OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 999, 29 April 1909, Page 16

OPERA HOUSE.

CINEPHONE AND PICTURES. The endless rolls of cinematograph films submitted at the Opera House by the Wide World Pictures continue to attract appreciative audiences, despite the fact that they have been running for so lengthy a season. Three cinephone items are included in this week’s programme, and produce a decidedly realistic effect to the films. “ While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks,” sung by the Holy Trinity

Church Choir, is rendered in very clever manner by a talented quartette, while the other cinephone contributions consist of the comic song, “If the Man in the Moon were a Coon,” sung by George Elliott, and “ The Lord High Executioner,” from •“ The Mikado,” rendered by the Sullivan Quartette. Two most beautiful films are shown in “ Picturesque Corsica ” and “Gottenburg Parks and Lakes,” the latter presenting some really magnificent sights. A film of considerable interest is that showing the people of different countries performing their national dances. The dancers include Brittany’s clog-shod peasants, Chinese women, Caucasian girls, South Africans, Japanese and other nationalities, some of the dances being carried out with no little neatness and grace, while the antics of some of the performers cause much amusement. A capital dramatic film is that entitled “ The Two Sons,” one being regarded in the eyes of his father as a saint, while the other is known as the prodigal. Whilst the former is acting the part of a most godly person before his father at home, his brother is at the village public-house gambling and drinking heavily. A young girl, for whom the prodigal son possesses a tender regard, appears on the scene, and is subjected to insult at the hands of one of the card players, whereupon the prodigal gives the offender a severe thrashing. This leads to serious consequences, and on his invalid father learning of it, the prodigal is disinherited, the will being made out in favour of his brother. After a lengthy absence away from his native village, the prodigal returns, and is astonished to meet a party of men conveying his aged father to a lunatic asylum, whence he has been committed by his saintly son. The prodigal engages in a game of fisticuffs with his father’s captors, who are sent rolling in all directions. The old gentleman is taken home by the son he misunderstood, and the latter is made his heir. A couple of other fine dramatic studies are “ The Shepherd’s Dog ” and “ The Bride of Tarbavia,” both being excellent specimens. “ The Revealing Phonograph ” is a film of unusual interest, showing the talking machine as indisputable evidence in a case of kidnapping. “ Bangkok, Capital of Siam,” and “ The Pick of the Russian Cavalry,” are both highly instructive pictures, and are well received. The comic films presented this week are real laughter-producers, “ Harry is Too Fond of Women,” “The Prestige of Uniform,” and “A Week’s Absence ” causing a prolonged ripple of merriment. A very realistic film is that entitled “ The Two Castaways,” the events depicted being of a very exciting order all through. Mr. Ernest Creamer’s orchestra supplies an appropriate accompaniment, and a genuine evening’s amusement is well spent.