AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE, The exciting happenings in the loth episode of "The Million Dollar Mystery" will head the new programme at the Empire Pfcture Palace to-day, both afternoon and evening. Defeat and defeat seems only to spur the "Black Hundred" to greater' daring which requires more hazardous plans and rescues by Jones and Norton, as is vividly portrayed in this episode. Boldly they take Florence from, her guardians and rush out to sea. Meantime, they descend on the house of mystery in force, and demand the one million dollars of'i Jones. A groat winged man-bird speeds out over the sea—Jones stands at bay in a fight to the finish —and in a sudden turn of the wheel, the "Black Hundred" again faces defeat. This section of the film hag'a'most exciting climax. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew figure in a most amusing Vitagraph comedy, "Their First Quarrel." The views of happenings associated with the war are a feature of the Pathe Gazette." A cleverly conceived domestic drama, "In Spite of Him," a charming child story, "For Love of Mary Ellen," and "The. Departure of the Eighth Reinforcements" contribute largely, to .-the enjoyment of the entertainment. . THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The public matinee at the Theatre Royal this afternoon will see the final screening of the 14th episode of the serial drama "The Master Key." This is the last instalment but one of this lengthy photo-play and the interest it has sustained is quite remarkable. Other big films on the programme are "The Mystery of Mary," three-act Vitagraph Broadway star feature, "The Cass-Janey Feud," 2-act* Reliance romance, the latest War Gazette and a budget of comedy items productive of much hearty laughter.

VIOLA DANA IN "THE CHILDREN OF EVE." . . Violet Dana, th<s clever actress with (ho Edison Co., has been described as the finest emotional actress in America, as far as the screen is concerned, and those who remember her splendid acting in 'The Stoning" will-agree to this. According to American exchanges she is even better in the latest Edison star drama "Children of Eve," to be shown at the Theatre Royal for the first time on Monday nes.'t. A powerful story, splendidly told, with an artistic, though deeply pathetic climax, "Children of Eve,", is arousing considerable comment. It deals strongly with a social evil, exposes some of the methods of getting rich on blood money, and reveals phases of life that are below the surface. There is a most sensational fire, in which hundreds of children fight for their lives, and withal there is humor and love and an excellent plot. Henry Madison becomes acquainted with a woman of the world. Under his influence she leaves the old life, but, because of her wonderful love for him, she refuses to marry him, feeling that her past life has made ■ner unworthy. The remaining incidents in the stqry are of a very engrossing nature. In the later scenes there is a contrast between two types of men. Firstly, there is Henry Madison, the business man, with a greed for money, and employing child labor in .his factory for the sake of economy. In contradistinction is Bert Madison, his' relative, who spends' his life in social work amidst the slum quarter of London;