AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 24 July 1916, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

I?£RMANENT PICTURES EMPIRE THEATRE.

In. spite of the unfavourable weathe-, fthere was a large attendance at the matinee at the Empire Theatre on Saturday afternoon. But in the case of t! :> evening session the rain was too hea vy and continuous for even a powerful a--traetion like "My Old Dutch." Thos.--present, however, were enthusiastic ii. their reception of this story of typical London costers. The management de cided to give two shows to-day—oic commencing at 3 o'clock, and the usu:i evening performance. Although main favourable comments have been ma!<with reference to the great achieveme-.t of Albert Chevalier and Florence Turner in this particular film, only a persona! view enabes one to realise the intense feeling, the pathos, and the humour portrayed in their impersonations of J ::e Spnjld, the coster, and Sal, his "dear oN Dutch." Several of Mr Chevalier's ditties are played by the orchestra, an-> Mr Sid. Bush recites the words of song, "My Old Dutch.' ' The box plan for both presentations is at the Empivv Theatre.

TBJSATBE royal. PEOPLE'S PICTURES. Unusual is the most appropriate aiul fitting word to apply to any description of "The White Scar." Its story is qu.to out of the ordinary, and its settings are among the wildest" and most magnified:'. Nature.has ever provided for anyi fil ut yet seen upon the screen. This is say- " nig a great deal of any subject, yet ii. is not a word too much in praise of tinbeautiful IRed Feather photoplay which -will be shown at the Theatre Royal tonight. _There is something grand and i spiring, something almost entrancing, :■ the beauty of the snow clad mountains and forest fastnesses in which the stor;. is set, and it is here that the drama c primitive emotions is appropriately play ed finish. And everything :.- in. keeping with its motif. Wild wastes of desolate country mantled in snow : dense forests of fir, and lakes that tak_ davs to traverse. No fitter back-groiyi could have been found the whole wicit world over. To return then to our preliminary statement that "The Whit. Scar" is an „nusuai iilm, and a film d; luxe- In. the first place, one cannot apply the ordinary standards of dramatic art to this subiect, for the simple reasc-i that, one has no standards by which tjudge it. It is so unusual. Acting, set tings and storyi are of such a kind thai they' are a class to themselves, which *- to say that, unusual as they are the; could* hardly be bettered in any singl respect. < "The White Scar, therefore, should' make a urn versal appeal. Its photography is magnificent, and its scenes so full o. delightful surprises, that one could se: the four-reels through again, and enjo> it almost more on the second occasior than the first. But it is as a stronjr anu tenselv dramatic story that it will achieyi its greatest (success; which is as it shouic *>e, for fine scenic effects and photography alone" never atoned for a wear! and inconclusive plot, and never will. Here drama- of the full-blooded kin:. holds swav; elemental passions clash ana struggle for masterv ; life is of the primitive order; virtue and vice are engaged ih deadlv but in the en* virtue wins through and . love is all triumphant.