"CLEOPATRA" AT HAYWARD'S

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12889, 16 July 1913, Page 8

"CLEOPATRA" AT HAYWARD'S

The fame of the "Cleopatra" film had preceded its- arrival in Wianaanui, and ,it was only ,n,?.tur|al'. thdrejfrj|rei, rt.lnat :i bumpor house should be .again recorded at tho Lvceuui last night. Both circle and stalls were faled with a representative audience, and the ambitious production was awaited with ke-sn interest. "Cleopatra" has been portrayed in motion pictures before to-day, but no company has set out to give so complete and truthful an account'of the immortal Egyptian enchantress and her many conquests. Helen Gardiner, formerly a notable figure in the best Y'itagraph productions, essayed1 the task ojt her own aco'oiiint, [choosing "a, apeteiial cast to play to her own interpreta.tion of the. title role. She is .a "strikingly handsome woman,' "and/her very presence on the stage is sufficient to attract attention, apart from' her art, and this added produced a notable perforriiance. The " Queen's conquest of h-ear leneniiy,. iMarkl Anto^y^ natii^rp.Wy. forms the pivot of the enthralling story, but there are many other charmino; and finely acted pieces of side-play which give variety to the film and make- it one of the' most notable productions ever screened' in Wangianui, which/is saying a lot when the quality of the entertainment provided jfor Mnal audiences is taken into account. The remainder of the programme contains a nic^ variety of subjects, notable among the films being a charming coloured nature study of English bird life. Then Lhe Vitagraph "heavy"'comedian, John Bunny, makes merry with a widow over the way and receives a'fiist reward from his irate wife. Another, comedy, "Training a Tightwad," and~a Gaumont Graphic containing a glimpse of the disastrous Dayton floods, complete a fine evening's entertainment. This splendid programme will be screened for the last time to-night, and to-morrow evening another splendid programme will be screened', the star feature being "A Prisoner of War."