AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 5 April 1917, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

PERMANENT PICTURES.

"At the Empire Theatre this evening a Ones film." 6-Uoft in length, and re- ( presenting a historic incident in Franco, will be the principal attraction of the new programme that is to be I screened. The picture is staged with the usual display and lavishness of this f;reat Continental firm, and the subject s worthy of its setting. Charles and Rina are the children of Captain Lalive, a French army officer serving under- the great Napoleon. Their mother has died, and their father believes that his children have also perished, but they are taken and brought up by an old woodcutter. Years later the boy enlists as a drummer, and now commences the real story "How Heroes are Made." For conspicuous bravery in battle he wins the Cross of Honour, which is pinned on his breast by the • Emperor himself. As the ye«./-s pass he wins promotion. A Court beauty, Madame de Longueville attracted by his handsome bearing, offers him her love ' but he is not to be tempted. Madame, in revenge, plots against him, and he is tried' as a deserter. The trial is conducted by Field-Marshal Larive, who recognises his daughter, and finds thai. it is his duty to condemn his son to death. Rina, however, appeals to the Emperor, who tears up the wa*rant and returns the bov to his regiment. "Richmond will be visited to-night, as usual. Permission has been granted by the Nelson City Council for a moving -picture entertainment to be held in the Empire Theatre on Good Friday night, commencing at 8.15, when the magnificent star attraction, "How Heroes are i Made," will be serened. Motueka will also be visited on Good Iriday night when a complete change of programme will "be screened. PEOPLE'S PICTURES. "The Black Orchid," a Selig masterpiece, which will be the star picture at the Theatre Royal to-night, is a striking story of passion and adventure fea- ■ turing Kathlyn Williams as the adventuress, Wheeler Oakman as the soldier hero, and Oraee Darmond as the lonely heroine. It deals with British garrison life in India. The wonderful effects brought about by the natural fauna ana environment to be found in this part ot the world helps to make the picture one of the best offerings of late. "Peg o the Ring" will also be shown to-night, together with a strong list of supporting subjects. To-morrow (Good Friday) the sensational photo-play magnificent, "Public Opinion," will be screened tor the first time in Nelson. The notorious ease with which the public is prone to arrive at its judgment regarding the actions of individuals and the superficial nature of the evidence upon which it often bases the most damaging conclusions form the theme of this vivid and telling drama. The heroine of the story is a beautiful nurse. Hazel Gray, m the depiction of whose character MistBlanche Sweet achieves a distinct triumph. Hazel is in love with Philip Carson, son of Mrs Carson Morgan, a wealthy philanthropist. Philip is not on good terms with his step-father, and after a quarrel with the latter he leaves his home, secures a position; and lives at the same boarding-house as' Hazel. His mother suddenly becomes ill, and Philip so arranges matters that Hazel is called in as nurse, but her. stay in the house is made most unpleasant by the umvelcome attentions of the doctor, whose insistent advances she had been forced to repulse on a previous occasion. Mrs Morgan dies from arsenical poisoning, and the finger of suspicion is pointed at Hazel, her former supposed relations with the doctor being assigned as the motive of the crime. She' is indict- - ed for murder, and is placed upon hei trial. A wealthy young juryman named Gordon Graham* is impressed with the fact that the girl is innocent, and he succeeds in securing her acquittal. The weight of feeling, however, is against Hazel, and she is made the object of an almost incredible amount of public scorn, injustice being added to tndignity by an unfeeling public, who completely forget the command: "Judge not that ye be not judged." Finally the doctor dies a violent death, and with his dying breath he confesses that he is the guilty party. Hazel's innocence is established, public opinion swings completely round. and happy omena surround the lovers. The supports are varied and full of interest. On Saturday there will be another complete change of programme. Patrons are advised that ."Peg o' the Ring" will be screened to-night, Saturday afternoon and night, and not on Monday night as usual. The box plan will be on view at the Theatre Royal - during the holidays. DRIVER, THE MAGICIAN. The entertainment to be given at the School of Music on Easter Saturday and Monday evenings by Mr Thomas W. Driver, the magician, is one that appcalr to all classes of the community.- In the whole of the entertainment there is not one word -.that can offend the feelings of the most susceptible (professional spirit mediums excepted), while as a lesson in human credulity, gullibility, and duplicity it is said to be well worth witnessing. It compresses in two and a half hours the experiences of half a life•timo of one of the cleverest conjurors 1 now before the public. Those who ho--1 . nestly believe in the genuineness of spiritual phenomena should attend, and they will see the best tests of so-called spiritual manifestations performed by a clever magician without any supernatural aid. A special feature on the programme will be an exposure of Charles Bailey and his apport-producing seance, Mr Driver producing all the apports in the light after being thoroughly examined by a committee. The "spirit paintings" is another mystery en- - tirely new to Nelson, and in this seance fiaintings visibly but mysteriously appear on the canvas in the light while everyone is watching. Mr Driver will also introduce for the first time here illustrations of table-turning and the passage of matter through matter, and these will he done in the full light on the open stage. An efficient orchestra wjll_ render choice musical selections during: the evening, and Mr E. R. Mar- ■ tin. the famous coloured basso of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, will sing his selected ballads, as well as render his famous negro plantation melodies. A firstclass programme will be given, and an exceptional and wonderful entertainment is assured. The box-plan is at Messrs Begg and Co.'s.