ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1915, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ARMIES OF EUROPE AT WAR. Armies of 'Europe war films, Which are to be shown by the special company of experts, and augmented with songs by leading singers, a descriptive lecture by the actual photographer, and most appropriate martial music, will no doubt attract an enormous crowd on Tuesday and Wednesday, for this entertainment has drawn overflowing audiences to every theatre in Australia and New Zealand where it has been shown. Direct from J. C. Williamson's Theatre Royal, Adelaide, and a three weeks' season at the King's Theatre, Melbourne, it came to Auckland, where it was shown 42 times in one week to record houses.' Bearing these facts in mind, the management 'has arranged to book all dress circle seats, and if necessary the stalls. The box plan is now open at Hoffmann's, where seats should be secured early to save disappointment.

Every phase of the great struggle of the waning nations is seen on t'he screen, and described by the actual photograp'her in such a manner that one almost feels that one is witnessing the very scenes on the spot. Never before has any entertainment bristled with so many startling events, every scene being a genuine war picture. The New Zealand Herald says: "The horrors of war were, however more vividly portrayed in the glimpses of the dressing station near the firing line. Many of the wounds were of a horrible nature, yet few of the men flinched under the skilful treatment of the heroic nurses and doctors. A soldier with a bayonet wound in his chest, and yet alive, another with his legs mangled by an explosive bullet, were, if anything, too realistic of the horrors of war." However, the management has made these pictures very short, so one merely gets a glimpse of this side of warfare, and not sufficient time to dwell upon them to harrow one's feelings.

THE EMPIRE THEATRE. A picture showing up the methods of the "bucket" shop proprietors, or bogus company promoters of America, is the star attraction of an excellent programme of pictures screened at the Empire on Saturday last. The title of the picture is "The Swindler,' 'and it features the beautiful actress, Miss Alice Joyce, in the part of the swindler's wife. The opening scenes show a country village, where a beautiful young girl is pining to get to the great city to see life. She turns a deaf ear to a country lover, and marries an attractive young man from the metropolis. Her ambition is realised when she becomes mistress of great city house. At the same time tin l true business of her husband is shown, and one sees how widows and trussing people are fleeced of their small possessions by the bogus stockbroker. Finally she learns the truth, and scorns t'he husband who takes the bread out of the mouths of the poor to place diamonds about her neck, and in a dramatic scene the husband is shown falling a victim to the revenge of his dupes. The girl then 10 turns to her father's house, sadder hut wiser, and with a <onstant lover still waiting. The other attraction of the programme shows "Fatty and Mabel,'' the Keystone comedy pair, in scenes at San Diego, where they provide some great amusement. ''Under False Colors" is a delightful comedy story. Other films include latest war topics, and an industrial picture, "The Making of a Newspaper," showing a great daily being turned out, from the time the paper is made out of pulp till the printed sheet reaches the breakfast table. The progiamme will he repeated this evening.

WITHIN OUR GATES. Next Thursday and Friday J C Williamson's. Ltd., great patriotic' war drama "Within Our Gates" will be presented. It is Australia's very finest production, and was enacted for the camera by a strong cast of J. C. Williamson's leading artists.

J he subject is one of surpassing interj ' , treats witll !l question which is ot vital importance to the entire British Lmpire. In addition, the main thread of the drama 13 absolutely true, and the incidents introduced are natural to the conduct of the story. Every New Zealander should witness this intense photoplay. It is an epoch in the motion picturo world of Australasia, Seats may be reserved at Hoffmann's