AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1916, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

• THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. Picture-goers will find plenty of variety in the new programme of feature films to be shown at the Theatre Royal for the first time to-night. The particular attraction is a film entitled "Parted by the Sword," a story of Germany in war time. It tells of a young Englishman who was spending a holiday in Berlin at the outbreak of war. In a tremendous effort to get clear of the iniquitous treatment of the Huns this gallant Britisher becomes mixed up in a vortex of hairbreadth escapes, which tax his ingenuity to the utmost. Eventually he reaches, the French lines by making one of the most exciting rides, and a wonderful leap over a 20ft chasm on a motor-cycle. This is indeed a thrilling picture. Another sensational chapter of "The Master Key" serial drama will be shown. This, the. sixth episode, deals with the police . raid on the Chinese den. Sin War escapes With the heroine, and most exciting incidents follow; making this a really good 'hum-,' ber. Lovers of comedy will find much amusement in the latest Chaplin keystone, entitled "No.one to Guide Him." Chaplin lias a few words with his wife,' and arrives at the restaurant where he earns his daily bread a trifle laie. This leads to complication, so he and another waiter go for a joyous day. Supporting films are: "Topical War Budget," "One on Ikey" (comedy) and a breezy twopart romance entitled "Big Jim's Heart." This programme will be shown for three nights.

OUR BRITISH NAVY, ■At the Theatre Royal next.Monday and Tuesday the picture management will present, by arrangement with Mr. Charles McMahon, the only complete naval film in existence of "Our British Navy." This great picture, taken by' Mr. Alfred West, F.R.G.S., the Admirnlty photographer, is now in its second year in London, where it lias drawn record audiences nightly. It discloses in every detail the operations of the units comprising the British Navy, nnd reveals many scenes which will make picturegoers here feel proud of their nationality. It gives a complete representation of life in our Navy, of the sailor's joys and sorrows in peace and war. It shows the raw country boy's experiences when he first joins his ship, and the whole varying phases of maritime activity. It also illustrates the stern grandeur of a great battle of dreadnoughts, when our men risk deatli every second amidst bursting shells and exploding torpedoes. The New Plymouth season is limited to two nights only owing to the bookings. . \ EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE, The star item of to-day's new programme at tile Empire Picture Palace is the Davidson bis feature drama, 'The Counterfeiters." This is an up-to-date story of the Sherlock Holmes type; the detective hero in this subject being Sexton P.lake. There is a gang of. counterfeiters, two men and a woman, who carry on a very successful trade with spurious bank notes.. The woman, known as Broadway Kate, is tripped up by Detective- Dent, but when placed on her trial is acquitted ..owing to insufficiency, of evidence. She returns to her nefarious occupation, and, causcfl the arrest of an innocent man by secretly exdiaging bogus notes for the bona fide notes he is carrying. Here Sexton Blake is called in, and it is here that the picture reevals a series of daring.' thrilling and surprising.episodes, which keep the onlooker in a delightful state of expectancy until tiie mystery is solved. ■Supporting films will include "A Wild Ride" ("Hazards of Helen'' railroad dramatic series), "Topical Wnr Budget," "Almost n Hero" (Vita comedy), "Safety first" (Komic comedy) and' 'Thynno's Nightmare" (cartoon-comic). The music, by a capable orchestra, will be a feature of the entertainment.