ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19658, 7 October 1922, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. Two screenings of “The Sheik” will be given at the Municipal Theatre to-day—-the matinee at 2 p.m. and the evening session at 7.15. There is every indication of bumper houses, particularly at the night, session, for the booking of seats has been proceeding at a merry pace ever since the opening of the box plans. Those who are familiar with E. M. Hull’s original novel—and what lover of virile literature is not?— will find in the screen visualisation of “The Sheik,” one of the finest conceptions of the camera-man’s art, together with the superlative work of a master producer,—add to this an exceptional!}' brilliant interpretation of the central figure by Rudolph Valentino, well supported by that delightfully impressive actress, Agnes Ayres, and you have the ingredients, as it were, of the best that the screen can reflect. Everybody will readily recognise the great value of the film. From the standpoint of a dramatic achievement, it ranks higher than anything one can recall, and in the inimitable characterisation of Valentino it will readily be conceded that no individual actor has given us a more convincing portrayal of a part that, in less capable hands, would probably bring this classic to the level of an ordinary feature film. The acting is so well sustained by the star and his immediate support that the auditor is carried away at times and fails to realise that he is just looking at a picture. The box plans for to-night will be at The Bristol until noon, and later at Miss Beggs’, Tay street. ALBION THEATRE. Henry B. Walthall, of “Birth of a Nation” fame rises to new heights in “Flower of the North,’’ a Vitagraph production based on James Oliver Curwood’s famous novel of the same name. The production is filled with thrills and stirring situations against a romantic background based upon an intense love story. The two big thrills of the production are the struggle in t.he rapids, in which Pauline Starke and Henry B. Walthall do some exceptionally fine work, the fair star in a paddling canoe, braves the rapid current while the hero swims against the stream to save the girl, rescuing her a fraction of a moment before the canoe is dashed to pieces on the rocks. The fight in the company store where half the members of the camp, dressed as Indian mutineers, wagp war on the law-abiding citizens. As a final touch, a tribe of real Indians rush into the melee and put to rout the th© scene reaches its height both as a spectacular production and as a dramatic incident.

“Phil For Short,” the first feature of the evening, is a refreshing melodrama which made a big appeal to all last night. Other pictures screened make up a very acceptable programme indeed. Seats may be reserved by telephoning 738. A more varied and entertaining matinee it would be indeed hard to procure than that to be presented to the young and old folks at the Albion Theatre this afternoon. First on the list is the one and only Charlie Chaplin, then comes Elino Lincoln (the giant) in a further series of the wild animal picture, “The Adventures of Tarzan,” and last, but not least, comes Oliver Curwood in his play “The Flower of the North,” which depicts in vivid manner spectacular scenes of thrilling fights with Indians, heroic rescues and miraculous escapes. Die whole programme is one that should delight every one. Coupled with the above slides will he shown depicting Doubtful Sound, I*ake Manapouri, and the new track to Doubtful Sound. GRAND PRINCESSS FETE. The Grand Princess Fete was continued in the Victoria last evening, the building being crowded. An excellent performance was given by the. Dandy Minstrels and business at the different stalls was as brisk as ever. Judging by the way the Fete is proceeding, the enthusiastic secretary, Mr Harry Searle, should have a very favourable report to make at the conclusion of the present effort.