AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, 14 May 1917, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

PERMANENT PICTURES. At the Emp re Theatre a. large audience witnessc.i the screening of "Maciste" for the first time in Nelson on Saturday. People who saw "Cabiria" will remember the giant negro Macistc, who used his great strength to such good purpose in doing all manner of prodigious feats on behalf of the persecuted heroine of that production. ilaciste seems to have made a hit as » picture plaver. for the producers if "Cabiria" have given a cCCOft lihn .•>!! to himself, in which he improves • n t!iv physical culture "stunts'' with which l.e commenced his movie career. His r<w picture is entitled VMaciste," and is the story of a persecuted girl, who .1 es-c-nning from a gang of ruffians, takes refuge in a cinema theatre just in time In see the mighty man of "Cabiria" performing some of his most astounding feats. His strength come to her as a revelation, and, acting on a wild impulse to seek his aid in her difficulties. she writes to him. .Maeiste answers her by letter out of curiosity, and later she meets him and enlists his sympathy. Then follows a wonderful series of "strong man" feats and exciting situations, in which the desperadoes who arc making the young girl's life miserable come in for an extremely unhappy t'.me. HVlaciste is a good actor, as well as one of the most powerful athletes iif the world, and this sensational jneture will no doubt attract another large aud ; ence to-night. An excellent supporting programme will also be shown. THEATRE ROYAL. PEOPLE'S PICTURES. MARGUERITE CLARK. The Famous Players Co. have given "us many exquisite productions, but for sheer daintiness and pleasurable see--,?? they have given us nothing to surpass "Silks and Satins." the five-reel subject screened to full houses at both session* at the Theatre Royal on Saturday —the most delightful sets, both modern and antique, magnificent dresses, mise-en-scene of rare loveliness. and massive gi-andeur. and many other points of excellence, combined with the rare delicacy and delightfully piquant portrayal of the principal part by dainty Marguerite Clark. It is such a combination of excellences that makes "Silks and Satins"' one of the most desirable and attractive subjects we remember to have seen. We are often told how a certain artiste idealy fits the picture. but such an expression was never more truly deserved than in this case, for Miss Clark presents us with a vision of loveliness, wilfulness. caprice, and exquisite charm that is truly 'I he story relates how Felicite Cameron is engaged to be married to an up-to-date dandy of the present day. who looks upon marriage as one of those things that has to be gone through to please parents on both sides. Felicite is a romantic young girl with a lover in the background. but forced to marry against her will to keep up the family prido and position. On the eve of her wedding she discovers an old diary, which she proceeds to read, and this constitutes the main features of the subject, for as she reads all the scenes in the life of a Felicite born in a Napoleonic age are unfolded to the spectator. The old world FehVte has had her romances too. Moreover she. too. had been called on by her parents to marry a man whom she did not. love : but she had cast the conventions behind and fled to the colonies with the knight errant ■whom she did love. The modern Felicite decides to follow the example of her ancestor. She rushes to the station, and, overtaking her departing lover, agrees to go with him and share a life of poverty rather than enter into a loveless marriage. The piece is capably acted and well staged. This picture will he filially screened to-night in conjunction with a .six-reel Frohman feature, "The Witching Hour." C. Aubrey Smith (the distinguished English actor, seen here recently in "Jaffrey") I appears as the gambler and real man. who follows the destiny of many lives, and by his watchfulness keeps many from taking the wrong path. ■DRIVER THE MAGICIAN. The Wakefield. Oddfellows' Hall was packed to the doors on Saturday night. when Mr Driver presented his remark able entertainment of magic and anti spiritualism. To-night he is appearing at Tapawera, and on Tiiesdav 'Briirhtwater will be visited. On Wednesday evening .Mr 'Driver appears in the School of Music, Nelson, with a special challenge entertainment.