ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1923, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

•OMAR KHAYYAM.” A MAMMOTH ATTRACTION. All ye who have tasted of the philosophy of Omar and found, it good, will appreciate the glowing reflection this masterpiece of the old Persian poet has been given in the picture shown for the first time at Everybody’s last night. This is one of the most poetically beautiful pictures which have ever been exhibited in this country, and should do much to further embellish the dreams of the young men and maids of the village as to how romance may be furnished. The hanging gardens of Babylon are not more beautiful than those in which young Ben Ali tells of ‘his passion to the lovely Shirin, daughter of the patriarchal Sheik Rustan. There is a story interlacing the verses of the poet. Three schoolmates, Nizam, Omar, and Hassan, have sworn a blood brotherhood, pledging that w-hosoever may succeed in life shall help the other. It is Nizam who some twenty or thirty years later rises to be the ruler of the land, and to him oome separately Omar and Hassan for assistance. Hassan’s becomes aroused. Thanks to Omar’s timely intervention, the forces of Nizam arrive on the scene in time to prevent the worst. But the story is really only incidental to a really wonderful series of Brangwynesque pictures, silvern palaces piled up one behind the other, and cool gardens, velvety and aromatic beneath the soft Persian moon; peacocks strutting by the marble fountains; the red riot of the Ramazan festival of fanatics, with Musselmans tearing their flesh off in strips in the rarest religions ecstacy; the flight of a questing soul through the whirring .nebulae of the unknown; and through [ it all the perfumed breath of romance I is most perfectly depicted by the most [ beautiful youth and exquisite maid that we have yet seen on the screen. "Omar I Khayyam” shows at a special matinee this afternoon at 2, and again to-night at 7.45. Seats may be reserved at Collier’s up to 5.30 to-night.

THE PEOPLE’S. “TOO MUCH BUSINESS” TO-NIGHT. One of the funniest comedies of the year is to He found in ‘‘Too Much Business. commencing for a 'two night’s season at the People’s Theatre tonight. As the word implies it is a comedy based around the conducting of a largo business in which both men and women are too busy to have any sentiment. John Henry .Jackson, the hero, believes in making his love affairs strictly business, and in order to have a salary sufficient to support a partner in life ho seeks to make it a day nurserv. This introduces a number of children, and provides for many laughs in this unusual comedy of surprises and comedies. It. is one of the biggest comedies ever produced for the screen, and has an all star cast headed by Edward Horton and Ethel Gray Terry, while the loading support * played |>v Tully Marshall. The supporting films include “Call the Witness,” Snub Pollard comedy, scenic, and Gaumont Graphic. Admission prices are as usual.