AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

| THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. A very large audience assembled ®.t the Theatre Royal last night to witness the initial screening of an excellent series of photo-plays. Tho programme consisted of four two-act features, all of which contained high merit. Keen interest was centred in the big war drama, "Parted by the Sword." This is the chronicle of the adventures of a young Englishman, Jack Moran, who was spending a vacation in a town in Southern Germany just prior to war being declared. He liad, in a most intrepid manner, saved a young lady whose life was in danger through her horses bolting. Later in the week he attends a gambling house, and the lady recognises him. He fails to recognise her, because she is wearing a mask. She is known as the "Masked Gambler." While in the gambling room war is de(dared, and a German posse arrives to arrest all Englishmen. The lady discloses herself, and amidst an exciting •scene leads him through an escape. Taking a motor-boat the two reach her house, and Jack Moran recognises her. The soldiers visit the house of the woman, and Jack lias to make an escape by swimming. Seeing some horses, he steals one and makes for the French lines. Before he can reach them he is 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 chasm, on a motor-cycle. This is a thrilling scene, which quite takes theb reath away. Other films shown Were "The Master Key" (serial drama, sixth episode), "No One to Guide Him" (a Chaplin-Kevstone comedy), "Bio' Jim's Heart" (a breezv Western dramaj and the latest War Gazette. The programme will be repeated to-night. EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. The popularity of the Empire Picture Palace was well exemplified last night on the occasion of the usual Thursday's change .of programme. Every seat in the building was occupied' before the entertainment commenced. . The new film, combined with the splendid orchestral music, made up an entertainment which pleased the audience immensely. The most prominent picture of the series was a 3000 ft detective story of the Sherlock Holmes type, entitled "The Counterfeiters." The plot is full of mystery and is unique. There being many counterfeit notes in circulation, the' Board of Bankers put the matter in the nands of the able detective, Dent, who at a steeplechase meeting sees Kate' Broadway, a suspicious-looking woman, and keeps an eye on her. He follows her, and at the station he arrests her, but through lack of evidence she is diseharg'ed. Some ti.me later, in the country, near an old mill, a gentleman was fishing, and the gang who use this mill as their laboratory see him. They send Kate Broadway' to try and make his acquaintance . She succeeds in doing so, and having seen in his pocket a bundle of notes substitutes them with the counterfeit ones. The gentleman returns to London the same evening, and takes his fiancee out to supper. The hotel manager discovers that the notes offered in payment are counterfeit, and summons the police to arrest him. This is where Sexton Blake takes up the case, and after most daring adventures he succeeds in capturing the members of the gang. Supporting this fine film were several good comedies and the latest edition of the Topical War Budget. The same programme will be repeated to-night for the last time. ,

OUR NAVY. Nothing has sewed to better emphasise the fact that "the sea is England's glory" than tlie calm, quiet policing of i the seas, in a most effective »ria:iner, by tlie Navy. . The high traditions of centuries liave been more than maintained during the present war, and they have been maintained with a dignity and thoroughness that must have impressed the whole world. Tlie Navy, its constitution, its methods, its personnel and the -habits and duties of those who work on It will be dealt with at the Theatre Royal on Monday night, when the management will present a series of up-to-date pictures of the fleet in being, showing every phase and feature of life connected with it. This great film, over '4Booft in length, is described as a revised and modern reproduction of "Our Navy" of to-day. It is the work of Mr. Alfred West. F.E.G.S., of Southsea., who is official photographer to the Admiralty. In addition to this interesting item, a strong supporting programme includes the latest five-reel Famous Players' master-play, entitled "The Call ef the North." This sensational story of the trackless wilds is taken from the writing, "The Conjuror's House," by Stuart Edward White, and filmed on the exact local of the book. It eo?t £ 10,000 and four months of time to produce, and is said to be the Vest Famous Players' production to date.