WHAT THE MOVIES ARE DOING

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 817, 25 February 1916, Page 28

WHAT THE MOVIES ARE DOING

The Empress. M STRONG attraction at the Empress Theatre this week is a feature by the London Film Company, entitled "The King's Outcast." This stirring story is excellently produced by the London Film Company, whose photo-plays are keenly sought after by discriminating patrons of the movies. The last screening will be given to-ruox-row (Saturday) evening along with a& interesting series of supplementary items. * * * # , The trump card at the Empress next week will be a charming adaptation of the old English comedy, "Gretna Green.," by the Famous Players Co-, and featuring Marguerite Clark. This petite picture-actress is everywhere a strong favourite, and in the United States it is said she is vieing with Mary Pickford as the Most Popular. And she has her own admirers by the thousand here in Wellington, and those who saw here in "The Crucible" at the King's a few weeks ago will not miss seeing her at the Empress nexi> week. *«•*■» Children of Eve.g This Edison picture play is, like "Rags," a two generations drama. It is going strong at the King's this week, but is rather intense and sombre In style. It illustrates phases of slum-life in New York, and focusses public attention on the evils and risks of child labour in factories. As the heroine, who responds to an appeal to her better nature and rises above her sordid environments only to lose her life through a factory fire. Miss Viola Dana, a petite actress, plays with great and touching power. The other parts, too, are in capable hands. There is no film on the programme to compare in interest with the Pathe production, entitled "Movements of Animals." It shows the quick •and graceful movements of dogs, cats, horses, and kangaroos retarded to such slowness by means of a slow cinema that you are able to note every movement. As a. scientific study it is unique. The Pathe Gazette presents you with episodes among the French soldiers, the British, the Russian, and the Serbian, and all are surcharged with vivid interest. Finally, and as a foil to the tense drama that fills the whole second part, there is a sparkling Vitapiece, "Rose of the Raneho," in which Hunter." The strong attraction for next week is Belasco's dramatic masterpiece, "Rose of the Ranche," in which the romantic actress, Bessie Barricole, takes the title role. * *r * * Everybody's. "The Derby Winner," with its attendant excitement and thrills, will be shown for the last time to-morrow (Saturday) evening. * * * * For Monday at noon two big stars are featured on the new programme. The Famous Players Co. are represented in a powerful emotional five-reel drama, "The Only Son/' which tells in stirring scenes the affection displayed to his mother during her trials and troubles of matrimony by a scapegoat son The story is one bound to rivet your attention. Every attention to detail has been given by the Famous Players Company to make a distinct success of this drama. Popular Charlie Chaplin will also be seen in a new and original piece of fun in ''The New Janitor." The mere mention of Charlie's name is sufficient to make movies' patrons smile, but this laugh-producer more than makes them smile; they bubble over with mirth. Tea served free at day sessions to dress circle patrons is a welcome feature of Everybody's. The day session prices have been altered to the following: Stalls 3d, dress circle 6d. Usual prices at the night session. * •» # * Johnson=Willard Fight Film. At least the feature film descriptive of the Johnson-Willard fight for the world's championship last year_ has reached this remote corner. It will be screened for the first time in New Zealand at the Wellington Town Hall on Saturday evening, March 4th, for one night only. It has been shown with great success in Australia and elsewhere ,and it proves conclusively how the "White Hope" wrested the championship from Johnson. Willard's success will not be surprising when one sees

his magnificent stature, his wonderful strength, his great activity, and his clever ring craft. It was only with this combination that any man in the world could hope to defeat the great master of the art of self-defence, and it was not until 26 rounds had been strenuously fought that the black man was knocked out. There are many incidents of interest in the picture. Some magnificent scenery is taken in the outdoor training, lendng variety to the fight portion. Popular prices will be charged, viz., 2s and Is. * * * * Amongst the entrants for the "Beauty and Brains" contest for aspiring picture actresses which is being conducted by a prominent American film company, is a New Zealand girl. Her name is not disclosed, but possibly we shall hear anon. The contest closes at the end of the present month, and amongst the judges is Clara Kimball Young, the World Film Company's star. Before the winner is finally declared, the field will be narrowed down to eleven, who will be taken to New York, all expenses to be paid by the promoters, and chaperones will be provided. Within two weeks of their arrival in Noo Yark, they are to undergo photographic and dramatic trials. Those who do not pass the final trials will be returned to their homes without any cost to them. The successful entrants will be given at least a twelve-months' engagement. Good luck to the New Zealand competitor, whoever she be. •■» ■ » * Stated that Mary Pickford is one of two or three people in the world who are popular enough to cause a trafficjam on the streets of New York at any hour. Such is the fame of a popular movies actress! In this connection, on a recent occasion, Mary was journeying to Chicago. The papers anticipated her coming by giving the exact time and station at which she was to arrive. A great crowd gathered at the station, and the little idol of the screen, shy at the thoughs of facing the idle and curious throng, ejave them the slip. That evening a Chicago paper, in characteristic yellow-press headlines, came out with an announcement headed, "Little Mary Just Can't Bear to Meet Her Worshippers." This hurt little Mary very much, and it is said she has fretted considerably over the thought that it was for any snobbish reason that she eluded that multitude. * * * * By the way, Mary Pickford is married, but her mother, a shrewd woman, who is declared to be largely responsible for Mary's success, is her manager and adviser. Presumably, hubby takes a back seat, while ma-in-law runs the show. * # # # to Wellington in the near future is Conan Doyle's "Brigadier Gerard," starring the late Lewis Waller and Madge Titheradge. This will be New Zealand's first opportunity of seeing the late Lewis Waller as he was on the stage. The next Mary Pickford film to be screened in Wellington will be "Mistress Nell," an episode of Sweet Nell. And following that will be "The Dawn of a To-morrow." * * * * Three of the biggest film concerns in the Land of the Almighty Dollar are the General Film Company, the Universal Film Company, and the Mutual Film Corporation. The General has a capital of £200,000, and it returns an average divvy of about 13 per cent. The Universal, with £700.000 capital, averages about 20 per cent. And the Mutual, with about the same capital, pays to ts investors about 10 per cent. per annum. * * * * Mabel Normand has been having a bad run. After being laid out by a brick while acting in a Keystone comedy, she returned to work only to fall out of an aeroplane, sustaining sundry sprains and bruises. * # * * George Elliott's novels are to be screened by the Thanhouser Company, featuring Mignon Anderson, the company's star actress. * * # * A patron of __ the movies wishes to know how it is that there are not more Charlie Chaplin comedies. The explanation is that Chaplin and the Essanay Company make more money

