AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16327, 31 August 1917, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

FULLERS' PICTURES 'MDLE WIVES'."

So few and far between .no idle wives in Timaru that tho picture of this name which opened afc Fullers' last night was responsible for drawing to the Theatre Royal a largo audience, prompted 110 doubt by onriosir y as to the class of woman who would dare to be idle in those times when every ounce of energy is called for. As p. matter of fact the film discloses more laziness on tho part of men than on the part of womon. The picture is qui'ce off the beaten track. and as some satisfaction is generally derived from a change it fills a desirable place in tho picture-screen world. I'c propounds several very pertinent questions calculated to send girls a-id youths, ais well as people <jf malcurer years, to their homes after seeing it, with their 'chinking caps well on. These moral lessons are told with considerable force, the piefcuro being a powerful one told with many Iranian 'touches. It is a magnificent piece of modern photography, and the acting throughout is exceptionally fine, while the eetting is magnificent. Tho firsJc part is in the form of a prologue introducing a riotous youth, a girl who rebels againsiq homo restramt . and poveiloy-stricken, hard-working family, each member of which is made quarrelsome through misery, and a childless husbaja'd ajid wife who are drifting apairt. Faico takes all this little contingent to a pio'cuTo show to see "The Mirror of Life," and there each one sees his or her counterpart oil tho screen. The story thus told shows them the orror of their ways, and in an epilogue the moire> satisfactory 6ide of the picture is depiciDed. Their folly is brought home to them in a very realistic way, and having been horrified by a realisation of their unseemly lives, they resolve to profit by the lesson, which they do. Lois Weber, in the leading role, thati of a wife who is denied the right of caring even for lier own children, shows to great advantage and all other characters are good. A Pathe Gazette met with' much acceptance, aincl a Triangle comedy "Maggie's First Falsa Step," created no end of laughter.

THE GRAND. "IGNORANCE."

"The Secrelc of the Submarine" has now apparently taken strong hold of picture patrons, judging by the audience winch, assembled at the Grand last Hight, when a further instalment, of it was shown. ,This instalment opens with Dr. Burke (Dhe inventor of the secret), lying dead, having been murdered by one of the several designing agents who are seeking to get into their possession his valuable secret. B® whoever killed him did not attain tha end in view, and after much excitement and bi>.d a little treacnery there is a great rush to San i'VancUoo on tne part, of iluose w!ho arc seeing for the secret, iu tJie hope of gdot-iiig it from one of iiis books which. nud taea sont there far sale after his death, line story breaks off just a!c the precise moment when. the audience are most 'anxiously watching to see what is going to happen nest. Tlioy will doubtless have their curiosity , satisfied on. Thursday next. A good Gaumont Graphic was shown, this including, a fine review of Australian soldiers, >by the King and demonstrations of woinwi ploughing in England. They appeared to shape well, but unbelievable though it- may seem it Ss a single-furrow plough, that is seen at work. The big picuuro of the evening, "Ignorance," made a decided hilt. It is a six-part picture of life in a big citcy, and it aims a blow at the social evil. The subjectis handled in an ideal way, the story being told in a clever manner and ■without offonsiveness. In ifc Earl Metcalf is featured wilth Eleanor Blade as his co-star oacli of whom give a brilliant! performance in it. The feature abounds. m situations of intense interest all of which are worked to the besii advantage. It is not a succession of scenes depicting the morbid aspects of degeneraice humanity, but shows things as. tlicy are so that he who runs may read and profit thereby. Ou'cside of it s moral influence it is noiwible as a splendid example of a photoplay in its highest plane of development. The story is strong, and the lure of tlie under world is most effectively unmasked, through tearing the veil from ignorance of things which ought to be known. A Fox comedy entitled "R.omau Cowboys 1 ' was full of startling situations and gave thrills without end. "Ignorance will not bo shown at the matinee en Saturday afternoon. Owing to numerous requests _ for another screening of Tlieda Bara in "Under Two Flags" the management have arranged to screen "Under Two Flags" in its place.