ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 17971, 12 March 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

GRAND FULLERS*. CHARLIE CHAPLIN’ AS “THE PAWNBROKER.” A programme of more than usual excellence is promised at the Grand Theatre to-day containing two feature attractions, a, Vitagraph Blue Ribbon drama md the latest Mutual-Chaplin comedy, '“The Pawnbroker." Wherever Charlie Chaplin has appeared in this production the laughter occasioned has been very loud and long throughout the screening. The remarkable Charles is quite at his best in this picture, and manages to instil the maximum amount of comicality into his acting of 'he part of the pawnbroker's assistant. With the pawnbroker's shop as his field for fun Charlie is afforded excellent opportunities, and makes the most of them. In some ways be proves himself a most conscientious asistant. and when a customer endeavours to "pop" an alarm clock a thorough examination is made before the article is handed bark to the owner. Charlie finds with the aid of doctor's stethoscope that the interior of the alarm clock Is not what it should be, and immediately sets to work to open it with a tin opener. With hammer and chisel he dissects the interior, and being perfectly satisfied that it is now unsaleable hands it back to the would-be seller. There is, of course a huge villain. multitudinous fights and chasings, and many other of the ludicrous happenings common to the Chaplin pictures. The second attraction is the Vitagraph 4-acts drama "Mrs Dane's Danger," the theme of which shows how heedless in', nocence has often led a young woman into dangerous positions. Lillian Walker is perfectly suited as the young wife, inclined to be frivilous, who narrowly escapes the shipwreck of her life at the hands of a persistent and reckless lover. E. Rogers Lytton who will be long remembered in the Vitagraph Company supplies a very clever reading of the part of Simon Carey, the villainous money-lender, who uses Rex Gordon, Mrs Dane’s lover, to further his schemes. The plot ie without unnecessary complication, and opens most naturally there being no undue straining of the probabilities. The bedroom scene is one of the most dramatic ever filmed and the entrance of the rightfully angry husband makes a terrible and tense moment. Several other films will be shown in addition.

ALBION—HAYWARD'S.

The summit of Triangle achievement Hn ‘‘Peggy." which is to he shown at the Albion to-day, is a revelation, and the praise the film has had on all hands la understandable. Billie Burke is unapproachable in combination of womanly tpiaiities and boyish deviltry which join together in "Peggy.” Her moods are as changeable as the sea, and it is hard to say in which scene she can be said to be most lovely. In man's clothes *ihe is very alluring, but still more graciously sweet in her own pretty frocks. The investiture of the film is ■wonderful, a whole Scotch village having been specially erected for the purposes of the film. The star, by the ■way, received a salary which works out at £231 per day for this production, and is well worth it. A fine piece of character acting is done by W. H. Thompson, as dour old Cameron, Peggy’s Scotch uncle. When Peggy (Billie Burke), an orphan heiress of America, came clashing through the little mountain hamlet of Woodklrk, Scotland, in ber automobile one Sunday morning, she created a sensation among the kirkgoers. Her uncle, Andrew Cameron (W. H. Thompson) seriously disapproved of Peggy and her automobile. Andrew and the Rev. Donald Bruce, a young minister, came upon Peggy the next day, ■while she was under her machine making repairs. Ordered out by her uncle, the girl was seen to be wearing overalls. Andrew was shocked and sent the .girl to the house. She winked at the minister, which almost took his breath away. Then Andrew and some elders of the church were going to order a girl out of the town because she was about to become a mother though unmarried. Peggy demanded that they look for the man, much to the discomfiture of Andrew. The man was Colin, ■his son. The uncle reluctantly consented to the marriage of Colin and Janet, the girl who had been on trial. The Rev. Donald Bruce admitted that the marriage of Colin and Janet might be for the best, but he scored Peggy as lacking modesty In pressing the case. Peggy had a ready answer for him. The next few weeks wrought a change to the minister. Andrew had also softened to the charm of Peggy. The girl announced that she was going to leave. The Rev. Bruce came to see her, but the girl wouldn't admit him to her presence. Finally he exclaimed, "Good God, I must see her ” Peggy couldn’t refuse this fevent appeal. Her delicious wink must not he lost sight of, as if is one of the "highlights’’ in a series of incidents right through the picture.

