THE PICTURE HOUSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15276, 26 July 1920, Page 8

THE PICTURE HOUSES.

>«- VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES AT EVERYBODY'S. The combined vaudeville and picture programme proved a great attraction on Saturday night. Everybody's was fully booked i<p for reserved seats at an early hour, while th* Opera Ilouse was well filled with thc overflow. Tlie Cracknells gaVe a revelation in what can be done with stockwhips by an expert. The wonderful feats included igniting, a niafccli, flicking a cigarette out of a lady's iiioittli, swishing the lash round her face, ;b.ody, and legs tit dlft'ftrent times, without hurting her, and whipping mi apple, from her head; while Uie "flogging" of a boy from the audience without hurting him was another extraordiuary feat that won especial admiration. A most, remarkable exhibition of sharp-shbotiiig was given by Miss Jean Cracknell. Two greyhounds proved to be wonderful jumpers, and amusement was caused by a monkey acting as a jockey for some of. the: jumps. The pictures were all very popular. A natural history study showing the catching of alligators, was, both, very .interesting aiid amusing. The latest ** Goldwyn feature, "Heartsease," showed the g»eat favorito Tom Moore in a role that suited him splendidly. It is a fine love story, set in beautiful surroundings, and has some, exciting scenes, especially in Tom's encounters with the villains. "The Flame of Life" is one of tho few pictures of" the Swedish Bio. Company seen since the war. It contains a fine romance, and is notable for the tensity of the acting. Shooting of the rapids on a log and fistic encounters were exciting features hi a most realistic, story. The programme will be repeated to-night. PALACE THEATRE. The big programme shown at the Palace Theatre on Saturday is all that tho mauagemeht claimed for it. Mary Pickford, in "How Could You, Jean?" registered one of her beSt performances, and the play is one of the sweetest and most wholesome dramas that Spittle Mary" has produced. .. William S. Hart has appeared in many splendid,, melodramas, but "The Breed of Men" is the most entertaining yet screened by him. "How Could You, Jean?" gives Mary Pickford unlimited opportunities for her talents. The plot is simple; its distinctive interest and appeal being derived from the charming manner in which.the story is told. The characters are happily drawn and all the elements .of pathos hud humor are handled with great skill. Nothing Mary Pickford has 'done prcvi.ously gives so much pleasure as her characterisation of a girl suddenly tiiinsplunted from a luxurious home of idleness? to become a cook. Jean Mackaye, as depicted by Mary Pickford, is an elfish 'little creature, who had to pretend she was a Swede in order to obtain a position as cook. Her troubles are,, accentuated when she finds the hired help on tho. farm are • real Swedes and insist .011 speaking their mother tongue. The play ripples with delightful comedy and contains much that is dramatic. Wil'liam S. Hart in "The Breed of Men" is seen in an excessively human play, which holds the audience in a tense state from .bcgiiiing to end. The plot deals wifch a land shark who endeavors to fleece the small land holders in a country where the arm of the law works with the strongest side. While endeavoring to cheat a young woman out of her property, "Careless" Carmody, played by W. S. Hart, interferes to protect, the girl, and from here springs one of the prettiest romances of the screen. The play is filled with exciting situations, and the love theme is full of appeal. The sup- ; porting programme is full- of variety, tho] Gazette showing the Sydney Agricultural ; Show being very interesting. Tlie pro-i gramme will be repeated to-night. j