AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 17 November 1916, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

"PERMANENT PICTURES. A notable jpirogramme is to be screened at the Empire Theatre to-night. "The Coward," a Kay Bee, prodiieecf by Ince, as a remarkable fine'piece of -work. ' The .production is magnificent; the acting, on- the ■whole, is excellent. The story is straight running, clear, and; / unbroken en continuity. Dealing with the days -when America was not too proud to fight, it tells of a young man, eon of an- old; Southern' family, who, after -two shockdn*r, exhibitions of cowardice, finds himself in the position of Jbeing able to render his side great service at enundn-ent risk. He rases to the ocaslon, and! atones for past sins iv a glorious feat of arms. Ani actor has fieen chosen whose facial awake-up is (perfectly suited- to the character. The success of the, fibni defends almost wholly upon his expression, and at no time' does he fail. The man -who acts the sterni father.at times rises to heights of greatness. l?jroud and arrocan-t, almost a very Prussian' in h,:s devolion to military ideals ,hiis son's fa.ilure breaks hi mi ; utterly. Perhaps the best bit of work of all is that in which the lad, carrying "vahialfole news information to the Confederate 'lines, dashes past the outposts and) Jhas his horse, shot nn3er him as he ia crossing a bridge. The sup-porting items Twill include the latest Gaumont Graphic a»d a Vdtagraph -comedy. Motueka will be visited to-morrow. PEOPLE'S PICTURES. "Tennessee's Pardner," a splendid Famous Players' feature, will 'be screened to-night by special request. The supporting films, -which are all new. will include a three-reel subject entitled "The Mystery of the Locked Room." It is a rattling good yarn, excellently told, wellacted, and perfect in every respect from the point of view of production. It is a Trans-Atlantic subject, so no more need be said on that score. The story is not startlingly original, but it has the advantage of being told with remarkable skill, and at the very outset . the producer has succeeded in creating an atmosphere which is maintained with unvarying success right to the finish. This in itself is an achievement -worthy of more than a passinsr note, for so many good stories tail off after the first reel, and go hopelessly to pieces. Not so "The Mystery of the Ldcked Room." Once the story gets going, we are kept on the tiptoe of expectation, -and the secret of the murder of the 'banker is eo well kept, though we actually see it occur-before our eyes, that we are almost in doubt to the last as to the identity of the assailant. This end is very cleverlv achieved by the simple' expedient of lowered lights at the psychological moment, and the acting of the principals adds immensely to the value of the effect thus created. "Charlie's Nighi Out," and the latest War Topical, are also on' the bill. To-morrow there "will be a complete' change when "The Tar get," another of the great Red Feathei features, will be shown. The 13th Episode of "The. Broken Coin" and other excellent pictures will also be screened.