POPULAR PICTURE PALACE. A programme of unusual brightness is to he screened to-day and to-night, and Is headed by Metro's Glad Drama, In five parts "The Sunbeam." featuring popular Mabel Taliaferro, who will be favourably remembered by patrons as ••Snowbird.” The picture, while virile in story and plot, with many striking dramatic incidents, is one of those delightfully wholesome plays that are always welcome on the screen. A very human story, with delicately handled touches of pathos, bright houmour. and clever characterisation, it appeals with irresistible force to all classes of picture patrons. Some thirty children are introduced and are allowed to romp and behave naturally, and a good choice has been made for the part of “Bobby," a character that will win the hearts of every woman and child. Mabel Taliaferro is wonderfully pleasing as Prue Mason, the girl of the candy factory, who is known the the "Sunbeam,” because of the brightness and cheerfulness of her sunny nature, which is however, put to a severe test when her pal, Janny, is arrested fior robbery, and also when she shoulders the burdens of the little widow and her son Bobby. The ro-appcarance of Charles Chaplin will be a welcome addition to the programme as on the occasion of the initial screenings, hundreds were unable to gain admission. "The Champion" is easily Chaplin's funniest production, and contains more laughs per foot than any ether of his features. There are some excellent supporting subjects, including “Men of Note, and their Machines,” a decidedly interesting film: The Eclair Journal, and a humorous Metro. Drew Comedy, "Nobody Home." “The Sunbeam" will be screened once only each evening at 8, and patrons are advised to be in their seats early as the programme a lengthy one.

J. C. WILLIAMSON’S DRAMTIC

COMPANY. “DAMAGED GOODS." This propagandist drama to be prevented at the Municipal Theatre on Monday and Tuesday next is described as a serious play, purposeful as any sermon ever preached. The J. C. Williamson management has held the rights of this powerful drama for some years, but the management has hesitated to stage it. considering that the public mind was not prepared for the dramatic treatment of the subject. Now. however, the management add, it having been pointed out how much can be done by the theatre in assisting the campaign against "the secret disease,” by directing the mind of the community to ihe deadly evils of such secrecy, the play ha.s been staged. When the play was staged in London the Pall Mall Gazette wrote; “The mixed audience certainly exhibited no eense of embarrassment, and the solemnity of the theme, together with the sincerity of the treatment, would be proof against the most ribald imagination.' The Times critic said; "The chief point the doctor makes in the play lies in his furious indictment of ignorance. ignorance due. to prudery, folly, shame, and carelessness; ignorance that leaves the voung at the mercy of their curlousity, and the world in general at the mercy of people who have the disease and do not know it. No medical remedy in the world can affect the moral thus preached by Monsieur Brieux.” In one of the most earnest and appealing speeches during the action of this propagadist play, M. Brieux, the author, makes one of the principals say; "Come, let us have a little plain speaking. Bet us have done, if you please, once for all, ■with this hypocrisy.” "This in effect, is the justification advanced in favour of Invoking the aid of the stage in the campaign against a social evil of such magnitude. What reads like plain unvarnished truth is the dominant note of the ‘production, and as such it necessl-

tales the introduction of some very unpleasant facts of modern life. Reference to the urgent need of medical cartiflcates of fitness when applying for a marriage license is plain and outspoken, for the doctor savs to the ruined mothers parent; “You doubtless made enquiries concerning your future son-in-law’s income; you investigated his securities. you satisfied your self as to his social standing and general character. You only omitted one point, but it was the most important of all: you made no inquiry regarding his health. As things are, before a marriage the family lawyers meet to discuss matters; a meeting between the family doctors would be at least as useful and would prevent many misfortunes." Speaking of the play, the Hon. J. Howard Vaughan, Attorney-General for South Australia, said: “In a most impressive way the play reveals to the public gaze one of the deadly vices that too long has heen allowed to lie hidden, and that must be dragged to the surface before it can be destroyed. A specially selected company has been engaged to interpret this play, including the brilliant young English actor, Mr Stephen Scanian, who will be seen as the Doctor. The box plans will open at the Bristol Piano premises next Saturday morning at 0 oclock.