AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURES. The new programme screened at the Empire Picture iPalace -was thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience present. This series contains two big star films, both highly entertaining and novel productions, but of widely different character. The first star is entitled "A House of Cards," the story of which depicts life as a game of cards. This production, which has been ingeniously worked out by the famous Lubin Company, came in for much favorable comment, the ladies being particularly charmed with the pretty love story revealed. The second star caused much merriment, being a two-act comedy by the VitagrapU artists, under the title of "Janet of the Chorus." The story opens: Shortly after Barry's marriage to Janet, a chorus girl, he is horrified to learn that his uncle has returned from abroad and will arrive within the hour. Uncle is a woman-hater, and Barry knows he will be instantly disinherited should uncle learn of his marriage. But Janet solves the problem in a jiffy. She is introduced to uncle as his little niece. The scheme works beautifully at first, but not the way Barry expected, and the plot thickens when uncle brings the "little niece" presents of skates and dolls! Of course, the inevitable discovery comes, but the young couple get out of it and are forgiven. Several other good films were also shown. The same series -will be repeated to-night for the last time.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. AN EXCEPTIONALLY BRILLIANT PROGRAMME. The Royal Pictures change of programme last evening comprised one ol the strongest selections of motion pictures seen at this popular house for some time. The star film is a "Broadway" feature, entitled "From Headquarters," according to the New York papers, the best detective and human nature story, with love as its pendulum, that has been screened for tho past decade. Rose, a pretty typist, iinplicity trusting her employer, who has promised her marriage," discovers with a breaking heart, thai her faith is illfounded. Staggered by his refusal to keep his word, she seizes a knife and plunges it into his back. Her father, a detective, is assigned the case and traces the crime to his daughter, and the stern omeer of the law is torn between his duty and love for ' his daughter. The conscience of Brown, the employer, arouses within him a terrible knowledge of his infidelity and he directs the police to drop the ease. The climax is thrilling. The leading characters are sustained by' Anita Stewart and Earle Williams and no better artists could bo found in any part of the world. There are several delightfully interesting films among the supporting items, including the latest European Gazette with its interesting news of the war. The second episode of "The Master Key" gains a still firmer grip on the interest of the spectators. In the present instalment Tom Gallon is haunted by a remembrance of his crime, and tho ghost of the hill, above the mine they had discovered years ago. But it is no ghost that haunts him, Wilkerson, after years of search has discovered the man who betrayed him. The story gets deeply interesting.

"THE DANCING GIRL." On Monday night next the Royal Pictures management will present to theatre-goers ike Famous Players striking dramatic success "The Dancing Girl" with Florence Reed in the leading role. Few emotional dramas have enjoyed the run of public favor accorded this great stage success in the United States. It is the story of a Quaker girl who leaves her simple home and becomes a great dancer, feted and petted by society, and settling under the patronage of the profligate Duke of Guiseberry. Many aud dramatic are the scenes and settings, nothing more powerful having been filmed than the scene between "The Dancing Girl," and her father who has followed her to London, and the house of the Duke. The father's curse and the awakening of the girl and the nobleman are strong threads admirably woven into a story of great brilliance, pathos and strong human feeling. "The Dancing Master" will be shown for ;three nights commencing next Monday.