ENTERTAINMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3679, 14 November 1912, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

PATHE PICTURES. . It is not often that an express train plays the leading part in a drama, but the large audience at His Majesty’s Theatre last night received a thrill in the star drama when a flying special pulled up only a few feet away from the heroine. “The Girl with the Lantern” is the title of this great railroad romance, and is a splendid adaptation of Elliott Flowers’ story of the same name. The fcaturo of the drama is the scene in which the heroine, at the risk of her

life, stops a train travelling at the rate of 60 miles an hour, and thus averts a dreadful calamity. The drama contains many thrilling episodes, and caught the favor of the audience immediately last night. This thrilling production will be repeated to-night. In addition to the big picture, the new programme last evening contained many attractive features. A most impressive pageant was presented in the fuhfc'ral of General Booth. Much interest was taken in “The Manila Hemp Industry,” and “Deep Sea Diving,” two subjects of high educative value. That prince of comedians. Mr John Bunny, created much merriment in the guise of “A Pseudo Sultan,” his adventures with the Sultana and the ladies of the harem being ludicrously funny. A part change of programme will be made to-night, when two new dramas will be presented, which are said to be much above average merit. These are “From Fireman to Engineer” (a story of heroism) and “Indian Mail Bobbery” (a sensational detective story). Several other new subjects will also be included in to-night’s series, which should be well worth seeing. THE OPERA HOUSE.

The local “sports” were present in full force at the Opera House last night for the cinematographic depiction of the week-old Melbourne Cup, the film having been hurriedly developed and sent on its journey, direct to Gisborne, the day after the racing piece de resistance of the Australasian sporting world. The film suffered none from the celerity with which it was prepared. It can, indeed, be classed as a triumphant picture production of a horse-race, being free from the irregularity and want of continuity which has proved a drawback to many such films. An idea was first given of the dimensions of the concourse assembled for the Cup and of the size and beauty of Flemington. Then came the various stages of the race. The weather was the reverse of typical Australian, it having been, as a Melbourne writer says, “the most cheerless and uninviting Cup day for a number of years. It was blustering weather, far more reminiscent of July than November.” And the cheerlessness and dullness of the day could be gained from the picture, but it is remarkable ‘hat the thickness of the atmosphere did not detract greatly from the clearness of the scene. From beginning to end. the field of 23 horses could be followed and the eventful finish was the signal for intense excitement and enthusiasm. There was a tremendous outburst as Piastre flashed victoriously past the judge’s box, winning handsomely, bringing joy to the hearts of ringmen and backers and leaving the reputation of another Cup favorite dead on the field. “The Legitimate Defence,” the dramatic picture starring in this new programme, is in every way an ornate and elaborate production. The stagi lg is a triumph of mechanical effect, and the superb dresses of the performers make it the most trilliijnt production of its kind seen for many months. Throughout the picture is a iriumph of cinematographic production, beautifully artistic as to setting, costuming and acting, and absorbing in its tense dramatic situations. "The Girl and the Cowboy”’ is a Western drama abounding in the beautiful rugged scenery of Colorado. .Another notabje “feature" is the A.B. Company’s drama, "The Inner Circle,” which can only be described as thrilling. The two scenics in this present programme are also of great interest in view of the present war in tho Balkans, as they deal firstly with the Adriatic Sea and in tho second film with the “Mosques, and Palaoes of Turkey." A. comic deserving of special mention, if only from its quaintness and originality, is "A Study in Faces.” It is the most humorous picture yet shown at the Opera nouse. This great programme will bi; shown again this evening, and the final screening will take place to-morrow night.