ENTERTAINMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17538, 2 August 1920, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS.

■. _i. ■■■■.■— —: — «-:,. ,. v , - ~ .j.. I THE PICTURE THEATRES. -_ - ,: 'iThero'; is. plenty to. interest arid amis* •'" Auckland picture-theatre patrons in th*-vari-ous programmes showing 'this, week, although there is nothing of outstanding interest or nni<xuo merit. Films'^ o '/the latter order are rare and infrequent prizes of the picun» world, and . onoimay/well be thankful nowadays if the fare offered is sufficiently clean;- palatable, - and . l wholesome, without vain expectation of "ten-million-dollar-cost-ol-produciion" masterpieces for every-day consumption. To the picture-goer who is seeking« something attractive—whether dramatic or sentimental, instructive or amusing ~lhera is always some difficulty of selection. One may misjudce the programme and find ifcnot to his or her taste. Those who favour tile dramatic have probably an easier choice , than usual this week, for in a drama from the peri of so great & man as Clemenceau one would expect the delivery of a message clearer, stronger, and' more vital than any' which could bo uttered by a man of lesser personal forco and courage. '•'lne Strongest," a film adaptation of "Lea Plusforts," written by Clcmcnceau in 1805. which is boins; screened at the National '.theatre,, contains all the elements which so to me maae-up ot a strong and appealing story. The theme upon which' the plot is bum is based upon the words of one of the principal ' characters — " the prizes of this world go to the strongest, and the strongest man. is the man -with the most money and pjftwer. "'. In. following out this theory, Georges « Harle, a French manufacturer, appears as the incarnation of a brutal, soulless materialism that counts as dross all the finer things of the spirit: ho sacrifices ail to his lust tor power, nrat his wife, who dies of a broken heart, then his daughter•But the latter is the true child of hei mother, and she combats her father's theor.es, believing that lovo is stronger than all else. Her dearest friend gives his life in trying to save her from evil, when her father himself hang Lack from danger, and with her lover. she seeks to return to her home, only to find its gates forever barred against her. So she. and the man who has taught her that Jove 13 the strongest force in life, leave Eraate for the haven of a new country. Skiltuiiy interwoven into the thread 61 the play iC the recurring suggestion that" the man who is " strongest " on the- grossly material side is apt to be thd weakest on the human side, for Georges Harle is utterly slaveariven by, his own lust for power, and falls already .victim to two adventurers, who play on his ambition and egotism. The picture is*' a good one, well worth seeing, and free from the rampant sensationalism which accompanies so many film-dramas of the day. Of a, different character altogether, and a good tonio for any who are taking life too seriously, is the principal picture showing at the Princess, "It Pays to Advertise." It 13 a rollicking " up-to-the-minute" American comedy, without, one is thankful to note, any of, the crude horseplay or suggestion of vulgarity, which are apt to be characteristic of* American comedies. In parts it is genuinely funny, one of the best scenes being that in which the fastidious iscn of tho millionaire . soapmaker, destined to succeed his father in the management of the business, 33 < taken his first round of th© odoriferous boiling-down works, and through the tannery, ran is a " side-line." He doesn't like it-; at all. and does his father not only the ill-turn of abruptly fleeing from th© obnoxious factory, but takes with him the old man's private secretary, a double blow which the lattei- finds it hard to forgive. However, the son has brains, and once they ax& diverted by the pretty