AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

•'THE MAN ON THE BOX." TO-NIGHT AT THEATRE ROYAL. The bright part of a bright programme to be shown .at the' Theatre Royal to-night is a dramati.-.ed picture version of Harold McGrath's famous novel, "The Man on the Box." The film, which is from the studios of the Famous Players Film Company, commences with an exciting skirmish between a large body of adventurous horsemen and a party of Indians, in the course of which Lieutenant Bob Warburton i s wounded. When convalescent, this rollicking young officer goes en a visit to his rela'tves at Washington, and while there conceives a practical joke at the expense of his sister and her lady companion, taking the place of the coachman who i s to drive them home from a ball. He mistakes the usher's call and sets off «\th the wrong ladies on a mad midnight career through the city, which lands "The Man on the Box" in the watch-house on a series of charges, which include furious driving and abduction. This : s the beginning of the romantic side of the story, for the gay lieutenant ii destined to come into still closer contact with one of the victims of his practical joke. Her father gets let" the clutches of foreign spies, and 1.-.vein is involved a story of modern apiiieatii-.". In a series of intrigues, plans, and counter-plans-all of which ''The Man or. the Box" foils—the story rin? ranidiv rilong on its merry course, av,d it' keeps the onlooker in a very delightful state of perpetual suspense right until the final scenes, wherein, of course, all ends i happily, end-it is but fitting that the audience also should be happy after witnessing such a splendid drama, lightened by v.isinv touches of refined comedy. The two leading artists in this production nxo Max Figman and Lolita Robertson, both stars of the cinema world, and their acting, combined .with the gorgeous staging and unique photographic effects, make up a photo-play that will live long in the memory. Supporting films include Eclair War Budget (topical), "When Her Idol Fell" (Nestor coniedv), "The Honor of Kenneth McOrnth" (Powers drama), and "Which is Witch" (a novel comedy). This programme will be shown for three nights.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACB. That intensely interesting serial photo-drama, "The Million 'Dollar Mystery," was advanced another stage at the Empire Picture Palace on Saturday in the presence of record audiences. This instalment, under the title of "The Wiles of a Woman" was even more dramatic than any of the previous chapters. The conspirators determine to set rid of Norton, who is too active against them. They carry out several dastard]v schemes, all of which fail. Finally in desperation, they decide (o throw him through a man-hole and let him drown in the sewer. Their plan propresses successfully. He is thrown throuah -the man-hole, hut fate, playing ,his side of the battle, brings about his rescue after a terrible struggle for life in the darkness of the sewer. The Countess says he bears' a charmed life. They decide that to estrange Florence and Norton, Who are secretly engaged, will help them. Braine and the Countess, form a shrewd plan, which the Countess artfully carries out when Florence is deceived into believing Norton false to her and she flees from the Countess' apartment in heart-broken grief. Thus the onlooker is left eager'v awaiting the next episode. Another feature film of an entirely different nature is "A Lover's Lost Control." This is an hilarious, two-part Keystone featuring Syd. Chaplin, finzzle (Chaplin I and his wife go shopping. While the wife is tryng on n suit Mr. and Mrs. Lewis enter. Cranio starts u flirtation with Mrs. Lewis. They leave the store together, and. getting into an auto, drive away. Mrs. finzzle and Lewis pursue them in another car. A wild ride takes the wrongly asfirted couples over mountains and across gullies till at last one of the machines goes over a precipice and is smashed into a thousand pieces. A minute later Ihe other oar drops oft' a pier into the wean and floats out to sea, its inmates clinging on like barnacles. It is indeed a most humorous production. Other films include "Pathe's War Clazette." "Strength'' (a Yitagraph drama'!, "Birds at Home'' (nature study), and "Billie's Heiress,'' a Billie Peeves comedy. This programme will he repeated to-night for iho last time.