AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15394, 10 July 1914, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

■ THE THREE MTSKETEER6." The 1 Royal Lad ;ts full complement of patioiis last evening, when the management scri-oned the ir.iin-icoth iilm entitled "The Three Musketeers. ? an adaptatoin <>j the well-known romance of tlit' same name by Alexandre Dumas. _ J lie picture oi-cupies tho whole of the evening. and the prodtK-ers Lave spared noiiim j jn making every moment effective. J'ariK.-ularlv pronuliieiit in <ii s rc~"v?('i js the scenery and costuming. Everything lias leen dentto ecucate as well as interest, and many of tlie customs and fashions cf the early historical period In .Ok-h the story is set. are vividly pourtrayid. The acting is anotlier feature, and'each of the lading characters ceems to Lave I»en specially selected for talent or ability suited to the ;rr j-ar purs played. Ihe story has been, wideiv read, making repetition here unrecessary. But as a proouction '"The Three Musketeers" 1 r.rids much to the appreciation <>f the storv for all who have re.'id it. The humorous passages, when acted and screened have much more effect ihan when described in cold print, while the daring escapades of d'Artagnan, and ihe cuih n:ng and unscrupulous dealings of the adventuress Miladi do W inter, are'most successfully cr.rri'Ml through, and form features of the picture. Ihe Court scenes arc 'so excellently got up, and tlie pomp, gaiety, And stiff formality of the Court leaders, ladies and guitleliieiij is quite instructive. All the fading characters. tho Duke of Buckingham, Cardinal Richelieu, Lady Bona-c-ieux, and Queen Anne, are well impersonated, and altogether this is one of the most pleasing picture plays ever screened Lere. To all classes this story should appeal as it- abounds with excite rnent and thrilling adventure, is flavoured with the delicate tones of interesting romance, while tlie humorous punctuations, Mid the daring and somewhat careless intrigue displayed by th<« adventuress, are features which cannot fail to command the attention of all who witness it. Incident follows incident rapidly throughout the play, and the events are usefully varied with descriptive matter that allows the spectator to follow the story -with a clear understanding. The acting is above praise, and the hail-fellow-well-met characteristics so vividly painted by the pen of the author are well brought out. The musical accompaniment went a long way in making ' The Three Musketeers'' the striking success it really was.

HAYWARD'S -PICTURE?. The Lyceum was comfortably filled last evening, when the mid-week change was screened. The new series comprises an excellent variety of subjects, and the quality is decidedly highclass. Tho "Gaumont Graphic" has a most interesting selection of picture news. An excellent oxarr.r.le of picture dramas is that entitled ••Powers of the Air.'-" Tlie use of wireless telegraphy is brought into play, with pood effect, and the story is a most exciting onc"The Italian Navy of To-day.i« a first-rate film, and most interesting. N« doubt many who saw it, last night would ihirik it incredible that any navy but the British, was so modernised rnd complete. . •'Auckland Race,?. 1914."' is very interesting. '"The Reward ' is a fine Lubin drama, while '"The. Lifesavers." is a great laugh-raisinn: com edy. The star film, entitled "' Whcire tuc Road Forks/' is a play witli more than ordinary merit, super]; acting making this number one <>f tho mo;t enjovable on the programme. The symbolical element, with Cnpid on th» one hand and the Spirit of Ambition on the other, rided by shifting s~cno*. make the dilemma of the principal lady most interesting. Fantasy plays a. prominent part in" the ]iictur.-» and the ladv is carried a certain distance into the future bv Cupid, and 5s alsrr shown an eminent career on the stsge by Ambition, but the crux of her problem arises when she asks, "Let me see my old age." Ambition lws nothing but unhapniness and discontent -in store wlrle Cuoid reveals the utmost and in domestic tv. Tl*c- picture is V-autifullv set. while ib° ulay;,,n; of fh© orchestra in their selections from "Faust."" was most .-.ppropnate and finely rendered.