AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16288, 22 January 1915, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

FULLERS' PICTURES. The items comprising tho current picture programme at tho King's Theatre provide an excellent entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyed by a very large number of people during tho afternoon and evening sessions yesterday. The same films will bo screened this afternoon and evening. HAYWARD'S PICTURES. "The Ring and the Man," the chief picture at. the Octagon Theatre, which occupies the whole of the first part of the evening, may. without contradiction, be said to :io x one of the finest dramas screened there for some time. Tho acting and the photography are perfect. An excellent scries of supporting films, including some good war pictures, are also shown. QUEEN'S THEATRE. "Out of tho Depths," a two-part drama, is the principal feature of tho new programme which was shown for the first time at the Queen's Theatre yesterday. John ..Harvey is employed as cashier in tho National Bank of California, and ie in love with Vera Rogers, the daughter of the president of the bank. Mr Rogers sees John gambling, and at first insists upon hie daughter giving up any idea of marrying tho cashier, but upon John giving his solemn promise to give up gambying, he restores him to favour. Then there is the mysterious disappearance of 1000 dollars, and circumstantial evidence points to John's guilt. John is horror-stricken, and eannot prove his innocsnce, so ho enlists in the navy. Thero follows a sequence of events, exciting, interesting, and novel, which result in the unveiling of tho mystery, the vindication of John, and tho reunion of the sweethearts. "Where Mountains Meet " is another excellent dramL Jerry Kane, a kind-hearted cowboy, inherits a thousand dollars, and applies most of it to assisting Maizie /Wallace, who has a sick father on her hands. She is robbed of the money, and the robbers hide in the attic of the cabin which is to be tho Wallaces' home. Washing to be on the safe side, Kane gives the girl a gun, and lingers himself on guard near the house. That night the outlaws attack Maizie and her father. In the confusion that ensues she wounds Kane. He, however, givo6 fight, and the arrival of the sheriff's posse decides the fate of the criminals. The monev is found, and' Maizie and Kane agree to sharo it. The war pictures are an exceedingly interesting series, and include pictures of the battles around Dixmude and at Nieuport and the Yser Canal The Australian Gazette gives fine illustrations of topical events, apart from the war, and a laughable Keystone comedy is "All at Sea." The subsidiary pictures are excellent. The programme will bo repeated to-day. PLAZA PICTURES. First in the mind of all the world at the present time are events associated with the great war in Europe, and tho outrages that took place in connection with the occupation of the famous city of Rlieims will never be forgotten. Chief amongst tho new series of films that was screened yesterday at tho Plaza Theatre was a vivid picture dealing with this subject, and throwing into strong relief the brutality that is alleged to have accompanied the German advance upon Rheims. If tho report of what actually occurred contain any measure of truth, patrons will at once bo satisfied that they do not frr on the side of exaggeration. The staging of the story, which is entitled "The Bells of Rheims" has been well carried out, and every semblance of naturalism has 'been given to a tale that does not possess any special continuity of plot, but which is made up of a series of events welded together in interesting fashion. The principal character in the plot is a Uhlan N officer whoso conduct is marked by some of tljat gross brutality that is alleged to characterise these modern Huns, but who meets his deserts at tho hands of some British soldiers, who arrive at an opportune moment. Tho supporting films are all of a high standard of merit, and many of them elicited warm applause. "Pals" and "Now Roads Masoot" are two dramas containing many interesting situations, while "Germ of the Kiss" is a comedy of irresist'ble humour. A scenic film entitled "Umbrian Scenes" is included in the series, and tends to lend further variety to an excellent series.

' KING EDWARD THEATRE. A stroy of love and jealousy, with a sensational motor drivo to death as a climax, is the leading feature in the new programme at the King Edward Theatre. Through the influence of Geoffrey BrookCj an African explorer, a struggling young artist., Rodney Miller, qu.ckly achieves wealth and fame. The artist then turns all his energies to a supreme effort, and for the painting of his picture "Circe" secures as a model a beautiful girl named Cleo. He falls deeply in love with his model, but cools oft' when he meets Eva Warren, the daughter of one of his patrons, to whom he becomes engaged. 'Clco threatens that on the day Miller is married she will commit suicide, and complications ensue when the returned explorer, Brooke, asks the famous artist to dinner. Imagine the artist's surprise when on being introduced to his hostess he d'scovers silo is no other than* his model for his famous picture "Circe," and the perturbed feelings of both lady and 'artist are not relieved when Brooke, quite innocently, intimates that he intends to view the famous painting next day. Miller, however, saves the situation by calling in at the salon and surreptitiously changing the expression of the face. Events move on, and Clco decides the day before the wedding to take a terrible revenge on her one-time lover. She calls at Eva Warren's house, persuades Her to go for a motor drive, and sets off' at a terrific pace for some high cliffs. Eva throws herself from the car and is saved, but the insanely jealous rival is hurled to death. The play is finely acted, and the climax is most realistically arranged. "A Matter of Minutes" is a dramatic pic- j ture with several stirring situations. It tells how a dishonest brother tries to fix a murder on the man who is in love with his sister; how the sister enables her lover to escape from the police; how she sets out to meet him and eludes the detectives who are dogging her footsteps, and how finally both reach a haven of safety. An aeroplane race against a . railway train is one of the features of this picture. "On Circus Day" is a most laughable comic film, and there is a number of excellent supporting items.