ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 289, 3 June 1912, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE EMPIRE PICTURES. The term musieal, as well as moving, I might well he applied to the pictures screened at t'he Empire Theatre. With the ever improving quality of the films submitted at this popular place of amusement, the instrumental music has by no means been permitted to lag hehind. On the occasion of Saturday night's bi-weekly change of programme the music was an entertainment in itself, one selection in particular, "The Lost Chord," which was played as an overture to the second half, quite taking the audience by storm. Foremost among the films was a local production portraying the many scenic wonders of the New Plymouth Recreation Grounds. All local residents are familiar with the beauties of Pukekura Park, but few have the opportunity of such a minute and detailed exploration of its resources as that afforded by the cinematograph film in question. If put on in other towns in the Dominion the picture should prove a big advertisement of New Plymouth's superb garden. The supporting films comprised a varied collection, and included four dramas of more than ordinary interest. The photographic effects in one of these, "The Little Widow," were such as would almost seem to be beyond the range of the camera, involving, as they did, a realistic shipwreck and the perils of a raft bearing the sole survivors. "The Little Widow" has also a powerful, though not too far fetched, vein of sentiment running through it. A typical 'Wild West" story was unfolded in "The Ranchmen's Daughter," _ while "The Maid at the Helm" provided much food for reflection. "Climbing the • Ray" was an excellent travel study, and in addition there was the usual leaven of comics, all up to standard.