ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19502, 29 April 1922, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

ALBION THEATRE. ] What an awful lot to answer for have old Adam and Eve when the final trumpet is sounded. This fact was very strongly brought home by the latest Clara Kimball Young picture at he Albion last night, after seeing the wonderful (and weird to the male eye) work by this graceful star, whose love for the peacock plumage finally lands her in chaos. How a fascinating, aristocratic society leader abandoned her social position and took to dish-washing in a common restaurant is told in the latest Clara Kimball Young photo-play “Charge It,” by Sada Cowan. When the powerful circumstances that confronted this wealthy social queen are understood, few will blame Julia Lawrence for deserting the brilliance and glory of her life for the sordid routine of a restaurant employee. When the story is all over, the spectator will admire, rather than censure the courage of this millionaire’s wife in leaving the luxury of her life and earning her own living by the toil of her handa “Charge It” is a moral (or those who believe money brings everything. Miss Young as Julia, shows that a girl can be happier as a dish-washer than as wife of the wealthiest man alive. A picture with many new twists and unusual situations is “Dollar for Dollar,” the starring attraction at 9 p.m. In the leading role is the popular Pathe star Frank Keenan, who is featured as a financier of shady reputation. How he is blackmailed and brought to his knees by a charming widow makes one of the finest dramas that have been screened at this theatre. It is a picture that is guaranteed to hold the interest from beginning to end. Larry Semon kept the audience in roars of laughter during his comedy “The Stage Hand.” Other films complete a very fine programme. Seats may be reserved by telephoning the Albion. LARRY SEMON AND MACK SENNETT MATINEE. Larry Semon, Mack Sennett, what names to conjure with in the funland of film-land. These two maestro® of comedy will present two of their incomparable comedies in addition to the 5000 ft drama of real life entitled “Dollar for Dollar.” Larry Semon’s latest comedy is entitled “The Stage Hand,” and if the fun is as furious behind the scenes then we would prefer to take our fun from that end of the theatre. Mack Sennett presents a phantasy entitled “Made in the Kitchen,” and seldom if ever has such beauty been seen in the culinary department. The afternoon’s performance commences at 2 p.m. “THE KID,” CHAPLIN’S SUPERCOMEDY. At last the numerous inquiries as to when Chaplin’s latest mirth-producer, “The Kid,” was coming to Invercargill, can definitely be announced, for this am axing attraction is booked at the Albion , for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Matinees will be presented on Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. to enable country people to see their favourite comedian in his latest masterpiece. If laughter is contagious, then there’s going to be an epidemic when “The Kid” opens here on Wednesday night. One has only to read press opinions in the north and from Australia to appreciate what a treat is in store. The leading critic on photo-drama reports on the film as follows:. “At last here is a heavily boosted picture that is better than the label on the jar. Never before have I seen such sustained and hearty roars of laughter from the audience. The praise was unstinted. Never before has Chaplin made a picture like this one. There’s never been a picture made that will outclass ‘The Kid. ” Described as a year of laughs crammed into an evening’s pleasure it is doubly worth every penny and every minute that went into it. For ths convenience of intending patrons seats may be able to be reserved at The Bristol from 10 o’clock on Monday morning. The management wish it to be known that no seats can be reserved before Monday. CIVIC PICTURES. A most realistic fire scene is one of the striking feature in “Dangerous Days,” the Goldwyn all-star special production which is being shown at the Civic to-night in conjunction with William Ruesell’s latest production “Desert Blossoms.’ These pictures with the supporting films make for ideal week-end entertainment, and should attract an overflow audience to-night. “Dangerous Days,” from the pen of Mary Roberts Rinehart is a thrilling story of those days immediately before America entered the war when German agents were particularly active. The action centres around a big munition making plant, which was the scene of the explosion and the conflagration. .The story is cleverly told, the settings are splendid, and the acting is in every instance very well done. W. Lawson Butt gives a strong characterisation as the mill-owner. Ann Forrest is surprisingly good as the little typiste who loved not wisely but too well and Stanton Heck as her Teutonic father is splendid. In “Desert Blossoms,” William Russell has another of those virile stories that suit him so well. He is seen here as a builder of bridges who is the victim of a dishonest