AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 19 February 1917, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE. PERMANENT PICTURES. Words of pr.vse were heaid on all sides at the conclusion of the screening £ " of the Selig drama, "The Rosary."; at j the Empire Theatre on Saturday night. x ' The picture was deserving ni " tlle highest commendation. Quite, apart irom the story, which is an- exceedingly interesting ( one.* the photographic art displayed m = the'film is of outstanding mem. there k is"a beautiful series of pictures i- ging , from a farmyard in Ireland, t" the s lavishlv furnished mansion » a ] New York stockbroker. Ihe story < is that of a priest. Although the \ picture extends over seven reels of film, and occupies practicallv the entire programme, it does not allow the interest . to flag throughout the screening. The , subject is developed in a religions manner, and- is presented in an intenselydramatic and dignified fashion that should fit the film to be added to the -Ion"' list of successful pictures winch have been shown at this theatre. The film is constructed from the play by Edward Rose, and is of an essentially . human and emotional type, that should appeal strongly to most people. The period of the story" extends over several generations, but the most dramatic part occurs when the hero believes Ms wife to be unfaithful., "when, as a matter of fact, she is endeavouring to shield her erring • sister. . The bad man of the story forces the sister to eavesdrop and steal an important commercial secret from the hero, but the wife is blamed, and when rum and disaster comes, it is she who has to hear the brunt of the trouble. The end ■ of the story, however, is satisfactory, ahd'ulitmate happiness is atained for the deserving parties without undue stretching of the dramatic possibilities. A most interesting Pathe Gazette completes this programme. PEOPLE'S PICTURES. - The Theatre Royal is noted for its attractive programmes, and the latest of many sustains the record and adds to it. An' evidence of this was met with in the fact that at both sessions on Saturday the theatre was- crowded, those assembling constituting one of the.biggest attendances the "People's" have drawn. Over 1500 patrons paid for admission. The leadin dramatic film is entitled '.'Desire; or, the Beckoning Trail." "Desire" reveals the many temptations of city life, showing how some people can withstand them, while others succumb to them-and go to the wall. ■: The plot is well worked out, and there are many thrilling episodes, and the characters are well portrayed. On Mi" «T. Warren Kerrisan, who has a fine " reputation as a film actor, chiefly rests the success of the piece, and he meets all the calls made on him, carrying the story along iii- a most convincing manner. Another interesting picture is the first episode of the great Transatlantic circus serial. "Peg o' the Ring," announced as the first and only circus seria. lever produced. To get the correct dtmosphere camera men toured America, and reproduced some of the best circua acts it was possible) to get. The doings of the clowns, the trapeze acts, and other incidents are the real acts of some of the greatest circus artists in the world. Many of the most daring acta and most thrilling spectacles enacted in America to-day are faithfully por- ' trayed in this series of pictures. There are* 15 episodes, each of 2000 ft, and the Vivacity and life of the arena "vibrate in every reel.. Every episode has its own peculiar interest, and almost every foot sf sensational thrilL Riwaka will be visited "on Tuesday with the above; programme. . ' - .■■■