AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 10 September 1923, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE TO-NIGHT “STEELHEART” A story of outdoors is told in “Steelheart,” tho feature starring M m Duncan and Edith Johnson, screening to-night at the Empire. The story is a tabloid serial containing a remarkable series of perilous feats and daring deeds. Tho u ell-known serial hero, "William Duncan, has in this play one rnado to order for him. In athletic prowess, fighting, and riding ability, and speed of action ho has few rivals. Edith Johnsan looks very pretty and is in addition a very fine horsewoman. Among the thrills is a remarkable explosion which lifts the- top of a. mountain and smashes it to atoms. Another daring feat is the dive irom the top of a lolly cliff to a foaming torrent below. There is light with a savage and crazed boar which is almost too realistic, and the scene is very tense, where the couple are trapped" in an air chamber in the mountain with the explosion timed to take place within one minutes. There is a good plot and a dramatic last reel which will make all audiences enthusiastic. In addition will bo shew ‘'Snubbed (comedy). “'Missing Men ’ (educational), and latest Topical. “hove Never Dies,’’ with Lloyd , Hughes and Madt'ge Bellamy, will be the chief attraction at the Empire on Wednesday, commencing at a special matinee at 2.30.. Madge Bellamy plays the role, of tile young wife who is forced by her father to leave her husband and sue for a divorce. \\ hen the latter, alter a lapse of time, re- j turns to his homo town without know- j ing of the divorce, he finds his wile. . who had thought him dead, married to > another man. Even the coungstcr who calls him “father” is an Unknow n personage in his life. From this situ- • r.tion is handled with sympathetic di- ■ rcctness that brings its answer in the ( tense moments of the big seen. “Love j Never Dies” is adapted from Wdl | Harben’s popular novel, “The Cottage ' of Delight.”" There is a Bathe Review and a First National comedy, featuring Buster Keaton, entitled “Convict 13.” Prices as usual. PARAMOUNT TO-NIGHT “WHAT WOMEN WILL DO” A young man is “framed fbr a murder and sentenced to die. To save at least the dishonour of hanging, lie commits suicide in his cell. The man really guilty—a power in the underworld—conceives the idea of having Lily Gibbs, a pretty and clever crook, pose as the girl the bov secretly married, winning the ( sympathy of the boy s mother and inunc,i'ng her to sign over her property to the pseudo daughter-in-law. The older woman’s kindness to her pricks Lily’s conscience, and she refuses to carry on tho plot, confessing to the mother, who knew it all the time. It was her scheme to appear to be “taken in by the crooks in order the find the real murderer and elear her dead son’s name of the crime. Speed Star, the horse on which is centred the particular attention of several leading characters in the story, has been picked as the winner of the Derby, and the bets on him were very heavy. But two plotters doped a lump of sugar for the horse and then bet their all on him to lose. The signal was given 1 They were off ! The camera, after the manner of the •new invention of photographing races, followed the speeding horses around and around the track, giving to the audiences of the motion picture a much better view than those seated in the grand-stand. Speed Star got off to a good start, then fell behind—the poison was taking its deadly effect! Then he spurted ahead ! Past one horse, then another, then— —. But, whether Star won or lost, and what the race meant to those interested we will leave you to see in “What "Women Will Do,” in which Anna Q. Nilsson heads a cast including Earl Metcalfe, Allan Forrest, George Majeroni, Riley Hatch and Jane J—----- The above strong attraction together with a Snub Pollard comedy, latest Pathe Gazette, and “The Timber Queen”. Coming on Wednesday and opening with a special matinee, A picture which combines magnificent scenic beauty with a thrilling story, is “The Valley of Silent Men,” adapted from James Oliver Curwood's famous novel of the same name as a Cosmopolitan production, and -eleased by Paramount. Also Harold Lloyd in •“The Sailor Made Man.” These specials will be shown at usual prices. Plan at Beggs. Book early at these pictures have been looked lor ward to by hundreds of our patrons. The ever popular Paramount orchestra. Usual prices. Ring 530 after 7 p.m. for re-. serves. PERMANENT PICTURES COUNTRY TOUR “HUMAN HEARTS There are two standards by which to judge “Human Hearts” before seeing on the Permanent Picture country circuit, commencing at Richmond on Tuesday. One is the elements that went into its making. Tho cast includes many noted players, and is led T;v House Peters, a favourite with all who appreciate real dramatic ability. The story the greatest play that ever ruled the stage ; for a decade tno most popular play in tho world. Written by Hal Reid, Wally’s father. The . >. irector, King Baggot, played the lead in the first picturisation years ago. Sum up these “makings” and add the quality of Universal-Jewel filming, the top calibre of pictures. The other standard is previous reception. Critics in tho metropolitan cities have acclaimed it a reel addition tion to tho list of exceptional pictures of tho year. It lives up to every claim .jnado for it. The action of tho piece j •.*. smooth and the suspense is fain- ' lLained. “Human Hearts” is a crosssection of real life, tho characters being the type one meets daily. After screening'in Richmond on Tuesday, Motueka,. ‘Tnkaka, and Wakefield will i he visited on Wednesday, Thursday, I smd Saturday respectively. j “PIRATES OF PENZANCE” j Wo are all more or less the slaves of duty, and the hero of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance,” is a bigger slave than most. The “most Ingenious paradox” that turns Frederick back from a law-abiding citizen to a blood-thirsty pirate makes a handle for a good story and some first class .niisic. The chorus work is splendid, as rendered by the Blenheim Society, especially the finale to the first act with its invocation to Poetry, the policeman’s chorus, .•and the laughing trio. The great waltz ;song “Poor Wandering One" is sung with great expression by Airs Reid, tho Mabel of the p’iece. Mr Vinnicombe makes an ideal Pirate King—with his big body and booming voice—and Frederick is well covered by Mr Gray. Mr Young makes a splendid Major-General, and he is ono of the hits of tho opera. Hie, and tho Sergeant (Mr Burrell) are ■well loaded with topical touches. Tho {box plan is open at Begg’s.