TO-DAY'S PICTURE SHOWS

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 616, 31 January 1916, Page 11

TO-DAY'S PICTURE SHOWS

"MY OLD DUTCH." | At His Majesty's Theatre a feature film by the London Ideal Com'pany, entitled "My Old Dutch," will \ be screened for the first time to. night in Christehurch. The picture 'has been specially written by ArIthur Shirley around Albert Chevalier's eo.Vr song, and Chevalier, whose wonderful acting in "The Middleman" will be remembered, will play ".loe Spudd," the coster. Florence Turner will be seen as 'Sal, My Old Dutch," and she gives a delightful impersonation of Chevalier's song. A strong supporting cast arc all stated to be well fitted to their parts. The story tells |of the meeting of Joe and Sal at 'Ampslead, their courtship, and marriage. Unexpected riches fall to the lot of .loe and his "Old Dutch," and ithe son almost breaks his mother's heart. There are many incidents of tense drama, quaint humour, and delicate pathos interwoven in the telling of this human story. Mr | Barnes will sing "My Old Dutch" [during the rendering of the piece, land special musical selections will I be played by the Ellwood Trio. Supporting pictures include a laughable ; comedy, and the latest "Pathe Gazette." The box plan is at The Bristol.

EVERYBODY'S.

There is enough excitement in "The Valley of Lost Hope," the new j picture shown for the first lime at Everybody's to-day, to rouse the iinost blase. From beginning to end the film is full of sensational incijdents, including the destruction of I an entire mining town by a dynamite ; explosion, and a collision between jtwo railway trains. The story is that of the attempt of a trio of commer- : cial "crooks," who proceed to get | rich quick by selling hundreds of i mining claims in a valley which has j never contained a speck of gold. By i means of a faked assay certificate they are able to work up a "rush," jand in the course of a few days what was but a barren gulch becomes a populous town, with a |saloon doing overtime business. As soon as they cleaned up most of the ready cash in the valley, the crooks make a hurried departure, the ringleader leaving his son, who, of course, is innocent, to gather the rest, and make his escape before the crash comes. The discovery is made sooner than was expected, and the hoodwinked speculators set out after the special train in which the financiers are escaping,- and nearly get them. The train dashes off, but does not get far before it meets another head-on, and both trains are completely wrecked, the "crooks" losing their lives. Meanwhile a "bad man," who has been kicked out of the camp, sets a fuse to the valley's dynamite store, and there is an immediate rush of the whole population for safety. Not all have escaped when the whole mountainside falls, and overwhelms the town. There are numerous other incidents before the story finally ends happily with the restoration of their money to the swindled miners. The train collision is wonderfully well done, two real trains dashing into each other at a high rate of speed, and being instantly converted into a heap of twisted scrap iron and blazing splinters. "Green Apples" is a highly humorous comedy, while "Hunting a Husband" is a far-w T est story of mingled love and laughter. A topical war series concludes the programme, which will be shown throughout this week.

GRAND THEATRE. The shir film oi' the new programme at the Grand Theatre is a 3000 ft Essanay study, entitled "A 'Divided Family," and is, without ! doubt, one of the best dramatic pic- ; tares that have been shown at this theatre for a long time. The film features Edna Mayo and Bryant Washburn in a series of gripping situations that give food for much reflection. The acting is splendid, and thoroughly convincing, and the story never for a moment lacks interest. The story, which is adapted from the play, "The House Divided," portrays the misery a too hasty judg|ment engenders, and points to the misfortunes that parental differ- ' ences may build up for the children. A very pretty love story runs curjreni to the major plot, and, as the drama ends happily—a consummaj Hon contrived by the children—it I leaves the audience happy. The 'principal supporting lilm is that entitled "A French victory in the I Champagne District," a picture taken on the actual field of battle. It shows the French preparing to .attack, the bombardment of the Gerjman trenches, the ejection of the Huns, the occupation of the German position by the French, and the terrible havoc wrought by the French : 7,Vs. The picture is graphically I realistic all through, and serves to bring home to the audience a very : lively conception of what our soldiers are doing "somewhere in ; France." The "Warwick Chronicle" is lull of views of great interest at • the present time, and deals with the latest happenings in the military world. "The Tale of a Tire" is a I comedy of considerable merit, inI troducing a series of ludicrous situations thai cause the most lively merriment. "The Evolution of Kaiser Bill" is another film calculated | to drown dull care in healthy laughter, and adds greatly to the comic 'element with which the programme | is liberally enriched. GLOBE THEATRE. This week's instalment of the "Million Dollar Mystery" at the 1 Globe Theatre is entitled "The Underground River," and, as the title ! suggests, deals with a scries of thrilliing dramatic happenings in a subterranean cavern. A girl's daring act

in securing a paper is shown with the mosi interesting mimiteness. The! girl fearlessly enters the eavc andj secures the paper, hut, finding her-, self trapped, seeks escape hy piling-; ing into an underground river. Her I escape and recapture and thrilling' 'battle in the underground torrent are, jgraphically shown, and the episode; j closes at a most alluring juncture, i "When Conscience Sleeps,"' a lengthy ! Edison drama, featuring R. Walker, j tells a pathetic domestic story. An j estrangement occurs between a !broker and his wife, the outcome of ,the former's infatuation with an actress, bill an accident to the broker brings visions of what his conduct! !may induce, and he resolves that! I never again will his wife have cause ! [to accuse him of neglect. The story jis very prettily told, and the sentijment that pervades the whole thing! lis very pleasing. The Gaumont j Graphic is full of interesting topical' j subjects, among which military hap-; Ipenings predominate. The views' given of the Russian artillery are; ! full of interest, and the scenes depicting preparations for Zeppelin! [raids tell of the care that is taken; J to guard against the airships of the I | Huns. Other pictures are "Boots, 1 Not 'Arf" and "Housekeeping Under j Cover," both splendid comedies that keep the audience in roars of laugh-' ter. The programme all through is full of interest, the pictures having been well selected. SYDENHAM PICTURES. This evening a special attraction is promised at the Sydenham j Theatre, when "My Old Dutch" will Ibe presented for the first time. The 'principal part in this drama of coster life is taken by Albert Chevalier, whose fame is an imperonafor of the London " 'Arry" is worldwide, lie is supported by Miss Florence Turner, the well-known English artist. The film contains many unique scenes and incidents of East End life, and is also full of genuine heart interest. "My Old Dutch" will be shown for three nights only. Other pictures on to-night's programme are "The Widow's Breezy | Suit" (comedy) and the "Bathe Gazette."