AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. During the past few weeks the management of the Empire Picture Palace have been showing some excellent programmes, but this week they have excelled themselves as far as dramatic art is concerned. The final screening of Harold McGrath's mystic story, ''The Carpet from Bagdad,' 1 was given last night before an appreciative audience. To-night another new lot of films will be presented, chief among which is a tense drama of circus life by the famous Nordisk Film Company, entitled "The Lure of the Circus." The Nordisk firm have always been noted for the beauty of their films, both as regards the subject matter of the story, *iul the acting and photoplay. "The Lure of the Circus" is stated to be one of their very finest effort, so picture "fans" are in for a rare trout. Rnpporlin2 this picture are .several other good subjects. ''The Starring of Flora Finchurch" is a sparkling comedy in which Flora Finch is featured as a stage-struck flapper (the comedy here is obvious). The popular 'Edison' players will be seen in "Across ibe Great Divide," a. drama of considerable power. "The Perilous Chance" is another of those sensational railroad stories of the "Hazards of Helen" series which keep the lvalcin players in popular favor. Foreign travel will be supplied by "Scenes in Trentino," and the "Topical War Budget" contains much that is interesting in connection with the present' war. "With the Help of the Ladies" and "Don't .Tump at Conclusions" are two comedies that complete a very excellent and varied programme which, coupled with the orchestral music, make up an entertainment of rare merit.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. A new programme with what is doscribed as three sensational and powerful "feature'' films will he presented at the Theatre Royal to-night. The star offering is a flfiCOft picture hy the ''Yiturraph Broadway Company, entitled "The .Man from the Desert," with William Duncan in the leading role. Seldom, if ever, has there, been a drama written and produced that has the gripping force of this one. It is a vivid story of the curse of greed and carries with it a powerful moral. Next comes "The DollHouse Mystery," a two-act "Reliance" drama featuring Carmen de Rue and George Stone. Here we/ have a story of a most unusual kind which is made doubly interesting by the clever, acting of two juvenile performers. The third feature 'is the eighth episode of the thrilling serial drama, "The Master Key." In this instalment the action moves very swiftly; John Dorc is arrested; Wiikorson secures the key to the late Gallon's property; Ruth is abducted and Old Tom foils Drake's pet scheme. The arch adventuress, Mrs. Darnell and her confederate journey by boat to Los Angeles, and,'a strange coincidence, Ruth and John Dorc are on the same boat, a circumstance fraught with future sinister significance, which is all revealed before "continued in our next" appears. Supporting these three big film features are other good items chief among which are "Pathc's Australian Gazette" (topical), "Too Much Elixir of Life" (comedy), and "In Zululand." The entertainment tviU start at eight o'clock aharp