ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 289, 15 May 1915, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS.

EMPIRE THEATRE. The new programme at the Empire today will be headed by a star pictorial dramatisation of A. C. Cunter's worldwide popular novel, "Mr. Barnes of New York," with Maurice Costello as Mr. Barnes. Years ago, and even now, Mr. Gunter's books ("Mr. Potter of Texas," "Miss Nobody of Nowhere" and "Mr. ; Barnes of New York") are among the. most popular sellers of the day, ami that fact enhanced the cost to the Vitagraph Co. when they secured the sole exclusive rights to produce in picture form the novel in question. In alloting the part of Mr. Barm's, Costello's wellknown power of characterisation was 1 taken into account, and in his hands i the character of Mr. Barnes actually I seems to live. Every inch of the 5000 | feet of drama, which embodies incidents l in Egypt. Monte Carlo, Corsico and France, is crammed full of sensational and exciting scenes, and the plot of 'the novel is faithfully adhered to. The acting and production are on a splendid scale, and "Mr. Barnes of New York" should easily rank as one of the best feature films yet introduced at the Empire. Supporting pictures include a Keystone comedy. "Dash and Splash," "Oaumont "War flraphic," "Beautiful California," a charming scenic, and "Two's Company," Edison comedy. Seats may be reserved at the Empire, or ring 'phone 3G5.

ROYAL pictures. Featured on today's new programme is Vitagraph's 2000 ft. star drama, entitled "Brandon's last. Hide." Two steadfast friends, Tom lirandon and dim Wade, are in love with the same girl. Alice Thompson. Slie refuses Jim, and lie realises that it is partly because of his fondness for drink. Tom is accepted. Jim leaves for the West, determined to euro himself, and makes good. ' Later In' learns that Tom's firm has failed and he is ruined. For Alice's sake, Jim offers Tom a partnership in the ranch. He accepts, leaving (Alice with her father. He has an accident while riding on tho range and is cared for by Morning Star, daughter of Crazy Bull, a Cheyenne chief. She vows to love Brandon, and he never tells her of his fiancee. Alice's father dies, and Tom sends for lier. Then, despite Jim's warning, tells the Indian girl they must part, as he is to he married. Her love, is turned to hate, but (die quietly suggests that they taJ<e one last ride together. He agrees, and they ride to tho, mouth of the cave, which she laughingly dares him to enter. He goes in, and she rolls a huge boulder over the entrance, effectually closing it. Brandon is horrified to find himself trapped in a snake-pit, facing a death he cannot escape. Her vengeance now complete, the Indian girl returns to her father and tells him all. In the morning, Jim and a couple of the boys learn the whole story from the old Indian chief and Alice is told Tom died to save a friend. She mourns him constantly. Five years later, she discovers the child which Crazy Bull brings to the mission school, where she is teaching, is the child of Tom Brandon and the now dead Morning Star. Her faith is broken and 1 Alice finds happiness as the ■wife of : faithful Jim Wade.. A fascinating serie3 I of films support the star, and are advor- ■ tised in another column.

"WHO'S TIIE LADY?" On Thursday. Mav 20, at the Theatre Royal, New Plymouth, the (Had Eve Company will produce "Who's the Lady?" which was originally produced in Paris, direct from the witty pens or JiAi llenniiniin and Velier, and instantly started tlie t:av Parisians chuckling with delight. .Miss Ethel Dane, as Gobeife. is said to have much greater scope for her powers than in "The Glad Eye." Frank Bradley is provided with an exceedingly amusing chavaclcr. In Hie lii-<t act of "Who's the Lady?" Monsieur Tricointe, president in a country town in France, insists on the local hotelkeeper , expelling from his house the 'wcll-Snowri '; actress, (lohette, who thereupon arrives ; at Tricointe's house and announces her intention of staying there the night. The president is nonplussed, and in the midst of his dilemma the Minister of Justice arrives. Acting on tlie spur of the moment, Gobette is introduced by the pro- ; sident as his wife. The Minister promptly falling a victim to her charms, de- ' cides to transfer the president closer to Paris, that he nicy he nearer to her, thus laying the foundation for inexnrei. sibly funny situations when the real Madame Tricointe duly appears later on at \ the Minister's office to plead for her hu<i band's promotion. Tlie box plan will ; open at Collier's on Tuesday next.