The Rev.* Father A. McDonald, chaplain of the troopship Willochra, acts as referee in a boxing tournament during the voyage to Egypt. It is not generally known that Father McDonald is chieftain of the Keppich branch of the great McDonald clan, and is a direct decendant of Robert the Second of Scotland. He was born in New Zealand, which cannot often boast a real live Scottish chieftain.

by releasing not more than one picture every 6 or 5 weeks than they would, by releasing twice as many. There are many admirers of Charlie who wouldn't mind if he appeared in a new comedy every week, but evidently Charlie is afraid that even his most ardent admirer can see too much of him. Written by David Belasco, the play-right-manager of New York, and played in the Belasco Theatre, under his management and production, and still further adapted by him and Lasky for the screen, "Rose of the Rancho," has the Belasco mark all over it —and "Belasco" in America means the best. For a long time he withstood the motion picture tide, but, when he finally gave in, _he gave the world of his best. When his own plays go on the screen he produces them himself, and spares no time, trouble, or expense. Of "Rose of the Rancho," Belasco is particularly proud, and claims it to be the most artistic production he has given either to the stage or to the screen. Set in the beautiful hills and valleys of Southern California and Northern Mexico, with every detail of the period, 1850, faithfully depicted, a romantic story and stirring dramatic incidents of the time when the ranch-jumpers were taking advantage of a lax Government, and excellent acting, the critics agree that it is one of the outstanding pictures of the year. It will be shown all next week at the King's Theatre, and should be a big success. * * * * A movies actor named Art Jarvis. of the Fox Film Company, who rode his horse over an 80ft cliff in "Carmen," was arrested and heavily fined for cruelty to animals. This was rather rough on Jarvis, for his >>orse swam out of the sea quite unhurt, while he was laid up for some weeks with a broken leg and other injuries. * * * * Petite Marguerite Clark, who played in "The Crucible," the fine feature film at the King's Theatre a couple of weeks ago, is 29 years of age and unmarried. However, as Marguerite has undoubted charm she needn't despair. * * * * Annette Kellermann's struggle in "Neptune's Daughter" was filmed through the sides of a huge glass tank, hearsals burst and hurled her through 'hearsals burst and hurled her through a jagged opening in the side, very severely lacerating her. The J. C. Williamson firm, in order to keep abreast of the times, are converting the Sydney Theatre Royal into a moving picture theatre. When in America recently Mr. Hugh Ward negotiated for a supply of Fox feature films, one of which, "Carmen," will open the Royal as a picture theatre somewhere about the end of this month. Mr. Ward states that the firm will only screen first-class films, and that the Theatre Royal will be run on the lines of the Strand Theatre, New York. Evidently, Mr. Ward had his eyes opened a bit wider by his visit to Americky, hence the decision to have a cut in the popular movies. * * * * Pathe Freres, whose topical gazettes are always eagerly looked for in Wellington, are so short-staffed owing to so many of their camera-men serving at the front in the French Army, that Charles Pathe has had some turns at the crank, while women are being employed to manipulate cameras. In some cases, women cinamatographers have been able to accomplish things which the men have failed to do—with the aid of their persuasive power&. # ■» * * Mary Pickford in "Rags" at the King's last week beat all previous records. The whole seven performances were packed to the doors. Local patrons of the movies will be relieved to hear that such a delightful, wholesome play as "Rags" should deprive "Three Weeks," the previous record-holder, of first place.