PATHE PICTURES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13395, 1 June 1914, Page 9

PATHE PICTURES.

What proved to be one of the most popular programmes shown for a long time was that put on at His Majesty's J"hpatr« on ; Saturday night, and wit-nes.-:?d by a full 'house. The chief drama was a most interesting detective story "One Hour Before Dawn," surrounding the death of an eminent scientist who had a few hours prior to his death absolutely refused to consent to his son marrying a pretty actress. The old man is a great enthusiast m his laboratory, and his death, by a bullet wound seems to leave little doubt is to the guilt of his disappointed son. In insight i s given into the terrible ordeal of the third degree method adopted by American police officers. The young man manages to stand it, but 'his fiancee ' confesses her guilt. This is conclusive evidence to all but. a clever lady detective and her crippled father. The latter suggests some ideas to the lady, S^ho is convinced that tho actress is only seeking to shield her lover, and finally, after a most interesting investigation of the baffling eircumWances, the lady detective succeeds hi /solving the mystery, the bullet having J been dischaa'ged by "infra-rays," and | the old man having got down the stairs he fell ' prostrate. The story is ja refreshing variation on the usual" deI teotive tale, and the unravelling of [the mystery is keenly folJoM-ed by the "Tho Little Hero" is a fasi;cinating production of the circumstan[joes .appertaining to the well-known ',song of the sea, m which the martinet of ;i mate is overcome by honesty of the little stowaway who was prepared Ito .meet ' death rather than tell ;i lie, and the little fellow becomes the. idol of the ship. Each verse is ' thrown on the screen, the ,«tory being worked out m pictorial , detail, so that all can follow the depiction with ease. A charming scenic subject is that of St. Cloud m which the ancient and beautiful gardens are viewed with great admira,tion by old and young. It is a film of this kind that forms the chief attraction of many picture-goers, enabling them to see objects of 'great beauty that they .could not otherwise hope to view m their lifetime if they had to depend on the chance of being able to travel to such 'historic spots. The Gaumont Graphic provides an ■excellent budget of topical events,* including some fine hunting and steeplechase pictures,. The comedy is embodied m one film, b uit of «i. Jkind to take the house by" storm. Tt is a screaming burlesque,' "Zuxu, the Bandmaster," and brings out sonic very clever acting. To see Zuzu's gymnastic method of conducting, the band is something to long remember m itself,, but taken with the serio-comic surroundings Hhc capable group of fun-makers have- produced something quite above the ordinary m the way of cw.itin.jj uvjrriment. The 'nnrjtmnnip will be" repeated to-night ■ nil to-morrow night.