AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 16 June 1920, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

PEOPLE’S PICTURES. “WIVES OF MEN.” Now and again, problem play arrives on stage, or screen 'which is of unusual strength and dramatic force. Such a one is seen in “Wives of Men,” the Pioneer superfeature, screening at the Theatre Royal to-night. The star is Florence Heed, and, although she has played many memorable roles where, emotional power has been called upon, this great story is the flower of her art. It is the kind of play that makes picture-goers, and nothing that can Be said can be too superlatively expressed as to the emotional acting ox the famous stage beauty. The story concerns the eternal triangle, but from a fresh and unusual viewpoint. A man marries his father’s pretty ward, and on her wedding day she finds a photograph with an inscription upon it in a woman’s writing, “To my Husband.' In a frenzy tho young bride decides to live alone/From that decision, and the chain of evil consequences following it, spring all the dramatic and unforeseen happenings. The whole gives tho impression of real life. Mention must be made, too, of the splendour of the settings, and the gorgeous nature of tho dresses and the houses of the very rich of New York, kyank Mills is a likable and understandable hero, and Grace Davidson as “the other woman” gets*every cue’s sympathy. HAYWARD’S PICTURES.

“DELUXE ANNIE.” Do Luxe Annie,” now familiar to New Zealanders by roason-of the stage tour of Miss Emily Polini, now comes to us as a film drama with no less an artist than Norma 'ialmadge in the leading vole, and will be snowu at Hayward’s to-night, it is vastly different from the usual “crook pmy. it has a decidedly psychological turn, this story of a finely bred woman whose husband is interested in criminal psychology, and who is horse I transformed into a criminal by acci<3eht. The role ox Nan calls toi «&•, only beauty, style, and a high oulei of.artistry, but also tor innate intclli■gence vouchsafed Jo but tow. kOl these reasons Norma ialmadge is Ideally suited to the part, bho brings out every shade of emotional feeling in her portrayal lifting it far nut ct the commonplace by reason ol hu personality■'raid charm. he ■ iamoins Sage sticks lends itaett. pecwhnrfr to screen adaptation, and the gieat i facilities for rendering fidelity to h.i on the screen make tins drama an unforgettable production Iheie is no comparison between the two perto inanoe*- the film furnishes real live settings, as against painted scenery and movement of the characters, and action of the plot are alive' staa t to finish of the story. A guod-lookin 0 dimmv. the crock, is Eugene 0 kneu, the film equivalent ol a matinee idol, •md the reset of the east is on a pai Sh tho general eseeUeneo ot the production.