contractor who substitutes an inferior grade of cement into the construction with the result that it partially collapses and Russell is ruined. He starts again under an assumed name and in later years is able to satisfactorily re-establish his . reputation. One or two good fistic encounters give realism to the picture which has much to commend it. The whole programme affords first-class entertainment, and should not be missed. Plans are at The Bristol until noon and later at Miss Beggs'; or seats may be reserved by ringing No. 380. WILLIAM RUSSELL MATINEE. William Russell, the vigorous Fox star, is given excellent opportunities for the best possible display of his talent and ability in “Desert Blossoms,” a Fox picture which will be shown at the Civic matinee this afternoon. Russell appears as a young construction engineer on government w’ork, and discovers a plot to deliver a bad grade of cement. He deals with the plotters in good two-fisted fashion—and naturally enough, he wins the girl, portrayed by Helen Ferguson. A Spotlight comedy** Mutt & Jeff cartoon, Fox News, etc., will complete a big programme which will suit the young people splendidly. GRAND THEATRE. Another attractive bill for Saturday nighters is to be presented at the Grand Theatre to-night, commencing at 7.15 and continuing until 10 o’clock. Clara Kimball Young will be presented in a new feature, “The Forbidden Woman// a story of a popular Parisian actress whose happiness is nearly wrecked when her lover discovers her identity. All will agree that Miss Young’s latest vehicle is one of the most artistic productions of the year. It has been filmed in an atmosphere of beauty with wonderful scenic backgrounds, rich, \ sumptuous interiors and fine lightings enhancing the good dramatic story. In support of the star is Conway Tearle, whose acting in many leading roles of the past have placed him on a plane with the star as a favourite with the public. The remainder of the cast is of equally high calibre. The picture presents Miss Young in a story which fits her personality to excellent advantage. The production is lavish in its costumes and settings, and is on a par with the best of the year’s dramatic successes. The English star with the cheery smile and breezy manner, James Knight gives us a remarkably attractive rendering of the principal role in the Harma production “Big Money,” screening at 7.15 p.m., and allEnglish picture, with striking novelty of plot, and beautiful scenes and settings. The story is taken from the well-known novel, “A Run for his Money,” and is a winner in every sense. Not a dull moment is seen throughout in the three months’ chase by the police after the young man suspected of the murder of his rich uncle. As a matter of fact uncle isn’t dead at all, and nephew knows all about it, and is simply keeping the trail freshly scented to earn ' £3%D00 Ins uncle will pay him, jshea Jut

turns up again. No *ae will regret “Big Money’*—it is all-satisfying. A Mack Sennett comedy “In the Kitchen” and other pictures are also included in this great programme. “THE BIRTH OF NEW ZEALAND.” The N.Z. Times, Wellington, says: “The Minister for Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr), the Mayor of Wellington (Mr R. A. Wright), and representatives of the Press attended a special screening of the historical picture, “The Birth of New Zealand,” the first big feature film produced in the Dominion. The drama as portrayed on the screen is claimed by those who witnessed it to be equal, if not superior, to many of the photoplays imported from abroad. As indicated by the title, it deals with the early history of the country, a history that makes for drama that is seldom' enacted orf the stage or for the film. The incidents are not presented in isolated form, but as part of a story which never fails to hold the interest of the onlookers. Such scenes as the greeting of Captain Cook by the Maoris, the reading and signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the burning and sacking of Kororareka cany the audience back to the days when the pioneers laid the foundations of the country, and in many cases they learn for the first time some of the most fascinating of the tales of the early history of the land of their birth. Apart altogether from the dramatic intensity of the theme, the film appeals because of its educational value. There is very little that is not instructive, and the whole story has been produced in film form in the natural beauty setting to be found in New Zealand. A special word may be said of the photography which is in artistic triumph. An additional feature is a series of views showing the scenic resorts and towns of New Zealand as they are to-day, and they furnish a wonderful contract with the scenes of the pioneer days. The Minister for Education and the Mayor had expressed themselves as highly pleased by the entertainment and the picture will be presented at the Grand Theatre for a brief season of three days and nights, commencing on Monday next. The box plans for the season are now open at The Bristol Piano Co.