AROUND THE MOVIES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1382, 19 October 1916, Page 35

AROUND THE MOVIES.

Globe. The picturisation of Anthony Hope’s book “The Prisoner of Zenda” is accounting for record crowds at the Globe Theatre. Most people are familiar with the romantic story of the easy-going King of Ruritania and his double. How his Majesty is too drunk to appear at his own coronation and how Rudolph Rassendyll takes his place at the ceremony and deceives even the Queen, lose nothing of their dramatic force in the screening, and suspensive interest is maintained throughout. The staging of the production is magnificent. Every detail is accurate, and there is a rapidity of action that keeps one wholly absorbed. The acting is of a high order, that sterling English artist, Mr. Henry Ainlie, taking the dual role of the King and Rassendyl, and making both parts memorable ones. Miss Jane Gail makes a handsome and impressive Flavia.

Those who follow the fortunes of “The Prisoner of Zenda” will welcome the sequel, “Rupert of Hentzau,” which will head the list on Saturday next, and bring the incidents of the former to a final and dramatic conclusion. The story lends itself peculiarly to the needs and requirements of the silent drama, for it is made up of one long-continued set of episodes that involve rapid movement. There is a realistic fencing bout between Rassendyl and Rupert (the King’s unprincipled cousin), while the love situations, revealing the bogus King’s love for Flavia, have an unexpected ending.

Everybody’s. Dainty Blanche Sweet is featured at Everybody’s this week in “The Warrens of Virginia,” a stirring story of love and war. Agatha Warren, daughter of the aristocratic Southern General Warren, has, before the Civil War, fallen in love with Ned Burton, of New York. With the beginning of hostilities General Warren takes command of the Southern troops, and Burton enlists in the Union Army. Most of the action of the drama takes place during the closing days of the war, when General Warren’s soldiers are suffering from the lack of supplies. Burton is forced by his superior officers to use his intimacy with the Warren family in carrying a ruse which leads to the defeat of the supply trains coming to the relief of the Confederate Army. When he is captured, Agatha, still loving him in spite of herself, offers him the means of escape, which he is too proud to accept. The timely surrender of Lee at Appomattox is all that saves him from being shot. The sequel to these stirring events is the ultimate reunion of the lovers. « * * ♦ Princess.

A Metro is always a sure draw, and as the Princess Theatre specialises in these product'ons, crowds are the order day and night. “The Snowbird,” th s week’s choice, has all the elements to mark it for public approval. A girl’s love for her father is the theme of the story. It tells how Lois Wheeler, a society girl, goes into the backwoods of Canada

to carry out her resolve to clear the character of her father, who has been involved in a shady land deal. The one person who holds the document which would vindicate her father, is a guide of the north, who refuses to part with it. How Lo’s, disguised as a boy, makes her way to the woodsmen’s cabins and attempts to steal the deed, makes up a story of strong dramatic interest. Mabel Tal'aferro is particularly suited to the part of the heroine. # * * * Grafton. Memories of the well-known emotional actress, Nance O’Neil, are re vived at the Grafton Theatre in the Fox Photo-play, “Prncess Romanoff.” The. central figure of the story is a fascinating young widow of St. Petersburg, who falls in love w th Vladimir Boroff, a young man of high social standing. On the eve of the r wedding day Vladimir is found dead, and everything points to murder. The princess takes a vow to devote her life to finding the unknown murderer. Her search brings about a series of dramatic situations which are superbly handled The mounting is on an elaborate scale and the at mosphere of the country is aptly conveyed.

Grand. j Admirers of dainty Mary Pickford have an opportunity of seeing . their ' favourite at her best m “Rags, the outstanding feature at the Grand Theatre. The adventures of the little waif make- a potent appeal, so much charm does Miss Pickford bring to her portrayal, and one follows every phase of “Rags’” troublous life with

infinite pleasure. Humour and pathos in turn thread their way, and build up a delightful story.

Queen’s. “Blind Justice” is attracting the keen interest of picturegoers this week. The drama features Henry B. Walthall, who made such a success as the “Little Colonel” in “The Birth of a Nation.” He early forsook the study of law for a stage career, and played in stock companies until the outbreak of the Spanish war, when he enlisted. He was won to cameraacting by the Biograph Company, and is now with Essanay. * * * * Lyric.

“Going Straight” is making a popular appeal at the Lyric Theatre. It is based on the doings of two socety thieves, who, after a career of crime, reform for the sake of their child. In living up to their new code of “Going Stra'ght,” grim spectres from the shadows of their crooked past confront them. One of the old gang finds them out and threatens to inform on the wife who “has not done her bit for that Billington job.” In the end Fate smiles rn them, but their uphill fight brings with it many a bitter experience that has a forceful presentation on the screen.

Henry B. Walthall (featured in “Blind Justice”) makes a strong point of screen-punctuation. Accord ing to his own definition it means doing a thing until the audience gets a clear understanding—then stopping and doing something else.