THE PICTURE HOUSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14710, 16 September 1918, Page 3

THE PICTURE HOUSES.

HIS MAJESTY'S. | If the real test of the quality of n picture entertainment is the measure of appreciation shown by the audience, the programme screened at His Majesty's on) Saturday night would have been hard to' beat. There was every evidence of salisfartion and enjoyment m the frequent •applause, merry laughter, and audible expressions of delight. With one exception the whole of the pictures are highly, humorous, nnd anyone who can appreciate good comedy would enjoy the pro-! gramme. Too much praise could not be' bestowed on the star picture, which, though classed as a drama, is really a high-class comedy, Miss Marguerite Clark is seen at her best m "Bab's Matinee idol." Bab is a most unconventional girl, and while the sweetness of her disposition wins her ready forgiveness,' especially from her wealthy and indulgent father, she frequently horrifies ! mamma and her very correct sister with her thoughtlessness and follies. The whole interest m the play centres around Bab's efforts to gain the publicity necessary to success for a play m which her idol is appearing as the leading character. The play was not drawing the crowd, and' after consulting a pubUcity agent, a plan was devised by which the leading actor, Adrian Egleston, was to go to the munitions factory owned by Bab's father, ' dramatically recite a line from the play, "The world owes me a living and I am here to collect it," and be thrown out m the presence of half a dozen reporters. The reporters were to give the necessary publicity to the incident, and public interest was to be attracted to Adrian and his play, which it was expected would receive a new lease of life. Adrian arrived to time-table, but it so happened that the Hon. Page arrived about the same moment, and got the treatment intended for Adrian, while the latter, meeting one of the bosses, had his application treated as genuine, and got a little more work than he counted upon. The extracts fi*om Bab's diary, to which was confided the innermost secrets of the heart m a way that did more credit to the passionate ardor of Bab's love than to her knowledge of orthography, were most amusing. "Soft Tenderfoot," another picture, was also a high-class comedy, and caused frequent and • uproarious laughter. Mack Sennett's cartoons were also very good. The same programme will be screened to-night, when a full house is again expected. i THE PALACE. j At the Palace on Saturday night there wan? a very large audience. The famous Metro special, entitled "An American Widow," headed the magnificent programme, and proved most enjoyable. Mr. Irving Cummings, the hero of the successful picture "The Whip," plays tho leading male character, and as usual th« greatest care has - been expended on the supporting cast; Miss Barry.more depicts a rich, vivacious young woman who has everything m the world that she can think of— except a title. She decides to buy that, m the person of the Earl of Dettsminster. But a codicil to tlie will demands that her second husband shall be an American— so young - Jaspar Mallory is hired to marry and divorce her at once, enabling her to marry the Earl. However, m real life great surprises sometimes occur, and they also sometimes happen m good stories. A two-reel, comic, entitled "Her Daring Tearing Ways," with a ranch setting, featuring Merta Sterling, Lucille Hutton, and others, proved most entertaining. The love affairs of two women and two men. the latter named Chili, furnish part of the humor, which gets un a number of most laughahle incidents. The number is characteristic >• and really funny and completes a bright, attractive programme which will be repeated and found welcome amid so much that is heavy, and dramatic. Seats should be reserved at Miller's corner. EVERYBODY'S. The big audience at Everybody's on Saturday night were caught up m a wave of enthusiasm - by the Greater Vita graph masterpiece, emphasising the glory of a nation, and entitled "Motherhood" A view of the film gives one a clear understanding as to why the Germans m America tried so hard to get it suppressed. It is a strong indictment against the peace-at-any -price people who would leave a country open to the designs of predatory militarism. A nation described as Ruritania, influenced by the war lords, has made a deliberate, unprovoked attack on the United States, seizes New York, and victoriously marches on against an unprotectefl ; people. Then a patriot secures the organisation of energies, hjs sister becomes a modern Joan of Arc, rallying the forces In their thousands,- and an American girl takes up vital secret service work at the headquarters of the enemy. There are some poignant passages, such as the capture and shooting of the Joan of Arc. and the effect of the attacks from air and land, but the Aim is largely taken up with great spectacular effei ithe producers having been given special facilities for gUmpses of the navy and air fleets, and pictures of thousands of men training and actually leaving on active service are adapted with stirring oflect. Even Roosevelt is seen making a stirring speech. The invaders are finally driven out, and "firebugs" are sent against the enemy's navy, which Is licked up by fire m a sea of flames. It is a grand patriotic production from the. American standpoint, and sets forth m a convincing manner the love of womankind for her country and those dear to her. It contains a double loVe story, ' with two heroines, and concludes with some magnificent tableaux. The artists comprise a galaxy of stars, with Alice Joyce and Harry Morcy m the lead. The big picture is supported by a fine Pathe Gazette, the views m which include that of the eruption at Waimangu. The programme will be repeated to-night and to-morrow night.