ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1715, 5 January 1920, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PALACE.

Bert Lytell, the popular Mct;o star, appears for one night only at the Palace in “One Thing at a Time o’ Day.” Every picture in which this artist has been shown has been particularly good and clean, and this one should prove no exception.

ROSY.

MABEL NORMAND IN "THE PEST.” ‘ Bathing scenes have boon featured many times of late in various pictures, but surely no funnier bathing scene was ever screened than the one where Mabel Nprmand takes her bath in a water barrel in “The Pest.” The story is Cinderella-like in theme, dealing with a country drudge who turns out to bo a judge’s daughter, ajid while little touches of melodrama and pathos arc sprinkled here and there, on the whole the picture is made up of incidents that are screamingly funny, and Mabel keeps the humour up to the highest pitch throughout. She gets the most possible out of the role, and that she is wholly successful is shown by the roars of laughter that her antics bring forth from the delighted audience. The L-Ko comedy is good of its kind, and with a topical Budget makes a good programme of healthy amusement.

KV EH Y BODY’S,

“UP ROMANCE ROAD.’’

In this picture Gregory Thorne (VVilliam Russell) ami Marta Millbanke (Charlotte Burton) are engaged, but arc of the opinion that a conventional engagement and marriago aro too stupid to bo observed, so dooide upon an elopement. Gregory secured the services of four second-storey men to effect an abduction, at the same time that an emissary ot a foreign Government decides to abduct Marta to hold us hostage, until her father, who is a shipper, shall promise to cease his shipments to the Allies. In the darkness: Gregory’s men and Eckslrom’s men encounter and complications ensue. Marta mistaking Eckstrom’s men for Gregory’s allows herself to be carried oil, Gregory follows in his racing car. Arrived at lickstrom’s rendezvous, Gregory and Marta are made prisoners, and hold as hostages. Eckstrom writes an anonymous note, threatening to blow up the Thorno and Millbanko warehouse next morning unless they stop sending supplies to Europe. Gregory outwits Eckstrom, saves Marta from death, and the warehouse.

PALACE.

“DADDY LONG LEGS” (MARY PICKFORD).

“Daddy Long Logs” was a record seller as a book, but as a film with Mary Pickford as the heroine it promises to be the film of the year. Mary has the orphan role in it which she has made incomparably her own, and has more than the usual orphan’s luck. This is the very first of Mary’s very own productions. Mary Pickford is now her own boss, and her' business manager is her mother. Moreover, you have never sqon the real Mary 1 Pickford until you have seen “Daddy Long Legs,” her first production from her own 'studios. Mary herself says that “Daddy .Long Legs” is her best picture, and her opinion is borne out by the opinions of the people who have seen it, and in any case Mary couldn’t afford to say it if it were not'true. One of the funniest of all the humorous things with which “Daddy Long Ldgs” is loaded is the scene iwhere Mary Pickford, as Judy Abbott, ■takes too much hard cider. A funny little freckled orphan and Judy lead a “prune strike,” striving to obtain bettor food £or the orphans, and they happen on a jar of eider thrown over the fence t>y a thief, ' with dire results. Mary’s portrayal of Judy is a wonderful piece of characterisation, and the foregoing is only one of the masterful bits of humour that she is responsible for in this picture, which is to ■ be shown for four nights and two matinees, ■commencing at the Palace to-morrow night. . The box plans arc open at the Rosy.