The Empress Pictures.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 10 July 1914, Page 3

The Empress Pictures.

KING’S HALL, TO-NIGHT. Capital audiences have greeted Mr Briton’s efforts to supply his patrons with living pictures, and the various programmes submitted have met with unstinted approval, and naturally so since the films come straight to the King’s from Sydney after having been shown in one Auckland theatre. The manager is acting up to his motto —“ Latest, Brightest, Best, ” and his audiences by their prolonged cheers acknowledge his efforts. For to-night every picture is a star, the largest being the intensely dramatic and human story, “ A Girl and her Money, ” over 2000 feet in length. The heroine pestered with suitors for her money changes places with her maid who dies. She falls in love with an hotel clerk and marries him, the various situations being portrayed in dramatic fashion. Other dramas are “ Blue Blood and Red” a story of Western life full of thrilling incident, “ A Woman’s Revenge, ” pathetic and emotional, and “The Book,” while the comic element is well supplied by ” His Way of Winning Her, ” where the lover in disguise of a female chaperon, has some ludicrous experiences ; “ Look Before you Leap, ” and “ Peggy as Peacemaker, ” the educational part being filled by Messier’s great Picture, “ The Flying Fox, ” 4000 feet in length. For Saturday “ The God of Girzah ” (2,500 feet) is the chief picture, a special exclusive feature, and a 101 Bison, which is a guarantee of merit. Great audiences greeted its appearance in the Acadia Theatre, the weird situations and the dramatic intensity appealing strongly to all who saw it. The story is as follows: An English Colonel steals an idol of Buddah from the Temple of Girzah. The priests demand its return, but the Colonel denies having stolen it. His servants league themselves with the priests against him, and his life is attempted by the agency of a huge cobra, which, after a great struggle, he manages to kill. Fifteen years later he goes to the United States with his nephew. One night, his eyes failing him, lie sends his valet for his private secretary; a moment before the secretary is ushered into the room, two Hindoo priests enter and stab the Colonel to death. The girl secretary is accused of the murder by the valet, who finds her by the body of the dead Colonel. She effects an escape through the window, and three months later meets the nephew and marries him. When the nephew brings his wife home, the valet recognises her, threatens her with exposure, and succeed;, in blackmailing her. Her life is made unbearable until she finds the Colonel’s diary w hi< h tells her of the former attempt on his life. She confesses everything to her husband, and is cleared of suspicion. Supporting are the dramas, "By Unseen Hands”, “The Claim Jumper ”, and John Burns of Gettysburg”, the comedies, “ What Came to Bar Q”, “ Miss Pimple, Suffragette,’ ’Panic,’ and the scenic film —of intense interest to Scotchmen— showing the home of the greatnovelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott”. On Monday night the programme will bo equally bright, of unsurpassed excellence, and of charming variety. Hence, the manager anticipates bumper houses. Seats can be booked at the hall at any hour without oxtra charge.