THE PICTURE HOUSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14713, 19 September 1918, Page 3

THE PICTURE HOUSES

' HIS, MAJESTY'S. The new programme sliown at His Majesty's last evening Included two big photoplays. One of these was "The Vixen,'" m which Theda Bara fills the title role. This actress is very popular with a large section of picture-goers, and for Die characterisation of certain types she stands alone m her profession ."The Vixen" is a somewhat remarkable conreption, and the main purpose is to show the harm that can be done by a woman who is incapable of appreciating or understanding the meaning of love, and gives herself up to a series of flirtations Which mean m every case a great deal of suffering for others and sometimes ruin. "The Vixen" belongs to a good family. Her sit,ter is a charming girl with many real lovers. Her brother is a waster, and her father a choleric old fell'iw who soes very little of what h going- ' rm m the home. A professional nmii. is m love with the "vixen's" sistor, but by deception the- vixen manages to divert his to herself. ThiF man is ruined by the theft of a large sum of money by the "vixen's" brother, and is then told by the girl he thought so angelic that she. cannot ( marry a nauper. Another lover comes to the sister, but again the "vixen" steps m pre cisely at the right .moment to spoil her rhancrs of success. This goes on right through the play, which becomes mo-fas-xinftinpr at every, step. "Sins of Her Parents" is also an unusual production A yonng and beautiful woman marries and has a child. Owing to .certain circumstances and a wrong she suffers she lojivo- her daughter, and, apparently, losing all faith m mankind, drifts int fli" worst society. There are moments when the. mother's instincts g,et the bet? ter of her, and when she longs for her daughter. The mind- of the daughter nlso frequently dwells upon her mother, who, as far as her recollection, goes, •=h«» has never seen. Richard Carver falls m love with the girl, (Adrian) and goes m quest of the mother, who is traced through an. artist for whom she/ nnon Mp«ed. lie finds her m the mris' degrading surroundings In Alaska. There ay snmiv realistic scenes of life m Alaska, where the, play becomes most interesting. The same programme will be screened to-night. THE PAT.ACjP ' The Palace was well patronised last night, when June Elvidge, in' "TheTenth Case," was the attraction. Mis? TSlvldgc as Claudia has great opportunities as the wrongfully accused wife Her husband is very much m love with nor. and when their son is born his hap- 1 niness knows no bounds. An unFcrripnlonsly mean nephew who is m pecuhiary difncultios appeals', to the wife for funds, but as his renuests become too .numerous; she refuses, thereby making an enemy One night, when Claudia's husband i' ou', the villainous nephew secretes Wm«,Mf m her room, and only -makes him self conspicuous when the husband arrives on the scene. Her husband im 'in^iatciv sets about divorce proceedings. The wife seeks the advice of a fovmpr admirer of hors, who 'is a solid tor. and troes with her child ; to an aunt's house. The Judge m the. case says tha f m. nine rasns out of ton* uircuan c tantial evidence is true, and this case "was one of the nine. Her solicitor friend ar>oi> es ? a plan so that the judge finds himself m similar circumstances lo tV oase he had Judged, thereby causing hvy ♦o .ninno" 1 ihr> verdict. Tho fifth rn's.o<i> of "The Double Cross," a hilarious comn''v entitled "Her T T ncle Dudley." and an up-to-date Topical complete the bill, which will be screened asrain to-nieht.

EVERYBODY'S

A programme that should serve as a very enjoyable wind-up for the holidaymakers to-day is being shown at Everybody's.- The dainty Margery Wilson is appearing m "Mountain Dew," In association with the popular J. Hamilton Vanre. Tt is a sparkling photo-play, full ■if fun. and bristling 'with adventure? nmonor "moonshiners" {smugglers). Mar(Tcy Wilson appears as a girl of thf lmsh-rlad ninuntains, the daughter of, a man who believes "larnin' ain't no good to a woman," and she holds similar views until the advent of the hero vtinuilatps her ambition to ohtafn the advantages of education. The hnro is a novelist seeking local color for his "livewiw" productions, and ho gets plenty oi thrills Accidentally meeting the fair Mai-eery he dpcic»es to tarry among the sylvan scenery and the men with the aruns. He gets tho position of schoolmaster, and as his predecessor knows more about, a gun than teaching the new master is promptly embroiled m a I'i'eat fight, from which he emerges victorious. Other startling- incidents crowtf into his life, and he falls deeply m lnvr Hie girl. A nieger servant, contributes greatly to the fun. Finally the hero's fate, as a supposed revp.nue ofTiro-r. 's decreed, but he comes out triumphant m the end, with the heroine as his bride. The current episode of "The Great Sorrel" proved very interesting, as did a Oaumont Graphic. The latter includes a view of the King riding m state to open' Parliament, and of .the "world's sweetheart," Mary Pickford, lending the U.S. marines m a recruiting march.