ENTERTAINMENTS.

Mataura Ensign, 22 April 1913, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ROYAL STANDARD PICTURES. Tho now hill screened at tlie Theatre Koyal is of more than average merit and it was enjoyed last evening hy a. good audience. ' "Pathe Gazette No. 191," with which tho programme opens, is no whit less interesting than its predecessors; indeed, to many this section of the programme is as popular as any. The work of the clever and convincing actor Maurice Costello is tho outstanding feature of "Wanted, a Grandmother!" a really fine picture. "A. Trip Through 1000 Islands" is a scenic picture of very high order, and is worthy of a place in any programme of moving pictures. There is a touch of l»athas and tragedy in. "Letters of a Lifetime," where an old man sees what might have been. A pleasing finish to tho first part is provided by the inimitable .Jehu Bunny and the equally clever Nora .Finch in "The Awakening of Jones." An actor and his wife unable to Day their bills are obliged to leave their trunk with Jones. Jones puts on ' ill.' actor's .■-■ porting suit and proceeded I tn |;.i:ut tlie' town red. Jones' wife hears of lliis and proceeds to town. Some aiim.-.'ng -.■-■■■■■ii.-'s ensue, and the lndv at length finds and brings her erring husi band Immc. The star picture, of thcI programme is of strong interest. I iuc.fiy, the s'o.'.v i-s one. of a fculot v.-s, V ues, a. young widow, who carves a cross, which she erects i" memory of her husband, who was lost at sea. One day a- celebrated artist visits her home and induus her to go to the city and study art. Later she borciiies famous. Among her acquaintances is a carried man, wlio pays her marked attention, despite her indifference. Madeline's lather visits her at tho same time, her vvcowr happens to lie in tlia studio. Tlie old man believes the roperLs lie has received are true and disown,, her. She returns later to her | native village and devotes her HL-, to j helping the sick and poor. While nursing a child she contracts fever and in i delirium wanders in her nightrobe and j visits the < ross .she ha.s erected. Sinkj iny; to her knees she produces a living | picture of "Tho .Hock of Ages," and idies upon the cross. "The unexpected Fortune," "The Great Steel Trust," and "The Basilica of St. Marc" all maintain tho interest until their completion and "Polidor as Statue" sends tho audience away in high good humor. The programme will be repeated this owning.

SPEAKING PICTURES.

Writing of the Speaking pictures, u !:ich will appear in the Theatre Royal, Gore, on Friday, April 25, the 'Grey.inouth Argus' says:—"At the Opera House last night the above company introducer] for the first time in Grey-m-outh what is known as the bio-mega-|!.!';ne. The machine is so cunsj-niored that if produces the sound of the voice in perfect time with the movements of the lips of the various artists as they appear on the screen, and is undoubtedly the coming thing- in cinematography. In fact, this invention now makes it possible to not only see the world's most celebrated artists; but also to hear them in their latest successes. Perhaps the best number given was a seng j by Stanley Kirby, introducing the 'Merry Widow' Waltz. TUie singing and dancing were remarkably realistic and life-like, the singing from the nu-.-, chine keeping perfect time with the artists in. the picture. Another item I was a battle scene introducing the song 'A Little Boy called Taps,' and several others of 'equal merit, all of whiuh, were well received and much appreciated. The house was packed in every part."