AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16327, 9 March 1915, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

FULLERS' PICTURES. Tho chief attraction of the change of programme introduced at the King's Theatre last evening was the Reliance Company's fine drama "Tho Odalisque," or " Tno Slave of 'Dress" Blanche Sweet (formerly known as Daphne Wayne) is the central figure—a beautiful shop girl who is possessed of an excessive fondness for dress—and Henry Walthour is entrusted/ •with the part of tho leading buyer of tho firm, who employs tho girl in its millinery department. Tho buyer, who is worldly and unscrupulous, soon perceives that tho girl is inordinately fond of fine olothes,and he dazzles her with expensive gifts for his own sinister ends.. The girl has a faithful though humble lover, who is a packer engaged in the same store. He is grieved to note tho attentions of the buyer, who is not discouraged by the girl. Heartbroken at her apparent disregard for him Joe seeks solace in drink. One night the girl is lured to the house of an evil acquaintance of the buyer, and Joe chances to follow hor and enters the premises. When danger threatens hor Joo rushes to tho rescue, iand «r-desperate fight ensues between him and tho girl's would-be deceiver, which ends in the latter being stunned by a_ blow on the head. Joe eventually escorts his sweetheart home, and the true qualities of her lover being recognised by the girl the happy day is soon arranged. "'The Woos of a Wealthy Widow" is a Vitagraph comedy, the story of which may be guessed from the title. • "Buster Brown and the German Band" reveals some of the misfortunes of a patriot who finds himself in uncongenial surroundings. " Santa Oatalina Island," a Keystone scenic, is a delirrhtfnl film, showing some of the beauties of that famed resort offi tho Californian coast. The audience watched tho unfolding of this 'film with much pleasure. " The Boomerang Swindle " is capitally performed by the !Lubin Company's staff. '" Brown's Cook" is a comedy of merit. The'series will bo repeated to-day, commencing at 6.30 p.m. . HAYWARD'SI PiCTURES. . 'A large audience at the Octagon Theatre last nigtit witnessed tho weekly change of programme. The list of pictures provided ample entertainment for those present, particularly the star film, "His Musical Career." This most humorous piece features Mr Charles Chaplin, a specialist in provoking mirth. He succeeded by his many humorous antics in keeping last night's audience in roars of laughter from the moment the picture was thrown upon the screen until' its conclusion. Ho appeared first of all as a piano-mover, provided with f donkey cart, and thfnce onward his experiences and adventures were the cause of unrestrained merriment. " His Musical Career" is one of the/best pictures of its kind that has been shown in Dunedin. A very stirring drama is " The Redemption of David Corson," which, as the name implies, is •of the serious type; but it was watched with unabated attention from the start to finish. It is a story of the adventures of a Quaker named David Corson. At the outset the picture shows Corson fascinated by the wife of a travelling quack doctor, who happens to come to the town in which he lives. The doctor noticing the influence his wife has over the Quaker, induces her to get him to join them and assist with the business they have in _ hand. Complications, however, soon arise, an<i Corson succeeds in getting tho woman to elope with him, having persuaded her .that her marriage with the doctor was illegal. The latter endeavours to interfere - and is knocked 'down by the Quaker. How the doctor eventually dies and the redemption of Corson as a result are dramatically told in the final scenes. These, films are supported by " Summer in the North," " Officer Kate," ancj. the War -Gazette. The programme will be repeated to-night. ' PRINCESS THEATRE. The new programme presented at the Princjess Theatro last evening' contains a very great deal of matter that is distinctly clever and most entertaining. The .personnel of the company has, since last week, undergone but & slight change, but it includes fredi faces such as the. Starr Sisters and' Phil Smith. The Starr Sisters belong to the usual school of song and dance artistes, with, perhaps, a little more' grace of movement than is generally witnessed. Their turn is not so "loud" as is sometimes seen, and is in consequence entitled to be regarded as an improvement in a direction at lea/?t. Phil Smith is certainly one of the mostentertaining comedians seen on the vaudeville stage so far as Dunedin is concerned.' He haa a light tongue and a light pair of heels, and is throughout the time, he occupies the stage alert and smart and full of humour. His patter is of a most amusing kind, and he seems to have compiled matter that is to a great extent new, or at any rate by no means stale. It does_not belong to tile "chestnut" order. He is assisted by a young ( ladj, who ably supports his efforts to be entertaining, and the pair provide the audience with a merry time. Tb«ir closing character sketch of a coster and his "donah" was exceptionally clever, and. many among the audience, no doubt, regretted that they had not made an appearance earlier in the evening, so as to permit of a recall. Wykeham and( Preston gave an amusing comedy sketch, ia which an embarrassing situation ends quite happily, and Williams and Warner proved extremely versatile in the realms of instrumental • music. Elton Fox's cartoons, which are transferred to a screen, were very well and rapidly , drawn, and-he made a big hit with his drawing of the Kaiser before and after tfi'e war—the after-the-war picture simply consisting of the portrait of the German Emperor being "rubbed out." _ Henri French provided what _ was a decidedly clever turn, impersonating a number of celebrities, principally musical composers of note, with raro fidelity. Eila Airlie's stay at the piano was considerably prolonged, her vocal numbers, to which she played her own accompaniments, meeting with special recognition. A trapeze act by Rose Lorenz concluded the programme, 'which will be repeated this evening.

