AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. The change of programme submitted at The! Empire Picture Palace at both performances on Saturday, attracted interested and crowded bouses, especially during the evening. Some 2000 ft of film described further sensational episodes in the serial melodrama, "The Million Dollar Mystery." Florence Hargreaves, the heroine, is seized by the emissaries of the "Black Hand" and conveyed as a "lunatic" on board a liner, but, leaping overboard, she escapes their clutches, is rescued, and the final scenes show her lover just about to seize a clue which will ultimately enable him to find her and clear up the whole diabolical mystery. In the laughable farce .''Billy's Debut," Billy Reeves scores a great success; while great interest is .manifested in the pictures illustrating the manufacture of big guns at the ! U.S.A. arsenal Watervliet. "Hearts to Let," a telling tragi-comedy, is beautifully staged and admirably acted throughout. An interesting series of topical pictures, several of them relating to the war, i s shown in the Pathe Gazette, and the film illustrating one of New Zealand's premier industries, the manufacture of "Highlander" condensed milk, is greatly appreciated. The orchestral music under the capable baton of Mrs. George, was quite an entertainment in itself, alone well worth the price of admission. The same programme will be gone through again to-uight for the last time. On Tuesday the great Deduction of the London Film Co. ''The Shulamite" will be shown.

THE SHULAMITE. :; There is something quite uncommon, a surprising, pleasing, departure from the beaten track, about the London Film Co.'s superb motion-picture adaptation of Alice and Claude Askew's potent novel "The Shulamite," which will b» screened for the first time at the Empire Picture Palace to-morrow (Tuesday) night. The producers have excelled themselves in the magnificence of the spectacular scenes which introduce the subject, flie pvincipal characterisations are most capably accomplished by Norman McKinnell and Manorn. Thew, new additions to the London Film Co. The plot is powerfully drawn, and several of the situations are strikingly tense, while there is a degree of originality about the tlieme which stamps the play as something apart. The producer artistically opens the story with episodes dealing with the original "Shulamite," who, with her bewitching beauty, ravished the heart of Solomon, and inspired his "Song of Solomon." There are viewß of the dazzling splendour of the King's great palace wherein are grouped his slaves and beautiful women. The rapturous charms of the "Shulamite" cause tragedy, for the King, seized with jealous fury, hurls a spear with deadly effect at one of bis bodyguards, who, ensnared by her beauty, 'lias dared to speak to her. So to-day, as in the days of Solomon, the modern Shulamite is next presented in the play. The story here takes on a decidedly "modern" aspect and becomes intensely fascinating to the cultured mind. The producer has received much eulogy at Home, for his delicate handling of a powerful, yet daring subject, as well as for the merit of the acting, staging and photographic effects. It is a film that will long be remembered.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. Like many another masterpiece of literature ''The Lost Paradise" has been successfully adapted to the requirements of modern kinematography, and the powerful story forms the principal f<ature of the new programme to be shown tc-uight at the Theatre Royal. Splendidly reproduced by the Famous Vlayovs Film Co, this tense romance of capital and labor is ably depicted in fix lite *eels. Although long, the story is so human and so striking in its originality and treatment that it grips the onlooker hard from start to finish. It constitutes a pictorial argument in behalf of the vast army of oppressed workers, men who build the wealth of nations. The superintendent of the Knowlton Iron Works is in love with his employer's daughter, who has been reared in luxury, and is the idol of her father. To save this woman from the knowledge that her father is a thief, the loyal superintendent takes upon his own shoulders the. guilt of her father's crime. After alt the stress which the story develops his sacrifice is learned and rewarded by the woman he loves, who decides to stand with .him on the side of the oilpressed workmen, to whose cause the superintendent has devoted his life's labor. H. B. Warner, the eminent dramatic favorite, makes his first appearance before the motion picture public in "The Lost Paradise." He portrays the role of the man who strives to reconcile the contending elements, and who is willing to sacrifice, name and fame for the woman he loves. In addition to the big picture, other films will include 'The Trenches in the Vosges." of particular interest at the present moment, "Pin Pricks," a refreshing comedy, and "The Child, the Dog, and the Villain." a capital Solig release featuring a clever child performer. This programme will be. shown for three nights.

QPUNAKE RACING CLUB MEETING to be held on the RACECOURSE, iPIHAMA, on FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1918. Judge: Mr. W. V. Young. Starter: Mr. A. Morse. Handicapper: Mr. G. Morse. •'."< PROGRAMME:' "' 1. MAIDEN PLATE, of 75 sovs.; second horse 15 sovs., third horse 5 sovs. from the stakes; weight for age. Seven furlongs. Entrance, 30s. 2. HANDICAP HURDLES, of 160 sovs.; second horse to receive 15 sovs. and third horse 5 sovs. fr«m the stakes. One wile and a-half, over six flights of hurdles, 3ft 6in high. Nona, 20s, ace, 20s. 3. FLYING HANDICAP, of 11« sovs.; second horse to recei-ve 15 stvs. and third 5 sovs. from the stakes. Six furlongs. Nom. 20s, ace. 30s. 4. OPUNAKE RACING CLUB HANDICAP, 150 sovs.; second horse to receive 25 sovs. and third horse 10 sovs. from the stakes. One mile and a-quar-ter. Nom. 30s ace. 40s, 5. ELECTRIC STAKES, of 90 sovs.; second horse to receive 15 sovs. from the stakes. Five furlongs. Weight, Sat. Open to horses that have not won a race over the value of 55 sovs. at the time of starting. Entrance 40s. 0. WELTER HANDICAP, of 100 sovs.; second horse to receive 15 sovs. and third horse 5 sovs. from the stakes. Seven furlongs. Minimum weight, Bst 71b. Nom. 20s, ace. 20s. 7. PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP, of 110 sovs.; second horse to receive 20 sovs. and third horse 5 sovs. from the stakes. One mile. Nom. 20s, ace. 30s. 8. FAREWELL HANDICAP, of 85 sovs.; second horse to receive 15 sovs. from the stakes. Five furlongs. Winner of the Flying Handicap or Electric Stakes to carry a penalty of 141bs, Nom. 20s, ace. 20s. NOMINATIONS for Handicap Hurdles, Flying Handicap, Opunake R.C. Handicap, Welter Handicap, President's Handicap and Farewell Handicap close on MONDAY, February 21 at 5 p.m. WEIGHTS due pu or about MONDAY, February £B. ACCEPTANCES for all Handicap Events, also Genera! Entries for Maiden Plate and Electric Stakes, close on MONDAY. March 6, at 5 p.m. PENALTIES.—The winner of any race after the declaration »f weights to carry a penalty of ISlis, and of every additional race a further penalty of 71bs. Horses handicapped at Bst lOlbs or over to carry only half the above penalties. Telegraph Office closes at 5 f.a. ■ P. S. RILEY, j Secretary, Pihama. Approved this 18th day of November, 1815, by the Taranaki Jockey Club.— 15. P. Webster, Secretary.