ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19654, 3 October 1922, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

5 CIVIC PICTURES. One of the most thrilling pictures ever made for the screen is to be shown at the Municipal theatre to-night when Priscilla Dean’s latest Universal Jewel production “Conflict” will be screened. The picture is the last word in screen melodrama and it grips one with its suspense almost from the first flash. Its climax is built around the dynamiting of a big log-jam in the I swollen waters of the great north woods, j and the succeeding flood of logs and water , down the Valley, sweeping everything in its path. The big punch comes when the heroine, played by Miss Dean, rides madly down the bank abreast of the flood, leaps perilously from log to log through the flow, and rescues her unconscious sweetheart, played by Herbert Rawlinson, just as he is about to be swept over a cataract. The sus;>cnse is real, the thrill is actual, and Miss Dean deserves credit for one of the most fearless stunts ever performed for the screen. The rescue scene has been fav-, ourably compared to the rescue scene in "Way Down East.” It is just as good, if not better. For one thing, it is not so long drawn out. The logging camp scenes of “Conflict” are a revelation in screen verisimilitude. Miss Dean and her company passed several weeks in the timber country of British Columbia filming the story in its proper settings. The story concerns Dorcas Remalie, a society girl forced by her father’s death to go and live with her uncle, a mysterious recluse and lumber baron. A crafty and queer housekeeper tules his prison-like home in the deep woods. Menaced by the housekeeper and driven to desperation by the ominous atmosphere of the place, Dorcas runs away. She has fallen in love with Jevons, an educated young lumber man, who has challenged her uncle’s supremacy in the timber country. When Jevons’s life is threatened she takes up his fight, outwits her uncle’s hirelings and brings the timber baron to terms. In addition to the excellent acting of the star, and her leading man, Herbert Rawlinson, two other players stand j out prominently. They are Edward Con- j nelly, as the grim uncle, and Martha Mat- I tox, as the weird housekeeper. Sam Allen : also is unusually good as a village hotel keeper. His part is small, but he makes it as clear cut as a cameo. The supporting picture “The Outside Woman” is a tale of rather amazing complications, humor- • ous in the extreme. Wanda Hawley and ' Clyde Fillmore are very good funmakers. ! Dorothy was a dear little bride, but she had one fault; she just couldn’t resist bargains. One day a pedlar sold her a lovely silk shawl, taking in exchange an ugly little idol which Dorothy had hated ever since she found it among her husband’s possessions. Her maid tells her that the pedlar has disposed of the idol to an artist who lives in the apartment just overhead. So when Dorothy finds out that the idol is worth thousands of dollars, and does not belong to her husband, but to one of his friends, she thinks the simplest thing to do is to slip up the fire escape and get it back. She slipped aliright. That poor little bride stirred up more trouble in one evening than most folks have in a lifetime. Plans are open at the Bristol. ■‘THE SHEIK”—SATURDAY NEXT. I Box plans for the opening sessions of “The Sheik” will be on view at the Bristol tomorrow morning. This sensational picture, which is based on Edith M. Hull’s sensational novel, has been putting up new ; records in Australian and New Zealand i theatres, and it should do the same in In- i vercargill. This film drama is a lining ! thing, bringing t-he weird beauty of the j East before your eyes. Swaying palms, ; velvet tropic nights, swirling passions born j of a fierce land, the awful peril of the [ intruding English beauty, are mixed in a i veritable riot of emotion and adventure in th? st-range bizarre home of Arabian colour. The local season, opens at the Civic on Saturday next. ALBION THEATRE. What is pronounced by critics to be the best starring vehicle Clara Kimball Young has had in years, will be the offering at the Albion Theatre to-night. The picture “What No Man Knows” was filmed from Sada Cowan’s original story and shows how valiantly a real woman can tight for the possession of the greatest thing in life. In no role has Miss Young ever appeared to such advantage as. in this new picture. Her physical loveliness is always hailed with delight by fans everywhere, and this coupled with her dramatic powers never

fails to bring photoplay entertainment of the highest type. In "What No Man Knows” Miss Young seeks to recover from the dregs the man she loves who has unfortunately fallen into oblivion through the evil machinations of a self-seeking and false wife. The school days romance still lives as the years roll by, and though the one she loves has strayed from the paths of righteousness, her own faith in him never falters. The story brings out clearly how good men can be restored by truth and love. There are many new and novel twists to the story that offer refreshing relief. In “Channing of the Northwest,” Eugene O’Brien throws aside for at least three reels of the picture the sartorial decoration.} which have made him famous. However, he starts off as an English gentleman, and thus upholds his reputation as the best dressed and most carefully groomed screen celebrity extant. "As “Channing,” O’Brien is a revelation. He clearly demonstrates that he can ride with Bill Hart, Tom Mix or any of them. Furthermore, he swings a wicked pistol and is ready and willing to go to the mat with Pat Harrigan, the chief villain, in a fist fight. Gene proves he is a man’s man, as well as a lady’s man. Gladden James plays the assistant villain, and he is at his best. He certainly can take on an evil aspect, and everybody present was hoping he would stop one of Channing’s bullets with his very unmanly chest. Nita Naldi appears in the first reel as a Gaiety Girl, which is extremely flattering to that organisation. We all. know Nita as a Follies Girl, and they never could compare the Gaiety with Ziegfeld’s place of business. However, that is another story. Nita breaks Manning's heart right at the start, and we all can understand that. In Canada Channing falls in love with Jes Driscoll, a local girl, and all ends merrily except for Pat Harrigan, who is killed in an attempt to smuggle a truck-load of liquor to America. Comedies, Interests, and other pictures conclude a very fine programme. Seats may be reserved by telephoning the Albion.