THE PICTURE HOUSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14880, 7 April 1919, Page 5

THE PICTURE HOUSES.

THE PALACE. At the Palace, a popular feature is "Breakers Ahead," a wholesome 'play! featuring Viola Dana. A girl's .mother dtes, arid she goes to live with her mother's friend. She falls m love with the friend, but a rival starts a rumor ( that causes the girl to be shunned. In the meantime, her lover, and an old friend, have gone ' to sea. The latter, yielding to temptation, is about to al-' low the boat to be run on the rocks, v when the lover saves it. Retui 4 ning to port, the owner's son, who has also tried to win the girl/ sets fire to the ship. She, believing that her lover is aboard, goes to his rescue m a small boat, and Is overcome by the flames. She -is rescued by her lover. It then transpires that the captain of the vessel is her. .father,' who was separated from her mother due tr a misunderstanding, and everything ends satisfactorily. The programme includes an excellent Drew" comedy, ''Safety First," one of the best . these *fiamous humorists have produced, and a New" Zealand film, "Picturesque Christchurch"' which is very interesting. The Charles Chaplin picture "The Adventurer." also, causes great fun; The' programme willbe repeated to-night: EVERYBODY'S.

Th© fine new programme at Everybody's on Saturday night was headed by a war drama, "The Belgian." This is a story "of Belgium and France: m the early days of the* war; when both . coUn-: tries were afflicted to a large extent by the spy pest. A Belgian flsher lad v who had shown much promise -as an artist is taken , to "Paris by an artist! of note. So well does this 1 boy progress that m a comparatively short- time he achieves some vfame ! as a' sctilpto-r.^ InParis he sees much of a wealth> and handsome Countess; a German spy, am almost entirely forgets the existence of tho sweetheart of his less prosperous days who is pining for his return. In. the midst bf his triumph the war breaks out and- be hurries back to take a handih: reiiellfng the invader, and is badly wounded. In the meantime, m the village,' strange • scenes' are being enacted, giving an excellent insight into the methods employed by the German spy system. The wounded artist, through the influence of his friends, is. taken back to Paris,' where an effort is made to save his eyesight and shortly after his -recovery he learns of the perfidy of the countess and also bf the fidelity of- Ills' village sweetheart. The ending is worked out amid the stress of battle. The, picture is exciting from beginning to end and had a most favourable reception. In addition, there is a Gazette, ? great test of the Crossley cars, and, Charlie Chaplin creates great fun m "The Adventurer." \ ' ..* A notable feature to-morrow night wiD; be the first appearance m Gisborne of Leonard Nelson, one of the best'comedian's m Australasia. Songs innumerable have been written specially .- for ; him. ; The announcement of liis appearance inj the centres has always drawn crowded houses;, and a similar effect is anticipated m Gisborne.. .He has, a very ex-" tensive repertoire . of the latest comic; songs and recitations, and' will present- j two "entirely different programmes on' the two nl_hts he will appear here. The 1 management advise patrons to book early. ' -

,'.' , HIS MAJESTY'S. [ There was the usual crowded . house at : His Majesty's on Saturday night. The new programme comprises two star dramas, a comedy and a topical film. ' "The Painted' Madonna," apart froni its . excellence as a picture, was notable for the first appearance m Gisborne of the new William Fox screen star, Srinia ; Markova. Miss Markova had ample op- ' portunities to display her ability m some of the most tense: 'dramatic situation!** and , her work stamped her *as ah- artist m every, sense of the word. The play deals 'with a country girl betrayed ahd : . forsaken who. In desperation flies to the city, where she embarks on a theatrical, . career, She sinks her sorrow In the" . wildest" .dissipation, * and soon acquires. : 'unenviable notoriety. The end comes m . a dramatic manner, and the rubied girl' , at la st finds "that • happinness she had' been * seeking * so*-- long; 'The picture is , one of the- best ever ; shown at His; ' "Majesty's, and patrons will eagerly awaitf,the second play m wjiich Sonia ; MarkoVa \ appears. The, photography is good, • th'e; scenes I n the chorus girls' dressing room ;. being most realistic. Ths ise'eond star picture was a Jesse Lasky adaptation,' with ' Marshal-, Neijan.in the lead, : of Edga'i' Selw*Jrn's remarkable play ' "The' . Country Boy," a comedy, drama that -has ; : 'drawn crowded- houses nightly 1n Ne,w York, for a-~_engthy season. The Sun*shine comedy, "Shadow of Her' Past," caused roars pf la,ughte-V and an Ameri*- . can Gazette, depicting, interesting events.,, was watched with -keen interest. The • same pictures will 'be shown at 7.45 this* evening. . . ...--...,, . . ''* *' The numbered seat competition at the . niatince on Saturday was won by Rex : Black, Collins 'Street, Te Hapara, \vtio ;. received a watch of the value of 15/-1 '