AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1916, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE, Tlio liberal and diverse nature of a decidedly entertaining programme at the Empire Picture Palace should result in-another crowded house to-night. The series was shown for the first time last night, and proved indeed popular. The star film i s a Kalcm special, entitled, "When Thieves Fall Out." This is a powerful story, vivid in execution and lilled with dramatic surprises. A wonderful woman criminal conceives an idea whereby a valuable exhibit to be used at the jewellers' convention can be stolen. The convention is to be held at a magnificent hotel. The thieves by a well-laid plan manage to have a large trunk placed in the strong room with the jewellery. A detective who is on watcii discovers that everything is not as it should be. This is followed by some desperate schemes and a-pursuit ,of the criminals that is most exciting. It is not known whether the criminals escaped with their booty or not until the final picture. It is all very real and very novel. A timely and interesting film shows the presentation of Distinguished Conduct Medals to Wounded Australian soldiers at Harefleld (England), while many other interesting war views are included in the "Topical Budget." "Her Easter Hat" reveals a charming domestic story in two reels, and excellent comedy is provided by "Billy's Goat" and "Her Romeo." The aeries will be repeated for the last time to-night. THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. A most entertaining "feature" picturedrama, "Nell of the Dance Hall," by the Lubin Company, figured at the head of the change of programme presented| at the Theatre Roynl last night. It is a story of the pulpit and the stage. The film tells the story of the little cabaret dancer who falls in love with a minister who has twice saved her—once from the bully of the dance hall and again when the police raid the midnight frolickers. The picture shows many dramati". episodes behind the scenes of both church and stage to the final scene, where the parson leads Nell, the Dancing Doll, to a newer and better life than that of a dance-hall favorite. The supporting programme includes a highly interesting number of the thrilling serial drama, "The Master Key." This big photoplay, which is now nearing the final episode, has a very large number of. followers, who last night showed their appreciation in no small degree. Associated with these two leading items were "Playing the Game," a Vitagraph comedy featuring Lilian. Walker; "Pathe Gazette" (topical), "The Police Dog" I (cartoon-comedy) and "Diana of the farm" (Kalem comedy). Owing to the Theatre Royal being otherwise engaged to-night, there will be only two more screenings of the above, to-morrow afternoon at 2.30, and agaiu in the evening at 8.

MARGUERITE OLARK IN "THE CRUCIBLE." "The girl who is different" is an expression coined to fit Marguerite Clark, the clever and charming picture actress, who plays the leading role in "The Crucible,'' the brilliant five-reel drama by the Famous Players—Lasky Company, which is to be shown at the Theatre Royal next Monday. The film was secured in America by Mr. Henry Hayward, with the object of revealing to New Zealand picture patrons the wealth of qualifications possessed by Miss Marguerite Clark as a cinema-actress. Miss Clark possesses a wonderful power of swaying the emotions of an audience; indeed, in this respect, she is the equal, if not the superior of Miss Pickford. "The Crucible," which affords plenty of scope for dramatic and emotional acting, will be screened here for three nights.