THE PICTURE HOUSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14124, 16 October 1916, Page 5

THE PICTURE HOUSES.

The crowded *" houses always associated with the. screening of Metro films at tne Palace Theatre prove 'that these _n_*-pr<>-ductlons have -firmly established themselves m popular favor. : The screening df the latest production from these famous studios, "Her Great Price," has been awaited with interest, reports from other places stating that the portrayal of the role of "Agnes Lambert,' , a waif of "New York, by> Mabel Taliajerro is an extraordinarily splendid piece of acting. Corn 1 ing with /a -great reputation as 'ope 'hi the leading stage characters of A-merlfea, :this great actress has, 1 justified all -that has bee_ said '• of her, and patrons tonight are/proihi§ed orie of 'the mos^vxvjd .presentations that they have ever experienced: The fascinating manner *_n wh^ch she plays herdiificuit -role creates popular favor, and throughout the whole length of the pictu*re she keeps the audience agape with :' wonder as to what' Is i coming 'next. i'Her Great Price," as jtold by the picture, Is a splendid story, beautifully mounted, and produced ras only the great Metro company can -produce. The pictures supporting this grejtt feature are a splendid selection, chief among which Is a screaming burlesque by those famous comedians, Ham and Bud, entitled "Taking a Chance." A good demand has set m for seats at the London Music Shop, intending patrons wisely availing themselves of the facilities *l or securing the best seats.

There was a huge audience at tbe Opera House on Saturday evening. Every available seat was occupied, while many, rather than miss seeing the great programme, were content to stand. Every picture screened met with a splendid reception, and "Charity Ann," the star, was heartily applauded. Charity Ann and her father are beggar musicians on the Embankment. The latter plays an old violin while the girl collects the pennies. An artist takes the girl with her father to his rooms. They pay many visits to the studio until one day the artist is nearly strangled by the old man for his treatment of the girl. The father dies, and m the course of time she becomes a famous musician. She works out a peculiar revenge on the man who had wronged her. The picture has been produced m actual London surroundings. The acting of Elizabeth Risden, who made such a success as "Glory" m "The 1 GixtlStian," goes far towards making this London film the equal to the highest standard that this company has produced. "Submarine Warfare" is one of the most interesting one could imagine, while the Gaumont Graphic keeps one interesting with recent happenings from abroad. A star Triangle comedy,. "The "Janitor's Wife's Temptation "is a scream of laughter, and completes this wonderful series, which will be repeated this evening. -■-■'--.'• '-.'■

A great surprise was sprung upon i>he large audience at His -Majesty's' Theatre on Saturday evening by .the unherfrldedl Insertion m the programme of ' Nd.vl'bt "The Sis Hopkins" * comedies. Miss Hose Melville. the originator of the ch_ratter of "Sis." was the rage of tbe American stage, and her advent into pi_tures;;ls expected .to prove a serious menace .to the popular Charlie Chaplin's claims to be premier funmaker of the world. Miss Melville is naturally a very pretty girl, but m her character of "Sis * HopkiUs," which she portrays In all _e_ comedies. she plays a quaint mistlc girl whose appearance alone is sufficient to cause roaTS of laughter, even beforesshe starts to do any of the business. The comedy m which this talented little lady was shown on ' Saturday is entitled "The Stenographer's Strategy," and "Sis" is persuaded to leave her country life to become* a stenographer m "Mr. York'Sltftf" as she terms it. The fun she extracted frepn the merest trifles during the ,peripd she held the screen had the large crowd convulsed with laughter, and the tremendous applause tendered at. the conclusion of the comedy amounted-^o practically a demand for an encore. "The " Puppet Crown" is one of those delightful romantic' stories of "The Prisoner of Zenda" type, and served to introduce Miss Ina dlaire as "Princess Alexia." a role that shows off her undoubted genius and gives her golden opportunities, of which she avails herself fully, and as the daughter of the impecunious monarch she is excellent m every way. Mr. Catfyle Black well, who plays Bob Carew, gave a splendid performance, and with Miss Claire the romantic story, delightful scenes, and regal setting gives a photoplay that' would be hard to equal. This fine Paramount programme appears "again this i evening. • ,'v"

' The tragedy of time and the triumph of youth are exemplified m the Vitagraph dramatics picture play "Youth." which is one of two special features showing at the World's Pictures this eyening. An artist's wife, after fitting for all his triumphs' and inspiring him to great things m the paths of art, finds herself too old to pose for his crowning success, and sees her place taken by a young fair-haired-siren whom she finds is stealing her husband's affection. It is a tragic yet powerfully entertaining picture, and m the end a chastened and enlightened man learns to distinguish the dross from the gold. The second feature on the programme is tbe hibhly humorous Triangle comedy, "Bright Lights," m which "Fatty Arbuckle*' and Mabel Normand enact a laughable story of the lure of New York's lights, and how a commercial -tra-. veller with a large check suit and a small cheque book persuaded Mabel "to elope to the city, and leave her rustic swain. ' "The Bright Lights''- can- be- described as two reels of incessant laughter, and those clever comedians, Mabel Normand and "Fatty" , Arbuckle, keep the bail rolling merrily right to the finish. There is a wonderful cafe, scene, where the most ludicrous pranks are played, and there is scene after scene of the most side-splitting incidents before the remarkable denouement is reached, and the subject terminates m the usual Keystone manner.