AMUSEMENTS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11752, 5 February 1918, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. To-night will see the final screening of the current programme which has drawn big houses to the T.P. Electric •Cinema. The most popular item was probably the appearance of Miss Kathlyu Williams in "Big Timber,' a splendid melodrama, somewhat similar to l 'A Silver JTordc ' (hy Rex Bvacii). The chief male part is enacted hy Wallace Reid in a most capable manner. Altogether this film is a classic that should not he missed. Another special feature was the fivepart Bluebird play' "The Create Law." .Myrtle Gonzalez,' George Hernandez, Grotchcm Lederor and Lawrence Payton led the Reynolds company through snow knee-deep operating in the vicinity of Truckec, Oal., with peaks of the Sierras, clothed it; frost and Hocked with scattering li. trees and evergreens. The camera has caught some ponderously beautiful backings to a series of exciting episodes, reflecting the strenuous life in an Alaskan mining caum. There are hut few interiors, ami these are usqil to represent sensational events that transpire in combination dance hall, saloon and hotel at a time when the Klondyke seethed with the highest pitch of excitement in the first days of the rush for gold. Otherwise the action is out of doors, amid snow and ice, calculated to be a psychological in cooling effects on mid-summer audiences. A number of comedies and a first-class Paramount Gazette are also included.

THE COSY THEATRE. PRETTY OLIVE THOMAS. The "Harrison Fisher Girl," whose face has appeared in a thousand lovely .drawings, is Olive Thomas, aaid she makes her . triumphal entrance into filmdom in splendid Triangle play "Madcap Madge" at tfhe Cosy to-night. The play has a clever plot revolving round the irresponsible doings of the "Madcap," who is first seen t a fashionable boarding school. Her pranks and antics here are the height of fresh, clever and lovable mischief, and the charm of the American idol is soon felt by everyone. Running away from school she proceeds with the utmost calm to Palm Beach, the seaside resort of American fashionables, and there*6he drope like i a thunderbolt in the middle of the schemes of her mother and elder sister who are angling for an "Earl who is staying there under an assumed name. The most experienced pic-ture-goer in the Dominion will be at fault in guessing the end of the story, and for once a film disguise is absolutely effectual in concealing the identity of a character, and no one can possibly guess which man is the real Earl. There is a- pretty double lovo story and a more than usually strong cast of supporting players. The settings both at the fashionable boarding school, and at Palin Beach, are the last word in costliness and lavishness. Another big feature on the programme is a William ,Fox drama, "The Battle of Hearts," starring William Farnum, the highest paid dramatic actor in the movies. -■This is a story of a romantic sea life. The greatest and cleverest comedy yet produced is also included in the programme. This is a TriangleKeystone entitled "Cactus Nell," which features America's greatest cowgirl in some wonderful work. The latest Gazette completes the bill.

OPERA HOUSE PICTURES. AN EXCELLENT PROGRAMME. Largi crowds have been delighted nightly with the current programme at the Opera House. A powerful "crook" drama of uncommon type entitled "Time Locks and Diamonds" occupied the [lace of honour on the first portion of the bill, and proved one of the best pictures of its, kind seen here for some time past. The tale, concerns "Silver Jim," a N gcntleman crook, who has return! from business and is living with his sister in a beautiful house in the suburbs. A member of the old gang is caught by the police and the gang go to Silver Jim to implore his aid. Unluckily he has tied all his money up in sound investments which cannot be realised in a hurry, so it becomes necessary for him to go back to his old trade, for one more job. The haul is a wonderful diamond necklace, and the police are soon on ln's track. Many sensational events iranspire, but in the end happiness comes to all who appear at all deserving of it. Up to the present Douglas Fairbanks has probably been the most notable athlete on the screens, but it would appear i*bw that he will have to look to his laurels if he wishes to maintain his supremacy, as ho now has a serious rival in George Walsh, a handsome young fellow with a catching smile and apparently unlimited ability in all forms of athletics. The comedy drama in which he appears, "Melt',ing Millions," is one which no "sport" should on any account mi.ss. |v'ipn« J » <Bl

In it are included excellonl soaneS from a prize light, a light which certainly deserves a prize, a chaso over the roofs of New York, which includes some uonderiul jumping feats and concludes otto a chaso through the city Some wild and wonderful motor driving, a train hold-up in which some good gun-play occurs, a deal ol .excellent boxing and several good ealcll-us-eatch-can encounters are shown, besides a large number of clever "stunts" which in .the medl \v of excellent things escape the memory. Certainly a. film to see and one which will be remembered for a long time as one of the mo.>t sporting, in the best sense of the word, and clean film seeii here for a long time The supporting items include a laughable comedy and some excellent topical films. Patrons aiv, advised that to-night is (he last night ol this programme. "DAUGHTER Ol- THE GODS." An important announcement by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., is that the biggest picture yet produced has been booked for a three, matmee and three nights season at the Opera House, commencing on Mon.lay next, at 2.30. Annette Kellerman is featured in the million dollar spectacle ,"The Daughter of the Gods." Seme wonder-facts about "A Daughter of the Gods." The actual -cost of the picture: Just in excess of $1,100,000. Total number of persons appearing in the picture: ,21,218. Largest number used in a single scsne: 19,744. Number of children in the gnome city l scenes: 1200, More than two hundred merhtaids. Three hundred dancing girls and women of the Sultan's harem. Number of fe't shown to you: 10,000 feet in ten reels. Seven camera men photographed the picture as many as four photographing the same scene simultaneously from different angles. A Moorish city built at a cost of $350.000, and destroyed to make one of -the "big scenes" of the picture. An entire Caribbean Island and all of i s population "utilised by William Fox to assist his actor principals in the making of the picture. Time required to build the tropical cilv and equip it: Three months. Then eight months more of work in making the picture. A special municipality created and governed by William Fox for his thousands of employees. Special refrigerating and laboratory plants built and maintained for the development of the film. There was no loss of human life in the making of even the most • hazardous scenes. The box plan opens at Henderson's at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. No extra to reserve seats.