AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

ROSE OF THE RANCHO. A BEAUTIFUL PHOTOPLAY. An enchanting tale of Old California is unfolded in the elaborate Lasky-Bel-asco "feature" photo-play "The Rose of the Rancho," which provides the main interest in the change of pictures presented at the Theatre Royal last evening. A conspicuous circumstance which conveys a. surprisingly realistic impresion is that the play was performed amidst romantic old buildings in South California, among architectural relics of the days when the Spaniards flourished. The producers have enriched the subject by careful attenton to all those details which help co create a convincing effect. At the outset it is explained on the film that in the year 1850 the Government at Washington decreed that all ranch owners must register their properties in order to legalise their claims. But the drama proceeds to show that the prowl old Spanish rancheros of California refused to comply with the law. As a result great bands of land-jumpers roam about seizing unregistered properties. Chief among these •ia the notorious Kincaid, of Nebraska The Government, learning of the abuses that have grown out of the condition of affairs, send Kearney, a secret agent, to California, to investigate and check the evil. It is here that the drama really commences, absolutely surpassing all previous F.P. productions in breadth of plot, in swiftness of action, in tenseness of love interest, in realism of its settings and the fascinating actuality of • the plot as a whole. The story is skilfully expressed, and it is quite away from the stereotyped style of photoplay. Miss Bessie Barriscals, as the bewitching Juanita, gives a most pleasing interpretation throughout. The introductory items are "Rieti" (Italy) (scenic), "His Fairy Godmother" (a very laughable Vita, comedy), and "The Pa the Gazette." The same programme will be repeated again to-night and tomorrow night. EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. To-night will see the final screening of the current series of photoplays at the Empire Picture Palace. Max Linder in his latest comedy "Max is Love Sick," is funnier than ever. This film affords many fine views of "The Riviera" and Monte Carlo. A splendid melodrama is "Drawn into the Quicksand," which de-. scribes adventures that make the blood thrill. This is the sixteenth episode of "The Million Dollar Mystery.", Other good pictures will be "The Silent Tonglie"' I '(an Edison comedy),) "Volendam" (colored views of a town in Holland), and "The Gaumont Graphic," with everything new in war items. The star feature for to-morrow's change is a four-reel Lubin special, "The Valley of Lost Hope." "Terrific" is tiie only word that comes near describing the incidents of this sensational melodrama. It is stated that never in biographical history has the brains of man conceived such hair-raising events as occurs in this dim. There has not been seen such a wealth of really big, rugged, masterful, red-blooded situations since "The Spoilers." 4 A NEW SERIAL DRAMA. "THE TREY 0' HEARTS." Picture-goers will doubtless be pleased to learn that the management of the Theatre Royal has secured the latest Trans-Atlantic serial photoplay, "The Trey 0' Hearts," i for screening at the above theatre. This new serial, which is described as particularly a ladies' story, is in fifteen instalments of two reels each. One instalment will be presented every week-end change of programme, commencing on Thursday next, April .20. The story of "The Trey o' Hearts" is from the pen of Louis Joseph Vance, and it provides the biggest thrills and most joyous effects imaginable. Many' new artists of international fame and reputation are in the cast, the two main leads being allotted to Miss Cleo ,Madison, fearless, brave and beautiful, and Mr. George Larkin, handsome, gallant and manly. Much clever work is done by Miss Madison, who play s two parts at once, the parts of Rose and Judith (twin sisters) both being allotted to her. From the story it would seem that every dare-devil performance that human minds could conceive has been done and even the actors hold their breath waiting anxiously for orders wondering whether the author and director will be able to invent more adventure capable of being staged. They have not failed to stir up a new anrt novel thrill for each of the chapters in order, but the strain on the actors lias been great and as a result the director has lost much of his former good nature and the author himself appears in ij. less jovial than ho was on his an'-' ■ the Universal gtudio&