secretary from dreams involving ■" all other pretty girla, he embarks on a business venture which eventually carries him safely home to success and paternal forgiveness. In the same programme is also included an exceedingly fine scenic film, "♦•"Winter Sports in the Engadine," which shows some snow scenes of great beauty; also an exhibition, of fancy skating which is nothing less than marvellous. "Sadie- Love-." a comedy-drama in which Billie Burke plays the principal part, takes l-a-adity: place at the- Tivoli. The . acting "• , throughout is esoeilent, " and the humour, although rather severely strsinsd towards the end, sufficiently good. The theme, however, which is based upon a young woman's sudden tiring of matrircfi-ny ten minutes after the . cejemeny has V»'«n performed, is weak, involving . til--- T-ieatian- of divorce for three couT-I-e-s vvha no other grounds than that . .■s&& ail thins: would be heppier wrfh Fcrcocne else. But.one,can stand a. good deal of absurdity which is >jnacted with the vivacity and charm with which Bflli© Burke invests the part of the irresponsible Sadie, and the pii-Vsur© will no doubt-be popular. ' Sentiment, a., littlo" Cr v weak, but nicely Savoured, issV-e 1 lea-dins characteristic of '*The "fee.niat-of a aeries of Sela'-ick films shown -• at" t!»; Qnaen's. It If s 'the story of girl sineer and a young artfsfc deeply in love with one. another, who, v through the interference of a woman patron of. art. and particularly of young artists, decide that the attainment of a career means more to them than their love. They forswear the latter and accomplish +he former, only to' find it did not matter «o much ■ after all. The? find they still love cue another, and raana-s** to resume "the" broken melody" bek«>.-. any discordant fint le • has been ■oitf-cSt -1. DBAHATTC BECITAI*. Arf'JSjoyaSle dramatic 'and b«n>orous costume '-ecitAl was givcu by Mr*.. Arthur Griffiths &v& her nunils at tho Town Hall concert chamber on Saturday, evening before & v«y '<a;-ge and appreciative aud'ence. A quaint ili?sorical play. " I4gatheart and ' th« Boy," us 's-hich sixteen wel'-trHined pupils toot': •sjari. was very well' presented.,- The pms.tu s_-ene from "Sohoo} for Scandai" was aivfX by M.r. -.ad. Mrs. Griffiths- in a mannw %.-; '.S mariid both as high /•complied a&-:- r jlturct). artists. Mrs. Griffiths .was also effusive in « recital of Brownins'-d;: "Pied An Etstern dance: was gracefully • performed by Miss s 'Porothy, GrJfßfctes. who also save a bright little story reCfWl. Miss May Fxrrir was convincing in the potion -cer.e iroij "Bomecj and Juliet." Mr. Arthur Griffith?! and Master Ler, GriSHvr were very popular in a hnmoi.x>vs -;.t:< ! .o. a*. 'Thrive Ivesisters." while i!. isit-ir's ic wmjiaiasa ~ of "Tbe Miner's •«•-*' «■ ch*rvA*« siatish from th«> Freurh. vwi _ Horn. .fe.'.B BarliiLsr srave i- sor-" talqsvTOis-.isen c; I*~-%• felltiw'p "la&2 c* ihvi ««w." Aft (LEMiaiy? rf.etch. "Two Bootrm to I*i." »?>.«i * siris' p!j*v -ri'!?re : -nrrits;;-,- \s&ti b'.' advanced eTP:-!*,!!.. ►>•» f.fcrf GriSit'bJ ia'as'!.' - presented A -~-.t: c."3Jr r»V«-!Ct:. -'Societs- i'-aapsfaots." Miss Ciasio Tiifi.-.10 st>r' Muster Leo Griffiths followed with a ; ct;2iedy -sketch. "A Slight Mistpr, ierstaHdi^e 1 .". An assisting artist was Ms. Hubert Carter, tenor, who cans "Nirv&aa" and. tie "Flower Son*" from "Car-i:ie-n." hvis, bains encored. The accompani-sfte-n's -wciTft-*bbr played by Mr. James 4 Batten. EVAIsS-GANGE SEASON. Th« box-plan for the forthcoming Amy Evsisj! i raser . Gauge season opens at Wildriaij wad Assy's to-day. These two oversea &rlist# arc du» /to-Arrive from Sydney by the S.fivheno. They' are said, to have had a phenomenally successful season, of twenty concerts ji Australia and will commence a season in th© Town Hall on Saturday next. The St. Andrew's Society has arranged to tender 'he" visitors a reception on their arrival. < - •