ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 250, 31 March 1915, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. | A powerful drama of American social and political life heads the new programme shown at the Empire last night. "Shadows of the Past" h really one of the best examples of uodcru day picture dramas that we have had from the Vitagraph Company. The plot centres round an American citizen and his

wife, who years before had suffered imprisonment. This has been night forgotten, when a plausible political villain rakes up these shadows of the past and blackmails them into becoming the. tools of his ambition. How this villain uses the unwilling couple in a nefarious | scheme to work the downfall of his young oponent, land how Antoinette, the young politician's secretary, steps in and upsets the whole plot, is portrayed in powerful acting by the Vitagraph Company's best artists. The finale of the picture is exciting to a degree. Antoinette is racing in a car to warn Tier lover of the scheme for his downfall, while gradually, but j surely, overtaking her in another car is the arch-villain. The latter is

thwarted at a railway crossing, lowever. The new Keystone picture is entitled "Hard Cider," and the fun in

iC is fast and furious. Another very comical film is You Kids." The Pathe War _UrapTi7c contains pictures of many interesting happenings from the seat of war. There are other fine films in *jie programme".

FRANK MORTON. Referring to the lecture delivered by Mr. Frank Morton at Wanganui last week, which wiTl also be given at the Theatre Royal to-night, the Chronicle says:—"As a lecturer, Mr. Morton is well known. It was, therefore, not to be wondered at that lie was greeted by a good audience at the Opera House last evening, when he delivered a lecture entitled "The Lord High Hypocrite," -.indor which' heading he dealt with many phases of the great war. Into the space of two hours, Mr. Morton crowded a tremendous quantity of facts ar,' opinions. Metaphorically speaking, Be took " The Lord High Hyproeritc" by the moustaches, held him up for public inspection, and, with the keen sword" of criticism, deprived him of every shred of clothing, and exposed him in all his naked rottenness. Then, aided by excellent lantern slides, Mr. iforton traced the course of events in the eastern and western theatres since the outbreak of the war. The Germans' devilish brutality was emphasised in a manner which made one's blood boil. From beginning to end, Mr. Morton held the attention of the audience, by whom he was frequently applauded. We commend the lecture to the citizens of the towns yet to be visited.