AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. Capacity business was recorded last night at the above popular picture house, in fact many pleasure seekers were unable to gain admission. The same pictures will be shown to-night for the last time. The main film is '•The- Battle of Wits," the seventeenth episode of the Thanhouser Company's lengthy serial drama, "The Million Dollar Mystery." In this section of the film, the conspirators arrange to lure Norton, the ever alert newspaper reporter, to one of their secret resorts and there make him prisoner. The plan works w.ell, up to a certain point, but Norton discerns the trickery just in time to defend himself, while the unexpected appearance of Jones, the butler, assists him in effecting his escape. Associated with the "star" item are "Salonika" (scenic), "The Gaumont Graphic" (topical). "The Waters of the North" (scenic), "Hilda of the Slums" (Vitagraph drama), ".limmie on the Job" ("Beauty" comedy), and "The Jinx on Jenks" (Komic comedy). BY WHOSE HAND. Commencing on Wednesday night the management will present a great mystery play entitled "By Whose Hand?" Produced by the Kaleni Co. in two reels, and featuring Marguerite Courtot and Hartland Moore, the story is replete with thrilling scenes of mystery, romantic adventures and fascinating episodes.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The good works of the Famous Players-Lasky motion-picture people have already become known to us through "The Rose of the Rancho." "The Crucible," and several other big feature films, therefore one is prepared for the undoubted excellence of "The Unafraid," an impressive Balkan revolutionary drama, which was introduced with the change of programme at the Theatre Royal last evening. The play is one of those romantic, creations with an impelling theme of the type that won for "The Prisoner of Zenda" universal popularity. According to the plot Michael Balsic is employed by the dual State io stir up a revolution, and is given a large sum of money for this purpose. He goes to Paris to buy munitions, but squanders the funds. In order to recoup he plans to marry Delight Warren, an American heiress. Michael's brother Stefan is intensely loyal to his country, and determines ' that Michael shall get neither the heiress nor her money. Stefan kidnaps Delight, and makes her a prisoner of war. He realises that the only way to make her a prisoner "with honor" is to marry her, which he immediately proceeds to do. Michael sets about freeing Delight, but she declines to escape, and Michael finally takes her by force. Stefan and a small army of servants =torm the castle of Michael, but while tLe. Montenegrins are putting up a fight at the front gate, the Ani":';;m chauffeur breaks in through a back wir.iow. Stefan rescues Delight, ait* ?I;"!.ael, defeated, ends his life. Pjlighi, t:ien submits gleefully to bceop'e Sie;::n's prisoner for life. The setting? are, magnificent, and the general effect is thoroughly in keeping with the spirit of the subect, which easily ranks high among the world's finest productions. Owing to the Theatre Royal being otherwise engaged to-night "The Unafraid'* will be shown again to-morrow night only There will be no pictures at the "Royal" to-night.