AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1916, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

■EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE, A full programme of all new pictures will be shown at the Empire Picture Palace at both afternoon and evening performances to-day. The feature film, which is the seventh part of.'"The Million Dollar Mystery," is entitled "The j Doom of the Auto Bandits," and depicts the reporter, Norton, outwitting the dreaded motor bandits by an extremely clever ruse. The film is intensely exciting, and is well backed by a good supporting programme, which includes an interesting Topical Budget, bearing the famous trade-mark "Pathe," and by a brace of clever and diverting comedies, A fun-film of rare merit is called "Dirty Work in a Laundry," and depicts Ford Sterling and Minta Durfee, two of the Keystone Company's most able artists, in one of their cleverest farces. Another specially good film is screened under the name of "A Rare Companionship," in which a rabbit plays ah important part. Sandwiched between these films comes a drama by the notable Thanhouser Company, bearing the cognomen "Old Jane of the Gaiety." This item is a story of a once famous actress who is now a wardrobe mistress at a theatre. The current programme is worth a visit by picture patrons, embracing as it does the interesting, the sensational and the comic. The orchestral music is a feature of the entertainment.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. To-day at the Theatre Royal the usual matinee will be given in addition to the evening performance, when the current programme will be shown for the last time. This is a capital series and should not be overlooked by picture patrons. In addition to "Parted by the Sword," a present war story, and "Big Jim's Heart," a western romance, both twoact feature dramas, there is a brilliant two-act comedy entitled "No one to Guide Him." The "him" in this case is the inimitable Chaplin, and his many eccentric antics keep the onlooker in roara of merriment. This picture is funny beyond words, and there is not a duil moment throughout its great length. A film of very topical interest is the new "War Budget," containing the latest "firing-line" views. ' The followers o£ tlie serial drama, "The Master Key," have their last opportunity to-da.v of seeing the sixth episode in this highly sensational story. In this number the police raid the Chinese den. where Ruth is 'held prisoner. Sing Wall escapes with Ruth; many thrilling scenes follow, with John Dore in hot pursuit and close! upon the train of the conspirators. Further big attractions are announced for Monday. "OUR NAVY" PICTURES. The realisation of "Our Navy" has no further significance to most people beyond a suggestion of an engine of excessive strength. To them the actual fleet in being is a sealed book, and the knowledge of its daily routine and its magnificent methods is meagre in the extreme. There is no necessity why it should remain so any longer, for there will be shown at the Theatre Royal next Monday and Tuesday a most illuminative series of views of "Our Navy," showing the stately ships that shake the splendor of the silent seas in every detail of their construction, their maintenance and their methods, both on sea and under the sea, from the fussing submarine to the stately super-Dread-nought. A certain section of the community is wont to deplore the lack of pictures that are at once entertaining and educative, but 110 such charge can be levelled at this film of our first line of defence in actual being. Everybody is proud of the flag that lias braved the battle and the breeze for so many hundred years, and a visit to the Theatre Royal on Monday or Tuesday will stimulate and justify this pride of possession. Owing to previous bookings, "Our Navy" can only be shown for two nights. In conjunction with this picture there will also be shown the latest Famous Players' master-play, entitled "The Call of the North," a 5500ffc production that cost £IO,OOO. The performance ■ will start at a quarter to eigtli sharp each evening.