THE PICTURE HOUSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14363, 31 July 1917, Page 7

THE PICTURE HOUSES.

THE OPEE.A HOUSE.

Another large audience attended the Opera House last evening. The programme screened was one of rare excellence, each , picture being, highly interesting and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. Mary Pickford was frequently applauded for her fine and splendid acting m '"Hulda of Holland." This is one of her best pictures to hate,' and is splendidly produced by the Famous Players Co. The story of "Hulda from Holland" does not need much describing. It is so simply and intelligently shown on the screen. Little Hulda has been left m charge of a home and three, little chil-

dren by her old uncle Peter, who has gone to America to make his fortune. The fortune made|, Hulda and the children take the journey from Holland tb New York, where they are met, by Uncle Petcrf who, leaving them to see about a train, is- knocked down-' and taken to hospital unconscious. Hulda and the chil-

drcn wait all night, on the quay, and m the morning are befriended by a kindly landlady, who takes them into her,

house and gives them a home. A young artist who has quarrelled with his father, a. railway king, lives m the house m poverty. Hulda has a sensational fall through the roof into his room,, which commences a real love idyll. Hulda sits

t-vhim for her portrait, which sells as a'frontispiece for a magazine, by which means Uncle Peter traces Hulda and a happy reunion .takes place.' The dramatic element. Is introduced by the desire of the, father of the artist for Uncle Peter's farm, for the development of a

big railway enterprise. After . many exciting incidents," matters' are arranged by the young artist, for a large sum ot money, and his marriage!, to Hulda foi-. lows m due course. This programme will be finally screened to»nigHt. there being a complete, change a to-morrow. THE WORLD'S. "The Adventurer," tho drama which will he screened at the World's Plctiiies finally this 1 , evening,, is a .creation of cleverly defined plot, superb settings: and produced m the Art Company's best style. It is a dramatisation of the famous novel hy Upton Sinclair. Marion Swayne plays the lead, and as., the, -story opens is- trying 'to make a'.Jiyipg honestly. Pell Trenton has the opposite leal One is lead to' believe he ois a ' crook, and suspects that he is ; the* son of the millionaire, but he turns out to be a crook, so persistently that one is Jn doubt un*il the reasons are uncovered, and then one

understands. Around .these .two' )iryon'leP there are the usual "characters," most

of them wicked, enough,'.. but '.-all played with the peculiarities of humanity that are pleasing. Everything that could be done by mature Judgment 'and *i desire to make .'the' production a ribtable one has been done for "The. Adventurer." •'Sporting' Blood," a six-reel Fox production, is announced for to-morrow. • THE PALACE. Harold Lockwood and May Allison are becoming the most- popular couple on the screen to-day; ; their work is^ characterised, by cleanness, apd7Strength; . the pictures are fine, breezy "stories," and .their productions, aro "most artistic. The photography is always beautiful, and cleverly selected, nature being used -to supplement art as no- other films have succeeded -in doing._ Ttn> bright couple's latest success is Harold McGra'th's great novel, '•Pidgin' Island." Pidgin Island is a small rugged island; on .Lake- Ontario, forming a . half-way .mark between . Canada and the United States'. A- great

.attic of wits between the Customs De-

nartmont and a' ■ coterie .of smugglers rorms the base of this excellent . story, but interwoven throughout tne ' "exciting adventures is' a charming romance. Love,

mystery,. and adventure constitute a really strong picture, these elements having been set amidst some of the most heautilul scenery of the Canadian lakes, a special feature heing the magnificent surf scenes during one' of the great storms that sweep oyer these inland seas. The densely populated districts of a great city's Chinatown, aeroplane' flights, and many liair-breadth escapes are- portrayed witli thrilling realism. The film can only be screened for to-night^nd to-mor-row night, giving place on' Thursday to the great war drama, "Qn Dangerous Ground."