n- travelogue film describing a trip through modern Athens. Two laughabio comedy pictures and the latest gazette of topical events added to the general attraction of the programme, which will be repeated at each session to-day. CRYSTAL PALACE. Tho Christmas week programme at Crystal Palace, screened wiih great success, is headed by a iWilliam Fox masterpiece, "A Soldier's Oath." It is a story of love and war, in which the central figure is tho popular pictufle actor, William Faraum'l he supporting films include "The Magic Mirror," a two-part comedy-drama, with Marguerite Clayton in the lead, and a Mack Sennett comedy, " Two Tough Tenderfeet." The same pictures will be again presented to-day. LIBERTY THEATRE. " Tho Belgian," a war picture, which is of absorbing interest, quite apart from war matters, is tho leading attraction in the current programme at Liberty Theatre. The settings of the picture, the story and the Martian episodes are all interesting; and p.oase the numerous patrons who attend Liberty during the day. The supporting pictures include tho ninth instalment ot "Tho Fatal Rin.. " serial, a Pathe Gazette and a film devoted to the New Zealand condensed milk industry. The pictures will be screened again to-day. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. The holiday week programme screened at Everybody's Theatre includes two special attractions. The first is a drama, " The Knife," in which the leading character is portrayed by Alice Brady, whilo the second is "My Okl Dutch," a sterling London Film Company production, in which Albert Chevalier appears in tho chief role, supported by Florence. Turner. Tho programme, which will be repeated to-day, includes excellent supporting pictures. SYDENHAM PICTURES. At the Sydenham Picture Theatre thi revening the programme will include " The Knife," featuring Alice Brady, THE FISK JUBILEE SINGERS. It is now many years since the Fish Jubilee Singers (a band of ex-slaves) started out for tho purpose of earning money with which to endow and keep open the Fisl; University, for the education, culture and refinement of the negro race, a race that had just been liberated from a slavery more enter than death. That the singers succeeded in their solf-imoosed mission (realising more than £30,000) speaku for itself. The songs- they sang had their origin on the plantations, in the log cabins and the cane and cotton fields. These, songs are spontaneous outbursts of darkened eoula, and the outpourings of their hearts, trials and tribulations to tho God of whom they heard little, but in their hearts seemed to know so much. The present combination of Jubilee Singers has picked up the threads of its predecessors, and is trying in every way to uphold and maintain the reputation so long synonymous with tho name of the " Fisk Jubilee Singers" of former days. Tho Fisks will appear at tho Choral Hall this evening, and tho box plan is at tho Toy Cave.