THE KING'S PICTURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3016, 3 January 1912, Page 69

THE KING'S PICTURES.

The Saturday afternoon matinee at the King’s Theatre was well attended, and in the evening, when the past week’s series received its final presentation, the theatre was crowded to the doors, the spectators taking a keen interest in the screening of the fine film “ The Double Event,” while the other pictures were also greatly appreciated. A special holiday matinee attracted a big audience yesterday afternoon, and last night the building was packed in all parts before the time for commencement had arrived. A holiday audience is not inclined to he critical, but even the most critical could not have found much fault with the fine series that was screened last night. The first part consists of a number of films of a varied and interesting nature, while the second half is devoted to the screening of a pictorial representation of Fergus Hume’s well-known story “The Mystery of a Hansom Cab. ’ Th© film does not faithfully follow the sjtpry in all its details, but is is nevertheless thoroughly interesting, and is splendidly acted. The audience followed with breathless interest the various incidents, including the murder of Oliver AVhite, th© arrest of Brian Fitzgerald, his subsequent release, and his marriage to Madge Frettleby, and so on to the tragic finide resulting in the death of Mr Frettleby and of the real murderer. The acting is realistic, but not overdone, and as th© story is thrown on the screen it is outlined byMr Alfred Boothman, whose dramatic recital agreeably contributed to the pleasure of the audience. Of the first-part picture© a very interesting one depicts scones occurring in China during the course of the revolution that, is now in progress in that country Of an altogether different nature is “ A Study in Flowers.” This is a beautiful film and wonderfully natural in its effects. The adventures of Raffles, the “ Gentleman Thief ” were followed with breathless interest. Raffles, by his cleverness, succeeds in making himself quite well-to-do, but Iris methods are risky, and an individual commonly called a “ sleuth ” brings this forcibly home to him. “ Her Artistic Temperament ” is a story of a country girl who imagines—foolishly, as she afterwards find© —that the streets of a city are paved with gold. There are also a couple of highly amusing comic films The King’s Orchestra contributes materially to the pleasure of the entertainment.