AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Issue 170298, 17 August 1920, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

FUULERS' PICTURES. >

"Nature's Gentleman," an English production, is the chief picture -iltracvuii oh Fullers' current programme. J is theme is tho class bun-iei', or rather i,;e breaking down of it. The heroine -.is a rich girt who marries her uncle's butler," winner of a collection of war meaals, and dc.vribed lj .Y l,is employer ;.:■. a c.ean, deceit young fellow. The heroine's mother i.i a real old theatrical dowager—thin, haughty, muney-grab-'..ing, snobbish, and with an impressive v. ay of wielding a lorgnette. The uncle is an aristocratic democrat. lie

has tea, -with his butler, encourages hint to make lovo to his niece, and finally wills him. his fortune gn condition that he marries her, 'and obligingly is killed next day. The villain of the. piece is an original touch of the author'. 1 ?, for his name is Mr Nobody. The nearest approach to him is the heroine's rich and aristocratic suitor, an honourable man, an ex-soldier, friend of the hero, but his high position is too great a handicap in a democratic play like'"Nature's Gentleman." The plot opens on rather conventional lines, with the' heroine in lovo with a poor man and her mother wishing her to marry a rich one, but" further on the play sets off Hip beaten track and takes a novel turn which develops into a puzzling situation. The acting is uniformly good, and all the players seem to bo quite at home in their parts. The only jarring, note is struck by a. nurse in the opening scene, who is inclined to be thcatricai in expressing her gratitude to soldiers in general arid the hero in particular. There is some'real English scenery well photographed, and the indoor settings are luxuriant and striking. "The Strange Case of Mary Page" serial is advanced a, further stage this week. The villain can still drink any number J of "spots" without getting giddy, but Mary Page's father cannot, and out of this' comes, .'the scene which provides some amusement, and much drama, too. in this week's chapter. The three Fiipporting films'are a. cartoon comedy, a gazette", and a, travel picture. The Gazette includes a, startling boxing Vnttt/ between tw n crack boxers—Grnun-h.n-on and the .faous Carpentier. The latter administers the "k.0." to hia adversary.

THEGRANT). Tn spite of counter attractions the Grand Was well attended last night, and the new programme was accorded a fluttering reception. The Co-operative ■Weekly shows a collection of interesting views i'rom different parts of the world ; "Nothing to Wear" is a comedy with a plentiful dressing of mirthful .situations which cause hearty laughter. A most instructive and highly interesting film is one entitled "The Pawn of the Electrical Era in Railroads.". This film, from an engineering point ot view alone, is well worth seeing. "The lour ■Flns-hor" is the title of the star production, and is a comedv drama featuring the e-.-er-pn-m.lar Hale Hamilton. In this picture. Hale Hamilton has one pf the best of his screen roles. It is

a highly diverting story, unfolding an unusually clever plot, it recounts the ailv'entures of a, young man rather humbly employed, but who lives tip to his last penny and puts his all into clothes in order to maintain a good appearance, to gain a position as agent for a South American milionaire who is looking i'or a- hustler. "The four ilnshcr" concentrates all his energies to make himself appear something he is not to land the job. He engages a, suite in a fashionable hotel, hires a, machine and a. chnffeur, and so impresses the rich merchant that lie succeeds in obtaining the coveted position. Complications unforeseen, however, set in, and lie has an exciting time until in, the end masters are happily adjusted and si pretty girl, gives on affirmative answer to a question of the greatest, importance. There are many pleasing situations, and comedy and drama, are skilfully intermixed.' The programme was voted an unqualified success.