TO-DAY'S PICTURE SHOWS

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 699, 8 May 1916, Page 9

TO-DAY'S PICTURE SHOWS

GRAND THEATRE. The Hear! of a Painted Woman," a live-act Metro production, featuring Olga Petrova, one of the most beautiful actresses on the screen, is the premier attraction at the Grand Theatre this week. Mine. Petrova takes the part of Selma, the daughter of poor parents, who leaves her Lome in Pennsylvania to go to New "York, where she takes up singing as a career. Her efforts in this direction proving unsuccessful, she secures a position as a model in the studio of a rich artist. After a few sittings model and master become infatuated, and the girl succumbs to his wiles. After some time the artist abandons her, and marries an heiress. Desperate and discouraged, Selma sinks lower and lower in the human scale, and at an entertainment she meets young Spendthrift. Enthusiastic over Selma's rare beauty, the young man suggests a game of cards, the stake to be Selma herself. The young woman flees in disgust, but is followed by .Spendthrift, who oilers her large sums of money, without avail. Selma lectures the young man, telling him that if she had had his opportunities in life she would have accomplished great things. Struck with an inspiration, he decides to give her a chance to live up to her aspirations, and presents her with 100,000 dollars. Selma devotes her money and time to erecting a hospital for abandoned children. Meantime the man who made her rich is ruined himself, and the artist again enters into the life of Selma. There are many complications before the play is worked out to a powerful denouement. The "Black Box" serial was not shown to-day, owing to delay in transit, but it will be screened to-morrow. EVERYBODY'S. The current programme at Everybody's is headed by a Keystone Triangle comedy featuring Syd. Chaplin, a popular comedian who has not been seen here for some time. "The Submarine Pirate" is the title of the picture. The Triangle Company is a combination of G. W. Griffiths, the great producer, Thos. H. Incc and Mack Scnnctt, the originator of all Keystone comedies. These three great brains, who have always been in the past leaders in three separate spheres, have conceived the idea of perfect comedies and dramas—pictures that are entirely different from those which have been seen before. This is the first of these magnificent fun-pictures, which cannot fail to delight all hearts, and to render all eyes wet with the tears of joy. Besides being a hilarious comedy. Ibis iihn contains as many sensational incidents as a melodrama, and some particularly good views are given of a submarine. The one used in the picture was loaned to the Keystone producers by the U.S.A. Navy, and when ii is placed under the command of Syd. Chaplin, unthought-of possibilities for Hie submarine in moving picture comedy are brought to light. In this JOOOfI farce Chaplin uses all his acrobatic and .juggling tricks which have earned him his name, and as the waiter who ran away with a submarine and turned pirate lie is a scream. There arc suitable supporting subjects on the programme. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Paulino's delightful comedy-drama "Niobe," to be shown at His .Majesty's to-night, was one of the greatest theatrical successes of Hie last decade. The Famous Players' Company have most cleverly adapted the play to the screen, and have selected one of the most beautiful, charming, and talented actresses of the day. 'Miss Hazel Dawn, for the pari ** Niobe, the Goddess of Tears, who after 3000 years as a statue comes to Jife when entangled with the electric wires in the house of the staid business man. Peter Amos Dunn. The

complications that ensue and the difficulties and embarrassment that beset Dunn in trying to explain the presence of the beautiful young woman make one of the brightest comedy-dramas of modern days. The balance of the programme consists of a Vila drama, "Good in the Worst of Us," a bright beauty comedy, "Deserted at the Auto," a very fine scenic of picturesque Matlock, and the latest Pathe Gazette. The box plan is at The Bristol. QUEEN'S THEATRE. A story that grips the interest from start to finish is contained in "The Pit," the picture version of Frank Norris's novel, which heads the programme at the Queen's Theatre. The story has been adapted to the screen by the World Film Corporation, and is shown as a fiveact play of powerful dramatic interest. Wilton Lockaye and Gail Kane are featured in the principal roles. Curtis is a young business man of ambition. He attempts to become a controlling influence in the money market by amassing a great fortune. In order to accomplish this he endeavours to bring about a corner in wheat. The crash came, and he returned home ruined in health and fortune. There he met with more trials, and he had to pay the price of bis greed. A Riviera scenic, "In the Country of Flowers" and "The Syndicate Lover," a George Ade comedy, in which the American satirical writer is at his best, comprise the supporting programme. , GLOBE THEATRE. An excellent comedy heads the bill at the Globe Theatre this week. It is a Thanhouser production entitled "Helen's Babies," and is an exceedingly humorous and well-told story. Harry Burton was Helen's only brother. Helen invites him lo lake charge of her house and children while she and her husband are away. Incidentally she conveys the news that Alice Maylon was staying with her mother at Ihe hotel near her home. Harry is secretly in love with Alice, so he gladly accepts his sister's invitation. The boys met him down the road and welcomed him noisily. Their pranks were endless, and their interference with Harry's love affair causes boundless amusement. The star picture is supported by several good subjects. SYDENHAM PICTURES. "Niobe," a clever and fascinating story from Ihe play by Harry arfcl Edward Paulton, and splendidly adapted lo the screen by the Famous Players' Company, is Ihe star picture in the new programme to be screened at the Sydenham Pictures tonight. Hazel Dawn is featured in this comedy, which is full of the | most humorous complications, and is worked out to a satisfactory and complete denouement. In support of the star film are several interesting subjects, comprising "Picturesque Matlock" (scenic), "Descried at the Auto" and "Good in (he Worst of I's" (comedies), and topical piclures. WILLARD-JOHNSON FIGHT PICTURE. The films of the contest for the heavy-weight championship of the i world, between Jack Johnson and Jess Willard, have proved so popular in Chrislchureh thai Ihey are to !be shown again Ihis evening and tomorrow evening, in the King's Theatre, in order thai Ihe many people who had lo be refused admission on Ihe three evenings of Ihe original season, owing lo Ihe theatre being crowded, may not be disappointed. A splendid picture of the contest and of the scenes preceding it is given by Ihe films, which are remarkably clear.