THE PICTURE HOUSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14286, 1 May 1917, Page 5

THE PICTURE HOUSES.

'To-night wi'l he ■ tho filial opxiortunity of soein.p,' Ih" highly attractive progr.ijnnio at the Opera House. There was another large audience last, oveninff.- the programme giving complete, satisfaction. One of the features screened was

"Through the Wall." Tho scene from which the film takes its title is. dramatic, and its conception boldly original. By a series of cunning stratagems Ileidei fastens the crime on another of his enemies, the murder berng achieved through . a hole in the partition between t\v»< adjoining cahihofs in- a fashionable restaurant:' ■ The detective. "Coquenil'* is an off u ally good ; .charactevisation, and his ' wits proyo satisfactorily eqnar to outwitting the tlespi>i-ate -Heidelman. The submarine scone is realistic, and the sneveti'chnmhpr- with its mysterious revolvMiff panels is most convincing. "The Daughter of Macgregor;" which is a Famous players feature, is also included on the programme ,and is a tale of Scotland and America told in an excellent manner. Tlie change, to be shown tomorrow Is- another exrellerit' one, arid has for thn fentnre "Earh Pearl a Tear." Starring in tli'is play is Fanny Ward, who rvp-alod such a sensation in "The Cheat."

Owing .to the unbounded success 'ql Oha'rlie Civaplin's lat«st comedy, "The, •Pawnbroker,' 1 the management of the. World's Pictures have decided that. 'if. shall be screened again to-night. The demand for this. picture from other places '? ?o Ufen that special arrangements have had to be made rendering it necessary for the film to be despatched overland to Auckland to fulfill-' contracts. Last night's huge audience" at the World's popular, theatre testified in an emphatic manner to the fact, that "The Pawnbroker" is the finest of Chaplin ; s u'oi'ks up to date. As to-nigh,t will be the last ctiande of wltnessfng this chamoion comedy, patrons will bo. wise to iva\-l thcmFPlv'.-s of the opportunity: A plc'ndid feature drama is included in the ' current programme, 'entitled, "Mrs. 'Vine's Drtriger." This unfolds a telling drama of society life, and is produced '))■ niic of the World's leading companies. To-morifow'.s change will-' be liead<?d by 'he ' Famous- ' Players' record production.

"The Explorer," a feature film of more Hjsin ordinary Merit. This^ picture stars La iv Tell oven, the famous actov, who re•cntly wedded (•e.raldine-.-Favrar, another tar from the firmament of Famous Players' constellation.- It is evident that 'lie new management of the'Vi'orld's Pictures is •roi i»«ir fo loovc no slohe r un'urned to jtcliipv.-- <m-cos^. for most satisfactory arrangeiacnts have^ beeii' made which will enable .pntronsi to< cri.»oy ' the .^esl' of ; theV world's kiftematdgraph art.

Despite: the very, ;: disagreeable weather, there was- .a good attendance a,t the ; Palace Pictures last evening: for the initial screening of the pi'esent splendid orografame. The star picture is a Metro wonderplay. "The iiiglit of Happiness," featuring the. dainty little stage and; screen star, Viola" Dana. This Metro j rtrama. in five acts, brings forth- the little actress's best qualities;, and is described by critics as being; her best per formnnce. The vivacit3 r and appeal, the ?reat ability,' and that indefinable, thing -all«d personality . jtre alii seen to particular ad vantage.' in. this, well written nnd? ppleritlidly produced photonlay. Miss Unnh's striking versatility is also shown ■in Strong relief— the'' many shades ■ of •^motion as the in nocont 'child; tha mischievous tomboy, the outcast daughter of a drunkard} , the. 1 harassed giTl, and the 'tender lover-^arre all-, expressed, often 'n rapid succes<siori, in a most convincing •manner: .There is a fascination in watching 1 the, clever ■ method" of obtaln!ng her results, for; in snite of 'thOx gripling: interest ' of ' tlie ' story itself;. Mtss' Dane's pprsonality peWa ties the' whole. Thei author 1 and i'tli rector,' Johrr I ''H, Coli i ns.- i^- ro thomuglUy conversant with'. Miss - Dana's style- and powers ■ that Me has fashioned- a story that fits the little artist, perfectly. A Metro-Drewi comedy entitled. "System is Eyerythlng." feat^ uviiig Mr, and Mrs; Sydney Drew, is de--idpjlly clever, and' had the audience ~immerTng with! amusement" the. whole time of screening; The rest of ■ the programme is woll up to the Palace stanlard of excellencp.

At His Majesty's Theatre, • commencing in Thursrliy iiipfhi.-the, speclnl picture, "Tii'o. Divinity at' Arotterhood," will , be «lio\vn qn <he frrooii,^irirt' again., on Frl-. 'lay^ aiicl Satur(ln 1 y > wißhts:-, Aik alrenttir ortqfl'y., putlinett, tho/ story Is <that ot ; n .voinan who >: nvci pViM*rl tftp; : vortex- 6f : ilonSum to tlie-,- loy.s of maternity, and" vho found- o\it as- tlio- jvars'-'went by. that she iirt(,l' s.tcriflcprt they larger^ for •ho 'lpspcr, and that while cth€r ; mothers "oif livin<r in. o life, of happi'riess with ■'heir g-rowiiiK little ones, she was. doomed to tho bhrronncss of : a lonely'desolation. Tlip theme is delicately -trefttort, tihl the incidental, effects 'are iaid ; to 'in of a most! cha'i'mingr ' natuvp. They include a number of c-xccptipnally-, pretty "hild effects, showing tKe^g.athGTing of JHp babies frcmi. the flower beds.