AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1915, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

THE EMPIRE, Heading the programme at the Empire Theatre to-morrow is a picture of especial merit, entitled, "Sons of Satan." Adapted from a story of that fascinating author, William to Queux, "Sons of Satan" embraces all the sensations and silbtelty of the story with the *dded merit of the reality of the living picture. The story centres chiefly upon a man, Harry Normand, who from his birth is destined to be a disciple ot' Satan. Normand at convenient moments is a famous detective, known as Paul de Vilereau, and so is enabled to gain "inside information" which proves of great assistance to the gang of rogues and blackmailers of which he is chief. The story of his career is exciting in the extreme, but finally he is entangled in the mesh of his crime and his career as a son of Satan is extinguished with no little sensation. Written by Le Queux, the very vital interest of the film is assured, but with the combined effects of most excellent photography, and splendid acting the picture reaches a very high standard. The rest of the programme is also good. The comic element is supplied by "Bcppo, the Barber" (featuring Fay Tineher), and some very interesting views are shown of Yellowstone Park, a place described as the "Rotorua of America." Cartoons from "John Bull's Sketch Book" (humorous), and 'The European Gazette," with topical war pictures, complete a fine programme. "THE BETTER MAN." The Famous Players production of "The Better Man," an adaption of the well-known book by Rev. Townsend Brady delighted a large audience in the Empire Theatre last Saturday evening. Mark Stebbing and Lionel Barmore are two young clergymen in a metropolis, both friends, and both earnest workers, but of distinctly opposite types. Both love the same woman—Margaret Wharton, the daughter of a proud and wealthy capitalist, and strong supporter of the fashionable clrareh of St. Hilda's. The Bishop of the Diocese has two vacancies for which he mußt recommend rectors; one of the churches is that of St. Hilda's, the other that of St. Osmund's, the broken and deserted church of the slums. Stebbing, the uncouth and self-made man, chooses the poverty-stricken church of the poor and sinful as the place that needs him most, while Barmore is glad to see the beautiful church of St. Hilda's fall to his lot. Barmore and Stebbing confess their love to Margaret' on the same day, and she, in doubt as to which is the better man, answers them both evasively. Barmore takes his leave, gallant desiring he may hope for a definite answor in the future; but Margaret's little cqquetry i 9 mistaken by the straightforward Stebbing for a disguised "yes," and he seizes her in his arms. Margaret is resentful, and in anger accepts Barmore in Stebbing's presence. Stebbing goes back to the slums. The old Bishop dies, and Barmore and Stebbing are both named as candidates for the Bishopric. The men naturally cease to be friends during the struggle for the two prizes, but Stebbing tells the people that Barmore is better fitted for the exalted position. Wharton's workmen go on strike, and Stebbing learns of a dynamite plot against the works, and stops it just in time to save Wharton's entire property from ruin, though much is destroyed.' He pleads with Wharton to yield to his employees' demands, but without success. On the day of the election of Bishops, Stebbing leaves the Church to rush to the yards where he has heard strikers are rioting. He fiinds that the toughs among the infuriated strikers have placed Margaret in a shed in which deadly explosives are stored, which are about to be set on fire. He saves Margaret and prevents the militia from firing upon the strikers, being himself nearly killed in the struggle. The Ttishopric is given' to' Barmore, hut through these circumstances the strength of Stebbing's character is revealed to Margaret and she gives him her promise as "the better man." Some fine films are included in the supporting programme. BAKER BROS' CIROfP. The feature attraction at Baker Bros' Circus, which shows here 011 Saturday, Dec. 11. will be the Globe of Death. It has been described as a "death-defying act," and the participants in the performance . an certainly lay claim to that title. The trio of performers—the Staigs—are ndept cyclists, one of whom is a female. The entourage of this latest exploit is a great transparent sphere, made of a network of steel wires of a diameter ot about 22ft. A door opens on one side of the spher,o. and the performers, with cycles, outer, and ride around the interior at a rapid rate. Sometimes two career round the sphere at the same time. The speed increases as if spme invisible propeller were pulling them on: they swirl and circle madly up and around. Theii bodies quickly change from the parallel to right angles with the •floor, and like two frenzied flies caught in a trap, they swirl round the sphere at a terrific rate of speed. The performance with the motor-cycle is a truly wonderful achievement. With the machine the rider swirls across the entire circumference of the structure at a mad, lightning-like velocity, up, over and down. It is a truly phenomenal performance, and to the spectator it contains something that for a fraction of a second is horrifying, alarming and thrilling. The 1051b motor-cycle, travelling at the rate of the fastest railway train, exerts a great pressure on the globe. It is stated that the cycle makes 2'200 revolutions a minute. The structure weighs 2% tons. There are also other star turns, and tile company gives one of the best shows now travelling.