AMUSEMENTS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17008, 15 April 1926, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THE PALACE. Undoubtedly what will go down in Gisborne film annals as one of the best racing pictures ever shown, will 'be- presented to-night at 1 lie Palace. .It is “Kings of the Tail." the latest Fox special production, and is a lligli-elass feature replete witti entertaining qualities galore. Ir, is not easy to select- the one outstanding good point of this photoplay for I lie reason Hint, there are at least half-a-dozen highlights worthy of special comment. The introduction of no less than five famous racehorses in real roles of importance is claimed to he the most impressive novelty. .Man o' War, the peerless; Ncgofol, ihe French Derby winner; -Fair Play. Morvieh and The Finn compose this notable quintette of royal equities. These events on the tint supply some of the most genuine thrills possible. The drama involved in the situations ro-related with those races adds to the suspense. Still another high point in the excellence of this production is the artistic triumphs of several of ihe members of the east, especially Henry 11. Walthall. J. Farrell MacDonald, and Gertrude Aster. The scenes of the major part of the story of ‘'Kings of the Turf" are laid in tiie Blue Grass country of Kentucky. The pieee-rle-resislance concerns the career of a tlioroughbred racehorse called Virginia’s Future. Juki as she is about to win her first big race she falls and breaks a, leg. an accident which removes her for ever as a- emit purler for high honors, ’flip -misfortune of the horse extends to its master as played by Walthall*. for he had bet 1 1 is entire *ji'lime on her, and. of course, lost it. Simultaneously he lost his wife, a second wife she was, with no sympathy for her husband’s daughter in her early ’teens. The former Southern gentleman of wealth becomes a down-and-out wanderer until eventually a daughter; of Virginia’s Future, christened Confederacy, .grows up and regains what her mother had lost by nosing under the wire ahead of the whole field in Ihe Kentucky Derby. The story unfolded is unique, and it is decidedly dramatic. EVERYBODY’S : VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES. No one yet seems to have been able to determine the reason, hut everyone is well aware of the fact that nearly every girl sometime wants to lie a stage or scran star. It- may be that in tiie motion ..picture, itself, there is a medium foi enlightening the stage struck girj. At any rate, the story has been told lit a- forceful, entejjtaining manner in •‘The Midnight- Girl,’’ Lila Lee’s latest production, which opens at. Everybody’s to-night for a three nights’ season. “The Midnight Girl” is the story of a beautiful, talented Russian girl, who came to America lo seek the opportunity that to every foreigner appears to .he the heritage of the American. Friendless and alone on her arrival, slip is typical cf the thousands who make their way to the United Slates shores each yen I'. Her early struggle brings to light much of the suffering of the many strangers in that, land. Through a series of fortunate coincidences, interwoven with an appealing romance, she makes her professional debut at a cheap, tawdry cabaret, a typical New York rendezvous, of gangsters —and of the?' more elite, who seal'd' the slums for new thrills. In addition will he shown a picked programme of supports. Sam Stern, ilie clever character comedian, whose successful appearances have already made him a warm favorite in Gisborne, will to-night- continue his ‘■eason and will submit new numbers from his extensive repertoire. To-night tie will ctiiilrilnde “Marguerite,” “The Jewish Policeman, ’’ and the recitation “Tiie- Dream.’’ The box plan is: at, Tattevsall and Rally's. -".s" OPERA HOUSE, “ GLORIOUS NEW ZEALAND.” Comparatively few people have seen native birds, such as tuis, wckas, pigeons, bell-birds, etc., in their hush environment, yet the clever camera men 6f tile Government staff secured some unique close-ups of these beautiful specimens of our avi-fauna for inclusion in the famous scenic masterpiece, “Glorious New Zealand,” commencing a three nights’ season at the Opera House next Monday evening. Sporting is also represented in swordfishing and other deep-sea sports. In the swordfishing episode there is depicted a thrilling encounter with a rushing, leaping, fighting monster, which proved to he a record-sized fish. The beautiful Wanganui River —“River of pictures and peace”—is a, classic of reflective water and mirrowed fernery. Fiordland and “The Finest Walk, in the World” (Milford Track) offer least for the eyes. “Franz Josef Glacier’’ with its pinnacles, minarets, and fantastic castles of .scintillating ice provides an unforgettable scene. Stewart Island. “Hie land of the Glowing Skies," ns the Maoris call it, is presented cinomntograpiiicnily for the first time. Everywhere the camera man turned could he found an ideal picture; indeed it is no exaggeration to say that it was hard for flip selectors to know what to cut from the film. The picture, which will convey a splendid idea of what the Government- is doing to advertise New Zealand abroad, is being accompanied by a lecture from Mr. Tano Faina, who is well known throughout the Dominion. Special matinees for the schools are being arranged. The box plan is at Tattcrsnl-l and Bayly’s.