THE PICTURE HOUSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16321, 3 January 1924, Page 5

THE PICTURE HOUSES.

THE PALACE. • A large • and enthusiastic audience showed its appreciation of the splendid entertainment at the Palace Theatre last night, when the popular Thomas Meighan played the star role in Rex Beach’s fascinating and thrilling - adventure romance, “The Ne’er Do Well.” Another delight-, fill picture on the bill is “Tlie Leopar-' dess,” in which Alice Brady is at the bead of a- fine cast. The supporting programme is rich in entertainment. Charles Murray and an excellent cast oT comedians give hilarious performances in “Faint Hearts.’’ which provokes the heartiest laughter for two rushing acts. “The “Ne’er Do Well” mixes thrills with laughter, and romance with adventure in n happy manner. The tale concerns mostly Kirk Anthony, whose father is enormously rich, but. who is also angry at the many foolish escapades of his son; he therefore decides to have him kidnapped,' sent to the Panama Canal, then in forma- 1 tion, and make him work for his living till lie found the value of money. Fortu-, nntely the young man found employment-; j hut he also fell in love with a pretty ; Spanish girl. Following this comes tho, determination to work till lie was a suc-j cessfiil and rich man, in spite of his father’s decision not to assist- him. There; are many complications in the story, I which all work out for a happy ending. ! “The Leopardess” is a fascinating story in which the thrills and the love interest are nicely blended). EVERYBODY’S. “Mighty Lak a Rose.” / is the chief subject- on the new programme at Everybody’s Theatre. The theme deals with the power of music, described, ns tlie mighty power that has through all age-s----swayed the destiny of man. It is a most impressive ' story of n blind girl who is a wonderful violinist whose great gift is to be developed. Her uncle with whom site was to stay was killed in a street accident just as lie was going to bring her home from an orphanage. A thief, hard pressed by the police, noses as her uncle, and finally, though lie leaves her awaiting his return, she is conducted to the thief's house by some children. Then lie realises the possibilities of a, blind violinist as an aid to tli? gang’s operations. The youth of tlie party soon falls in love with her. and when she is about to be used to attract a crowd in front of a house, while the thieves get to work on the other side, the youth interposes. He gets badly knocked about, but- frustrates tlie intention, and exciting scenes follow before the girl’s sight is restored and a happy ending is brought about. Dorothy McKail makes a great success in the star part. Harold Lloyd has a new line of comedy in “His Royal Slyness',"’ and another comedy/ Lloyd Hamilton in “The- Educator,” helps to make up a big holiday programme. The supports include an English Gazette and a most interesting travel subject, “In tlie Wake of Captain Cook,” a portion of tlie great navigator’s voyage being followed by seaplane.