QUEEN'S (THEATRE. The new pictures ! shown at the Queen's Theatre yesterday drew large crowds, both in the afternoon and evening, and approval of the entertainment was freely expressedN Memories in Men's Souls" is what may be called a psychological drama of an unusually sane and thoughtful type. Its hero, Gn>ham, is separated l from Eleanor Bramonds, the tjirl of his choice, by her scheming and artful guardian. The sepaxation is so completely effected that each gives up .hope and marries another. The tragedy reaches its climax when Eleanor, who has been left a. wealthy widow, fiucfe iicr old lover again, but finds him a married man. Probablv the most popular picture on the list is the Keystone comedy, " Those Love Pangs," in which Charles Chaplin disports himself to the intense amusement of all beholders. His encounters with tho effusive lovers whom he meets in the park cannot be sa.id to be free from the vulgarity that characterises much of his- work. There is much excellent fun in "In a Prohibition Town," where a sample case of flypapers becomes mistaken for whisky, to the utterdiscomfiture of the principal parties in tho seizure. " The Battle " is a stirring and timely A.B. drama depicting typical ,scenes in the American Civil war with a great deal of vividness and realism. Tho Topical Budget, which completes the programme, is full of war pictures of tho utmoet interest. This programme will . be shown again as usual this afternoon and evening. PLAZA PICTURES. • A drama entitled "The Fifth Man" appeared yesterday with the change of programme at the Plaza Pictures. Five students on leaving college agreed to meet in New York livti years from that date, at 9 o'clock in the evening. The day came, but only three of the party arrived on time. The fourth cabled that he was dying of a bullet wound' in a hospital in Bombay. The trio discussed their adventures till close on midnight, -when John Gaunt, the fifth man, staggered into the zoom in a ragged, unkempt condition. His story was that while wandering in Central America in search of gold he was found by a mad scientist and his negro servant. 'Hiis pair lived in a hut, close to -which tbey had a number of curios, stuffed birds and animals, and living animals in cages. The scientist announced to Gaunt that he wouldi be a valuable addition to his collection. In a barred cage Gaunt discovered a beautiful American girl, who had been shipwrecked, captured ' by the scientist, and held in bondage for two years. Gaunt was placed in a cage with a iion, with which he had a hand-to-hand battle for life, and which he succeeded in killing. For two years Gaunt was a ca.ptivo. _ He then mado his escape, taking the girl with him, but' they were followed and; taken back. After another period of detention, Gaunt found one of the posts hi his den becoming weakened by tho work of insects. Again he made his way to freedom, and 'this time managed to reach a village, whence he journeyed to New York to keep his appointment. _ He induced his three friendfe to join him in an expedition to rescue tho girl. _ This is not accomplished without some exciting, experiences, but in the end everything is going smoothly and a. happry event is looming. The plot ttos admirably presented, and some of the scenery was magnificent " W«ird Rjjfcmtu."

is a beautiful coloured panorama of tho famous thermal district, showing the gayscrs in pluy, tho boiling mud pools, tho mysterious caves, tho life and habits of tho Maoris, and bounty sn-ots of one of Nature's finest works of art. The film is 1000 ft in length. Othor views show Wiin.karowa.rewa, tho valley of the geysers, the boiling cauldron, Maoris cooking in the boiling springs, und .Mount- Ta raw era. The supporting pictures include: " Little Ho and She" (lCssanay comedy-drama) and two comcdia-. Tho programme, which is an excellent one, -will be repeated to-day.

