THE OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1027, 11 November 1909, Page 16

THE OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S W!DE WORLD PICTURES. Fuller’s pictures are always good, but some of the films shown this week are of exceptional interest and merit. In the dramatic line nothing more thrilling has yet been presented locally than the mimodrama by M. IMJichel Carre, entitled, “ The Fear,” as acted by M. Desfontaines. It is the story of a Parisian thief and burglar who, stealthily entering the bedroom of a wealthy woman, robs her of her jewels, and, to escape detection, murders her. He returns home to tjie flat where he lives with his sister, gets her out of the way while he hides the plunder, and flings the murdered woman’s dressing-gown, in which he has wrapped the jewels, under the table. Then he becomes obsessed with fear, imagining at every sound that the officers of the law are on his track and coming to arrest him. At night he dreams of the murdered woman and fiercely attacks and demolishes a model head and bust that assumes, in his heated fancy, the likeness of his victim. He goes back to bed again to dream still further, and his sister, hearing his moans, enters his room half dressed to see what is the matter. She discovers the broken head and the luxurious gown, and, admiring the beauty of the latter, puts it about her shoulders and stands with it on in front of the look-ing-glass. As she does so her brother rouses himself, and thinking that the ghost of his victim is upon him, creeps stealthily out of bed and plunges his knife in the heart of his sister. Too late he realises his awful mistake, and, hurriedly summoning help, gives himself up to justice. We imagine M. Desfontaines has seldom presented a finer study of the emotions awakened by cupidity, fear and remorse than is - seen in this vivid portrayal of < a triple crime. “The Spontaneous Generator” is a film of a very different order. The black-and-white artist is shown at work in his studio, which then disappears, and lines of all sorts and shapes and fantastic descriptions are then rapidly limned on the screen, taking shape as grotesque heads and bodies, and these, in turn, giving place to some individual who marches off, after saluting the audience, the whole forming a remarkably clever series. Other humorous films depict “A Novel Strike,” the strikers being Frerfeh policemen, whose place is taken by prisoners from one of the gaols, the policemen being pounced on by these novel gendarmes and carried off to prison. Even more mirth-provoking is “ The Wizard’s Walking-stick” film, and other amusing pictures are “ Bob’s Revenge,” showing how a small boy got home on the family doctor who detected him malingering and prescribed accordingly; “Mr. Absent Mind,” and “A Good Thing.” Dramatic in character are the stirring episodes depicted with “Major Richardson’s Hounds,”' “ The' Evil Philtre,” ■ “ The Odessey of a Super,” and “The .Money.” Some very fine

scenic pictures are those affording moving panoramic views of the city and country around Piana. Similarly excellent views illustrated “ The Tea Industry,” and showing the planting, pruning, harvesting, drying, blending, packing and testing of the tea —right from the plantations in Canton to the rooms in the West End of London, where ladies meet for “ Afternoon Tea.” Other fine /sets depicted the christening, launching, and first life-saving expedition of a new French lifeboat, and the catching of fish by dynamite in the Solomon Islands, the latter film being beautifully and naturally coloured. Altogether the present programme is of a very entertaining and enjoyable character, the incidental music by Mr. Fred. Stokes’ orchestra adding much to the interest.