AMUSEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 7, 19 December 1911, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

TITS MAJESTY’S PICTURES

The art of kincmatograpliy is never content to stand still, and last night a clear step towards the goal of perfection was shown at His Majesty's Theatre, in a series of films of exceptional merit. Captain Kate is billed as a “star drama,” and without question lives up to its reputation.’ Could one imagine a move dramatic situation than a young girl, the daughter of a trader, loir alone in tho wilds of Africa, her father dead of the plague and tiie native servants deserting nor —fleeing from the dreaded scourge. Picture a young American, acting for one of the great Yankee firms who deal in the wild beasts of the African jungle; follow iiis dangerous calling with the camera, and watch the big lion and the crafty leopard being stalked and snared. Then, leaving him for a moment, go hack to the girl, alone in her hut—outside two

lions feasting on their prey. There is no need to finish the story, for it could have but one ending. One can only wonder, as the hero and heroine leave the screen together, just how that camera man penetrated the secrets of tlie wilds and followed the lion and the leopard into the depths of their native haunts.

In England and on the Continent a movement is being made to enlist the services of. Jogs in the detection and prevention of crime. In “Police Dog Competitions” a glimpse is afforded of what our dumb friend can do when well trained. Needless to say, tho subject lends itself well to the skill of the cinema, expert, and a really fine film is the result. A dainty nature study is presented in “The Birth of Flowers.” The picture is in natural colour tints, and shows the expert gardener producing in all its stages the prize chrysanthemum bloom. Quite a veil'd sensation is experienced as one .watches tho bud slowly swelling, and then gradually stretching out its petals to grasp the sunlight. There is an element of sadness clinging to the raising of the ill-fated Pluviose, a French submarine which took with it to the depths a crew of brave men. The scene is changed and the feeling disappears as one follows Smiler, who is mounted on an ancient “bone-shaker,” the front wheel of which is twenty times the size of the back one, in an exciting race through tho environs of Paris. The excellence of this week’s series of films was much appreciated by the large audience, hut the management claim that on Thursday, in a collection of pictures, including the story of Robinson Crusoe, a finer programme will be shown.

HUDDERSFIELD BELLRIN G ERS BAND.

A unique combination is the above band, who visit here to-morrow night, Wednesday, December 20th, under the direction of J. and N. Tait, composed almost exclusively of working men who devoted their leisure time to the cultivation of this intricate art. The Band has achieved remarkable success, having now obtained the honour of being champions of Britain, which practically means the whole world. .During their .season here the Band’s programme will include the following items:—“Les Pantrigs,” “Champion*” “Grenadiers j” “Friendship,” “Caliph- di-Bag-dad,V “Hallelujah Chorus,” “Kyrie and Gloria,” “Lead, Kindly Light,” “Nearer My God, to. Thee,” “Sailor’s Life,” “William Tell,” “In My Cottage,” “Yip-I-Addy,” “Harrigan,” and selections from \yell-known operas. The Band, wo are fold, control 225 bells, ranging from 2oz to 251bs, and from reports to band the music is most remarkable. Several well-known English artists assist the Band, so they should draw packed houses here. Popular prices are to be charged, and seats may be reserved at Grubb’s.

ELECTRIC PICTURES,

There was a poor audience at the Town Hall last night, in view of the excellence of the programme submitted. An apology was made for the non-appearance of “Esmeralda,” it being explained that the film-supply-ing firm had telegraphed late in the afternoon that, owing to a misunderstanding, the film had not been forwarded. The dramatic pictures shown wfere of a high order-of merit, perhaps the best being “The Half-breed’s Plan,” which deals with outback American life. The story is an exciting one. The manager of a big cattle farm announces by letter to his employer that bo is returning with a large sum-—“all cash,” he says—received on a sale of cattle. A half-breed who is nowise favourable to the manager, hears the news and quickly gathers a band of bravadoes, who leave for the railway station, where the manager is to arrive about the same time as the employer and his daughter, the former in a gig and the latter on horseback, do so. The manager is picked up, and the return journey to the farm is commenced. After some distance hasbeen covered the daughter discovers that they are being followed by the bravoes, and she at once sets off at top speed for the farm to procure help. The gig also races ahead, but is finally overtaken, and nothing is possible but that the hag containing the money shall he handed over. As tlio employer is driving away, the manager falls out of the gig and is left as dead by all parties. In the meantime the girl has readied home, and leads the usual army of cowboys to where she believes their, services will bo of use. They come upon the manager, who has merely been watching matters, and bo is given a horse, and be and the cowboys set out in pursuit of tlio bravoes, who arc finally all killed, the money being recovered. The incident is closed by the employer handing over his daughter to the manager, throwing in the cause of all the trouble (the cash) to make the weight, which latter was hardly necessary.

The other dramatic pictures—“A Plucky American Girl.” “The Little Violinist,” and “The Prophet of the Khorassan”—are hardly less interesting or stirring. The pantomime “Fortune Favours the Brave” was of the approved pattern, , and introduced many excellent effects. Of the comic films, “Hawkey Learns to Punt,” “A Woman’s Wit” and “The Horse of t jig Regiment” were all excellent.