KING- EDWARD THEATRE. The new programme shown last evening at tho King Edward Theatre has many features to commend it to tho approval of lovers of picturos. Prominent on the bill is a Keystone comedy entitled "His Musical Career." In this tho ever-popular Charles Chaplin is entrusted with the leading part, and' fully sustains his reputation as a maker of boisterous merriment. "Tlie Redemption of David' Corson" is a lengthy drama of somi-religious character, dealing with the downfall and ultimate redemption of a soul. Tho hero, David Corson, is first seen as an austoro Quaker of great purity and piety, and mufch influence as a speaker among his own people. His narrow experience of the world, however, leaves him unprepared for the sudden temptation that seizes him when he looks into the eyes of Pcpita, the magnetic Spanish beauty, who is travelling with a quack named Dr Aesculapuis. David and alio fly together, and the doctor pursues them with a passionate thirst for vengeanec. Tho doctor is foiled, and David sinks so low that even Pepita deserts him. An escape from sudden death at tho hands of tho doctor brings David to his senses, and leads, not very convincingly, to his reformation and complete restoration to the paths of virtue. ''Officer Kate " is a very amusing picture, in which tho joke is largely at the expense of the suffragette typo of woman. Officer Kate is selected for duty as' the first policewoman in the force, but the experiences that befall her presently lead her to tho wise decision to send in her. resignation and stay at home. The programme also includes a coloured scenic picture entitled "Summer in the North," and the latest Topical Gazette, with many 6tirring war scenes. These pictures will be shown again during tho usual hours to-day.

GRAND PICTURE THEATRE.

A fine feature drama headed the new programme at the Grand Picture Theatre yesterday. "February 31," or "The Naval Mystery," is a graphic and absorbing story of intrigue, trickery, and love. A young naval architect is in possession of the plans of a new and valuable submarine. . At a reception which he attends with his wife he moots a foreign princess, who pays him some attention, and with whom he becomes infatuated. . Word reaches the Intelligence Department that another Power is obtaining information respecting the much-prized and boat, but it is a mystery to the authorities how it secures its knowledge. The architect is himself confounded by the leakage of information, because on completion of sections o£ the plans he places them in a safe which cannot be tampered with. The princess invites the architect to -a reception in her palace, and notwithstanding his wife' 6 protestations, he accepts it. Again comes 'word that details of the plans havo boen divulged. The Intelligence Department, becoming suspicious. of the architect, have him arrested, and in a slit in his coat there is found a copy of portion of the plans. The evidence is strong against him, but his wife still believes his statement that he is guiltless, and leaves no stone unturned to prove his innocence. She watches the princess, whom 6he discovers manipulating a secret drawer, which can be opened onlv when the pointer oh an almanac indicates "February 31." Further watching reveals that her husband's servant, the princess's accomplice, had obtained a copy of tho Rlans by placing a carbon sheet under the drawing on which .the architect, was working. Having obtained the copy he introduced it into tho slit in his master's coat, and when the_ architect visited the princess's home it was.skilfully abstracted by her from its recess. 'As a iesijlt of these discoveries the princess is arrested, and the architect set free. The film is a capital production by the Cines Company, covering 3000 ft, and the story is one that enthrals right up to the clo3e. "The Tale of a Hat" (comedv) and "The Hero Coward" (drama) are among the othor attractions, wind tho Topical Gazette deals with interesting events at Home and at the war. The orchestra plavs choice selections to each pictorial screening. ORGAN RECITAL. Mr W. Paget Gale gave an organ recital in the 'Octagon Hall on Sunday evening before a very fair audience. It was evident that the programme was thoroughly enjoyed by the manner in which each number was received. Miss Ruth Gale was in good voice, and gave a fine rendering of a newsetting of "Abide With Me" (Ellis). ;Mr Gale played the Serbian National Anthem, "Marche Heroique" (Saint-Saons), "Chant de Bonheur" (Lamare),_ Oft'ertoire (Driffield), "The Seraph's Strain" and "Le Carillon" (Wolstenholme), overture "Alia Marcia" (Lee). During an interviji in the programme Mr Galo intimated that his next recital would consist entirely of French miusic.