ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 19458, 23 January 1925, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC PICTURES. LAST NIGHT OF “LILIES OF THE FIELD,” AND SUCCESSOR TO “THE SHEIK.” Once again a capacity house filled the Municipal Theatre last night, and the indications are that another record audience will assemble to-night. Conway Tearle and Corinne Griffiths, in “Lilies of the Field,” have the leading parts in a picture of unusual character and absorbing interest. It shows how mother-love, and the unselfish love of a man for a woman, redeem two lives from unutterable misery. It is a searching portrayal of the lives lived by the ultra-fashionable set of New York, and the gorgeous gowns and gems makes it a picture of uncommon glitter and brilliance. The interest really lies in the lives of two people who are not at heart of the set they were born to Mildred Harker (Corinne Griffiths) loves her husband, but he is tied to her only by their three-year-old girl, and spends a great deal of his time with a showy and unscrupulous “lily,” who toils not, neither does she spin. Conway Tearle as the man who wins in the end has a strong part. It is a big cast, and the scenes of revelry and dissipation are daringly presented, while the pathos of the mother-heart, and the injustice of the divorced wife’s position combine to make the film one of the most deeply moving emotional pictures ever screened. The intriguing atmosphere of the East, revealing all the passion and fire of the | dwellers of the desert sands, is cleverly intertwined with the customs of the West in “The Shadow of the East,” the film version of E. M. Hull’s colourful novel, which is also on the bill. The picture abounds in colour, romance, and thrilling incident, I and the settings are a striking tribute to the photographer’s art. Barry, eighth Earl of Craven, gentleman of leisure and travel, is the central figure. Unlimited wealth enables him to lightly treat the minor Government position he holds in India; but before long he falls a victim to the mystic spell of the East, and remains there year after year. At a crowded Simla O* a T- , r'l ' A*~List, anc mee’uS ha£ beautiiiti daughter, Lan. A dashing young Arab with an Ox ford education, one Said, son and heir of a great sheik, falls violently in love with the girl, who. however, displays more interest in the indifferent Englishman. The reason for Barry’s attitude is known only to himself. He is the husband by a marriage of Lolaire a youthful Indian girl, who worships the very ground upon which he walks. Shortly afterwards the girl-wife —she is barely sixteen years of age—awakens to the ghastly realisation that her husband’s devotion is on the wane, and in a mad fit of jealousy she commits suicide. Barry ultimately leaves for England, where home and happiness are restored.

ALBION TO-NIGHT. SNOWY BAKER IN “THE EMPIRE BUILDERS” AND “WHAT FOOLS MEN ARE.” The final screenings of the current programme at the Albion take place to-night. The whole entertainment is one that cannot but please the most fastidious taste. Snowy Baker the celebrated Australian athlete • plays in the finest drama he has given us “The Empire Builders,” full of thrills and stunts, with a very fine romance of hearts in Africa it is something thriling. "What Fools Men Are,” the Master Picture, tells the truth about a perplexing manifestation of modern life—the flapper. The flapper is everywhere, and she has come to stay. In the opinion of observers the flapper is an outgrowth of conditions following the war. Work done by women and girls gave greater freedom—money to spend, freer contact with people and a general letting down of restraints and conventions. Out of this the flapper was bom. Being a flapper is a state of mind. It is not affected by clothes nor age. There are flapper grandmothers, flapper matrons, even some children are flappers. The sincere flapper thinks quickly and literally. She loathes sentimentality, pretence and concealments. A very fine demonstration and stunting picture in which an “Oakland Six” amazes the beholders, and a good comedy completes this programme. Seats may be reserved by ’phoning the Albion (738). ALBION TO-NIGHT. DEMONSTRATION OF “OAKLAND SIX” CAR. Those people who have been fortunate to see the demonstration of the famous “Oakland Six,” have marvelled that a car could do much wonderful stunts and still be as good as new. The final demonstration takes place to-night at the Albion, the picture commencing at 7.15 p.m. sharp. Every motorist should take this last opportunity of seeing what a good car like the Oakland Six can do. Messrs Todd Bros, Dee Street, are the agents and will be pleased to give any responsible person a demonstration any day. MUNICIPAL THEATRE. NELLIE BRAMLEY’S VISIT. The plans for the Nellie Bramley season are now on view at the Bristol. Miss Nellie Bramley will appear at. the Municipal Theatre on Monday next for a four-night season in the most piquant of all comedies, ‘Fair and Warmer,” after a highly successful season in the North Island. "Take two couples in a flat, a simple wife and a dashing husband, a stay-at-home husband and a modern wife, and you have the main characters in ‘Fair and Warmer? ” says the Sporting and Dramatic Review. “It is »

play built solely for laughing purposes. The audience, in fact, were hoarse with merriment by the time the matrimonial upheaval had quietened down. Miss Bramley, as Blanny Wheeler, the adoring wife of Jack Wheeler, showed a new phase of her art, the part calling for a keen sense of comedy, for which she seemed to be specially fitted. The audience screamed when they saw her and Billy Bartlett (Mr Arthur Cornell) ‘compromise’ each other by sitting close together on two chairs for their respective erring spouses’ benefit, but they laughed, still more in the champagne and cocktail scene. And though situations bordered deal' the risque at times, it was always the humour that came uppermost and kept everyone refreshingly amused.” The Auckland and Wellington papers were most enthusiastic over Miss Brantley's clever acting. The mainstay of the piece is Nellie Bramley. The other roles are capable filled by Mr Arthur Cornell, Miss Sylvia McNair as Laura Bartlett, Mr G. Hewelett as Jack Wheeler, Mr J. Galway as the third party, Miss Beryl Barraclough as Tessie, while Mr Guy Hastings and Mr McGowan, as Harrigan and Pete from the storage company, complete an excellent cast. Real champagne is used in the cocktail scene, supplied by Mr Arthur Paape, Grand Hotel, Dunedin. "Peg o’ My Heart,” “It Pays to Advertise” and “The Third Degree” will complete one of the best comedy-drama entertainments ever seen in Invercargill. The box plans are now on view at the Bristol.