ROYAL ALBERT HALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1065, 4 August 1910, Page 17

ROYAL ALBERT HALL.

WEST’S PICTURES. The picture boom still continues to run along merrily, and large audiences attend the Royal Albert Hall nightly to witness the programme presented. The budget of pictures ushered in on Saturday evening is well up to requirements, and contains some excellent films of every kind. A series of pictures of Rio de Janeiro make an interesting film, showing the principal streets and fine views of the surrounding country and harbour, together with the market, the whole proving instructive and entertaining- “ A Case of Identity” is a splendid dramatic film. Hogarth, a detective, receives a call from a foreigner who, being unable to speak English, begins to write his business and drops dead before finishing. There is no clue upon the man, save the tailor’s mark on his overcoat. Finding the tailor, Hogarth learns the name of the mysterious stranger, but is mystified when the next day’s paper announces that the man whom he saw lying dead on the floor is to sail with his daughter for Europe at noon- Hogarth makes a quick dash for the boat, and finds himself a fellow-passenger of the man, who is apparently the double of his mysterious caller, and the girl, who is supposed to be his daughter. He soon finds that there is a love story, for one of the deck hands on the liner exchanges notes and signals with the girl, and Hogarth discovers that the man is her fiance in disguise, and he then convinces the girl of her danger. A series of pictures taken during the visit of King George Vand Queen Mary, and the reception given to their Majesties by the Maoris at Rotorua, is watched with interest, and receives loud applause. “Victims of Fate” tells a pathetic little love story with the usual happy ending. “ The Centurion’s Daughter” is the title of a powerful historical story. At the house of a Roman Centurion, a patrician slave is loved by the Cen-

turion’s daughter, and the two go to the place where the Christians assemble for secret worship. The . girl embraces the new faith, is baptised, and they are married. A message from the Emperor Nero arrives, bearing a command that the Christians be secured and taken before him. The Centurion’s daughter and her husband cast in their lot with the persecuted brethren. The Centurion arrives to enforce the Emperor’s will, but is amazed to find his own daughter one of the “ accursed” band. The Apostle uses the occasion to speak in his Master’s name- The Centurion first scornfully listens, then glances lovingly at his daughter, devoutly kneeling at his feet, and, removing his helmet, tears up the order of Nero, and kneeling at the feet of the Apostle, is received into the Church he came to persecute. Roosevelt at a military review at Vincennes is most interesting, and makes a very fine picture. “ The Lady and the Ostrich” and “ The Shepherd’s Dog” are dramatic films worth a place on any programme, both being particularly fine films- Several very humorous pictures are included on the programme, a trio of specially good ones being “ Persuasive Powers of a Revolver,” “Am I Loved for Myself Alone?” and “ A Night in Armour.” During the evening the ladies’ orchestra renders a choice selection of musical items, which add greatly to the entertainment.