ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 17968, 8 March 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND THEATRE. "AS IN A LOOKING GLASS." The most beautiful back In the world is said to be owned by Kitty Gordon, the famous English actress, who is the star of "As In a Looking Glass,” the World play now being screened at the Grand Theatre to-day. The play is a melodrama full of action, and the lovely Kitty as Lila Despard, the adventuress, looks and acts the. part to perfection. The star’s dresses are wonderful, there is an ornate gown for every hundred feet of film, and the number of sets of furs is bewildering. The film deals realistically with society lives of to-day and tells the story of how Lila Despard, the adventuress, has been associated with a gentleman crook. He sinks to the level of a common crook, and she leaves him and accepts an offer to visit friends in Washington. Here she falls into the hands of an agent of another nation, and he brings force to hear upon her, gaining a promise that she will help him get some very important plans in connection with the American Navy. To accomplish her ends she secures the affections of the official who lias the plans, and who is loved by the daughter of the house where she is staying, but, falling in love herself, tricks the agent by giving him blank papers, and marries the official. One night she is visited by the agent and two companions, one of them being her one-time criminal associate. Under threat that her husband will be killed she delivers up the plans, but manages to regain them and burn them. The finale is dramatic. Of the accompanying pictures the most popular is sure to be “Dollars and Sense," a two-reel top-of-the-tree comedy, acted by the Triangle-Keystone comedians, directed by the famous Mack Sennett,

ALBION—HA Y W ARDS,

“SHE.” “SHE.” “SHE.” Will be the new programme at the Albion for the next three days. Leo Vlncey on his twenty-fifth birthday opens a casket left by his father. In it is a parchment written in Greek telling him that an ancestor of his, Kallikrates, has broken his priest’s vows, and married a lady of the Royal House of Egypt. They were captured by Barbarians and taken before their queen whom they called “She.” “She” became enamoured of Kallikrates and in a fit of passion at his faithfulness to his wife, killed him. Leo, after reading the record, determines to follow his father's request and find the land of the wonderful woman. Wc next find them on a canal in an African swamp, and they are taken prisoner by a tribe under '•She’s" rule. Leo becomes attached to Ulstane, one of the women of the tribe of the Amahagger, And Bilalli, chief of the Amahagger goes to “She" for orders. In his absence the tribe determine to kill Mahommed by awful torture, and Leo is wounded. Holly, Leo's companion, sets out to "She” for aid. Leo gets very much worse and just as Holly is about to implore "She’s” aid to save him “She” enters the apartment She orders Ulstane out and bends over Leo, and conquering her emotion when she discovers his likeness to Kallikrates, administers the contents of a small phial to him with wonderful effect. Upon his recovery She invites the white men to a savage festival. Afterwards Leo and Holly come across Ulstane. "She” discovers them talking together and questioning Ulstane, flies into a rage at her answers. She stretches out her hands towards Ulstane, who stands terrified, then falls to the floor, dead. Leo is furious, then "She" turns to him and unveils. Against his will Leo is fascinated by her marvellous beauty. She takes him to the tomb of Kallikrates and saying. “Here have I slept by night for 2000 years in Kallikrate's cold company, faithful to my love for him, awaiting his return. Behold, let the dead and living meet.” She draws off the wrappings and Leo is stupified as he sees what appears to be himself lying on the slab. She then tells the history of his ancestor Kallikrates. the story being depicted on the screen. As "She” finished, she says. “Now have I told thee all, I will purify myself in the Pillar of Fire. Go now and prepare for a journey.”

Leo persuades Holly, and the three white men to go with She to the cave of the Pillar of Fire. After some thrilling experiences they at length reach the cave and are so awed at the sight of the Pillar of Fire that they sink to the ground. She kisses Leo and enters the flames, but instead of her beauty being intensified, to the horror of the watching men. She emerges from the fire shrieking in agony and crying. “Forget me not, Kailikrates; I do not. I shall come, again once more, and he beautiful. I swear it. Have pity on ray shame.”

POPULAR PICTURE PALACE.

OK THE NIGHT STAGE.

An outstanding feature of the new programme is the excellent variety of the subjects presented. The star feature is a five-part western drama by that prince of producers Thos. H. Ince, who is world famed as a master of realism, and features the. rugged and sterling actor Wm. S. Hart. “On the Night Stage” is a story of a Western flavour, but it is not “Wild West," it is strongly dramatic. with a gripping plot, big scenes, stirring incidents and exceptionally good acting that measures up to a high standard throughout, and there is a strength and thrill in the picture that grips the attention all the time. The big fight in the drinking saloon, when Texas (W. S. Hart) and the parson fight the mob, is wonderfully realistic and exciting, and there are many other stirring and dramatic incidents, but, after all, the main strength of the picture is the excellent portrnval of the outlaw, Texas, who makes a strange friendship with the parson, and the transformation in the soul of the thief Is splendidly done and borders on genius. The story is vigorously told, and deals strongly with a strong man's love and renunciation. A tale of true friendship and love that cannot fail to pleace. No. 13 of "The Mysteries of Myra" is intensely interesting, and contains all the fascinating and mystifying elements that have served to make this serial so eminently successful, and as it approaches the concluding episodes it gains in strength and incident. A really screamingly funny picture, a Christie comedy “His Krie.nl the Elephant,” is a sure laugh provoker, and finishes off an excellent programme. Children are advised to attend the Saturday matinee owing to the limited space at night. Patrons contribute to their own comfort by sending children to the day sessions.