AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, 20 December 1919, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

"MICKEY." * At the Opera House this afternoon and to-night, picture patrons will be called upon to pass judgement on Mack Sennett's first big ure "Mickey," with Mabel Normand specially engaged in the title rolo. The play of "Mickey" has been written with tho element of surprise ever in view, after one crisis in tho production is completed attention is immediately commanded by another. The comedy is built upon realiity. Beneath every hilarious laugh there is the feeling that it is natural. And therefore the laughs are sincere. And this is the case with each of the picture's elements. For, of course, thert. are other ingredients besides comedy. Sennett is far too wise a producer to offer such an abundance of footage offering a single type of entertainment. There is pathos, just a little of it, romance in a pleasing quantity, and thrills enough in a wonderful horse race and a quick and realistic fight, followed by a sensational rescue of Mickey, to institute a powerful line of suspense at the finale. In producing these two episodes, the race and the fight, the director has shown his appreciation of the technique of building up the suspense. In both there is thrill upon thrill, each one just a little bitkbetter than the last, until at their climaxes the two ®pisodes fairly bring the spectator to

his feet out of sheer excitement and I enthusiasm. The race with Mickey! "up" is constituted of various flashes I of the girl urging her horse forward intermingled With long and fairly close shots of the actual race. It is played to its fullest worth. And it ends with a breathless taking fall. The horse stumbles and Mickey is hurled headlong over the track. The fight which puts an ideal melodra matic climax on the story; is handled with equal skill. The scene of the action is an old country place with j winding stairs. The villain has puri sued Mickey to the roof, a slanting peck. Here she barely manages to hang. Below the hero and the villain wage one of those exciting, smashing combats which in its handling and in the manner in which suspense has been built up calls to mind some of Fairbank's best scraps. But this fight has not the conventional finish. As the men combat, Mickey slowly losses her grip on the top edge of tho roof and begins to slide down. There is a sheer drop of a dangerous height which she seems unable to avoid. , And when the villain apparently triumphs and sends tho hero falling downstairs the cause of virtue seems about to be dragged about in tho dust. But instead the hero dashes to tho window and grabs Mickey inside to safety just as she fs about to fall from tho eaves to thf ground so far \ below. These fight scenes alternating with flashes oi Mickey in her hazardous predicament on the roof afford some of the finest thrills imaginable. Miss Billie Green, from Wellingon, will Ring "Mickey.' Box plan at Henderson's. PRETTY PEGGY HYLAND.

The new week-end programme is a very stronge 'one, and caters foi most tastes. Successful screen authors are 6onstantly striving to pul "technic" into comedies which they write, but only a few have realised their ambition. Raymond L. Schrock well known as a scenario writer, has ably demonstrated his idea .of "com edy technic" in his latest work, the scenario of Fred Jackson's etoryj "Caught in the Act," a William Foi production, featuring Peggy Hyland. which will be shown to-night. "Screen oomedy technic," says Mr Schrock, "depends largely on the treatment of the commonplace incidents of life —the little natural, everyday happenings, which he believes 'get under the skin' anc stick." "Caught in the Act" is ont of those sponetaneous comedies iiwhich tho situations, develop from 1 natural happening—a young girl', hat is blown off her head and a younj: man's trousers come in contact witl a nail on one of Now York's busiest streets. Quite natural, isn't it? But what follows is perhaps not quite sc natural. In fact, it is extraordinary Tho sequel of this wind storm in volves the young girl—a daring schoi. hoyden with a susceptible heart —ii various situation which are perilou when her good name is considered and one in particular from which sh emerges by way of a fire escape an a wedding ring. Tho plotters—o course there are plotters—are foiled The supporting pictures include ; two-part comedy "Gowns and Girls,' another one part amusing Christi comedy, "A Regular Patsy," an other interesting itemsv A big mat neo will be held for mothers and lit tie ones this afternoon.-

TWO-STAR PROGRAMME. Tho new week-end programme an nounced for to-night at the Paramount Theatre is an excellent one. and includes two big five-part features. Convent bred Toni had .been taking vengeance on Rolin Van D'Arcy for making a wreck of her heart. Her flirting had been deliberate, skilful, and carried on not only under her indulgent and infatuated husband's nose, but with this unintentional connivance. It was. her determination to bring this menace to society to book. And now it seemed as though she herself would have to pay. For Van D'Arcy had spread a net for her. He had invited her husband to witness a play in which the worst possible construction was placed on the innocent action in which Samuel had played so Unwitting a part. And Samuel was due at any moment with his utterly false but seemingly true estimate of her plated in his heart. And he would find D'Arcy there. What would he say? Should she fly with Van D'Arcy, the remedy he suggested, or brave it out and try to explain the unexplainable ? As Samuel's step sounded on the piazza Toni knew for tho first time that she loved her husband. . Was she too late? Gladys Brockw r ell will be seen in a new William Fox play called "The Scarlet Road." This new, drama gives tho star an unusual opportunity and will show her in a rather different light than she has ever appeared in before. Here she is a strong, attractive woman who is capable of withstanding tho severest temptations to which a woman may be exposed, where her affections are deeply involved, and where apparr ently she must choose between prin-' ciple and happiness. There is certainly a deep interest here in anything that Miss Brockwell may do Other pictures ' will be shown: The usual matinee will be held this afternoon at 2.30, when a big afternoon's fun will be provided.