AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 13 August 1920, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

■'“ THE MIRACLE MAN.” ! AT THE EMPIRE. Unbounded enthusiasm marked _ the ( first screening of “The Miracle Alan' at the Empire Theatre last evening, ‘ and when the season concludes on Saturday it is a foregone conclusion that all previous takings will bo eclipsed, 1 1 last evening’s hooking being easily a record. Not only is the picture itsell superb and tin; most appealing am! j magnetic ever shown here, but it is accompanied by an orchestra under j the condnetorsbip of Air J. V. Ala ling, ; the music given being no less than delightful. In addition Aladame Annette Hayward, a noted contralto, late of the Cjrl Rosa Opera Company, sang “Sweet Spirit, Hoar my Prayer, at the commencement and finale ol tin 1 picture, her glorious voice holding those present in ecstasy. “The, A liraole Alan’’ holds the distinction of bring the. greatest moral achievement ol the screen a ge ; its elusive and uni urge Itablo quality is revealed, in the fact that the story may bo told in two 1 sentences, vet might not be conveyed in words .filling as many pages. It steals into the heart like the Ruble a.t of Omar, and lives in the memory like a haunting melody. A gang of clever criminals hear of the strange powers of a “patriarch” in a remote village, i whose ■ beauty of life and faith, have helped to bring health and peace of ! mind to the suffering. Assuming ini uoccnse and belief, they surround him, and singe a protended “miracle through which they plan to exploit the sightless healer as a business eutci- ! prise Their cunning succeeds beyond 1 all their hopes, but unconsciously ! they fall under the spell which they Shad sought to use, and they are themI selves transformed, lifted by iaiclf i from depravity to a cleansed, ennobled manhood and womanhood. I hat is all A. theme of elemental simplicity, yet as complex a« the human heart; as modern as news, yet as old as the hilts of Galileo. It is the simplicity of the story and its telling that makes its success so striking, it has none of the magnificent settings ana illusions to evoke wonderment, tme magnetism of the story lies m .its scenes of beauty and tranquillity no less than in those of sordidness ami ferocity. The leading players are Thomas Meighan as “lorn Jlurke ; ]3ettv Comp son as “Rqse ; Lon Uia ney, “The Frog '; J. At. “The Dope” ; and Joseph J. Dowhn o «%hcWido Man.” . The pictm-e. will bo screened again tins evening, and the final presentation is tomorrow night. In order that countxy visitors may witness the Mu ado Man” ill its entirety, the management lias arranged for to-morrow night , late train from town to be delayed tnl KUS. The 12th Regt. Band will again play selections outside the theatie tonight. PEOPLE’S PICTURES. “THE AY OLE.” Another tip-top programme is to be screened at the Royal The star picture is a Yitagiaph, 11m AVolf ” containing all the glainoui IlfiaAvoode. "Juloegnd Bapteto had ltd Anne “an revoir as they de parted into the wilds to set then- Japs. •The former her brother, tbe Htte hu lover. On their return tnoy find < mound on the mountain-—her S ia } c - They started on a man-hunt , swearing ■i terrible vengeance. They swotc to hunt the wide world over tiyiccomp r th.oir cuds if necessary. And they wan dered to the cabin of Andrew Mclavish, whose daughter Linda had lom= olrt ho 1.a.l wronged. Ho oven torgot Hie iividotit ill Ms search tor a now advenUmi with Hilda. So. ,H.los had a double purpose, 'to n . his clutches and to mete out ’ten oeance upon him, for he discovered* hj • was on the right‘track. The wolf had howled ' at night, and that means that | some man must die. .How tliis picture 'is brought to an end is told in ast.ii I jng climax. Another instalment 1 ho Further Adventures of Stinga ires” and good supports are included.