ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 57, 28 July 1914, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS.

. EMPIRE PICTURES. A. special change of programme at the Empire Picture Palace last night attracted an enthusiastic audiences as well it might, for it proved ft remarkably good; selection of films. The star offering m the dramatic line is a. film called Pot Hw Master." Battier Walsh, the hero of the story, is. a "sky pilot" in the wild West of America. The picture gives a good inaighlt into the ever fas' cinatmg life of the western cowboy, and the work of a who followsthe Gospel of a somewh&t muscu' lar Christianity. The priest wins populanty by defending a) girl, and then sets out to reform tihe leader of a band of robbery and his methods are not of the milk-and-water order. How hie succeeded and what it costs him to do so, are host left to the film to relate. Ghief among the comedies is ft . mirthful production by the Vitagraph Company, entitled "Betty in the Lions' Den." This is an intensely humorous yrodufction dealing with tile vagaries of a young lady, a lover, and a mysterious fluid which, reduces whoever touches it to temporary insanity. These films, with a strong supporting programme, will b; screened for the last time to night.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. "JUDITH OF BETHUHA." _!A,< the Theatre Royal' Pictures last night the_ A. B. Company's wonderful film, "Judith of Bethulia" waa thiemais attraction, and proved to be a most thrilling picture, and it can be safely said to be the most w-onderful in spectacular magnificence we have yet eeen. The_ battle scenes attain perfection in realism, and kept the audience in a continuous state of excitement. Mmm Daphne now at the height? of her fame as a. picture-play tic tress, takes thie .role of Judith, and her acting is nothing less than a triumph. Nothing ■more difficult could be imagined than the portrayal of tihe scene between Holofernes and herself, when, in spite of the love she bears for him, shle has to nerve to work his' destruction, in order that her beloved people may be saved. So natural is her acting, ihloweven, that there is not tfhe slightest suspicion of incongruity in the tragic incident. The acting of Naomi and tihe male principals, nnpre particularly Holofernes, is also ' magnificent. The story is depicted even to minute details, and nothing has been overlooked that makes for perfection. Only a verr jaded picture-lover could help but feel tlmlled by the scene in which the Assyrians ■ (assault the walls of Betlralia and the fidelity with which the ancie i; story is generally presented. The settings are gorgeous, portions of the old walls of Jerusalem Ibeing utilised to give added effect to the production. The first half concluded with one of tihe funniest comedies we have seen, entitled "Because of a Hat," and the audience screamed with laughter over tihe ridiculous situations, hardly a dull moment being available to give them a rest. The great programme will be screened again to-night, and should be greeted with :l packed house.