ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 239, 9 April 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE PICTURES. The current programme at the Empire Picture Theatre drew full houses both on Saturday and Mon'day evenings. Theseries includes something to suit all tastes. The scenic, educational, dramatic and comie pictures were all nicely blended. The dramatic side was particularly strong, including, as it did, a powerfully 'drawn subject, entitled "Love and Friendship." It lias more than a, touch of romance in it, and ha s all the attributes which appeal to an audience's emotions. To be a success a picture' drama must grip the minds of its spectators, so that all agree (for the time) that honesty is the best policy, that vice should be firmly trodden down, and so that there is a unanimity of opinion that they would not hear of villainy getting on in the world on any consideration whatever. So much for the temporary effect produced bv "Love and Friendship." In between whiles the patrons of the Empire eaw much that was good from a spectacular viewpoint. A special feature was the excellent display with the single-sticks by the fencing-master (one of the central figures in the piece), and later on between the_' heroine and her rival, th» twain in this case being in de&dly earnest There are many ways of illustrating life's same old story, which has been the hotbed of dissension and trouble since the world first spun on its axis, and "Love and Friendship" depicts it in a manner both oonvinfiiwr and interesting. "The Stage-driver's Daughter" is a drama typical, as authors woufd have us believe, of life "out West," and deals with a phase which seems to take on well with picturetheatre audiences. Apart from the "blood and thunder" element, an attractive feature is a picturesque coach road and the skilful iind daring driving Of a "six-in-hand" by the girl who is honored with the title-role. In "The Wheels of Justice" the au'dience is provided with a drama of a more domestic character, in which some flash-light photography proves the unexpected means of championing right against might. Of a different nature, but none the less interesting, is an. educational film, "British Birds of Prey". The usual leaven of comedy is provided by four films, "The House that Jack Built," "Tweedledum's Auto-Skates," "A Hurrie'd Renovation." and "Auntie and the Cowboys". On Wednesday 4000 feet of film will be shown in the shape off Cha«. Reid's thrilling l story, "It's Never Too Late to Mend."