AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. The new programme shown at the Theatre Royal last night amply bore out all the flattering reports which preceded its arrival here. The audience was a large one, and it demonstrated its approval of the meritorious fare provided. The outburst of applause which greeted the singing picture "When I Dream of Killarney" showed full justification for the management retaining this novelty for another two nights., Further'film's of the same class will bo awaited with pleasure. The star feature of the programme is a novelty animal drama containing many unusual scenes and a very quaint, story'. It tells how a man, ship", wrecked on the African Coast, became the friend of the wild beasts of the jungle, and how he was eventually discovered by his former sweetheart. In addition to this big feature, the fifth instalment of "The Trey ()' Hearts," is included. This episode is entitled, "The Sunset Tide," and it unfolds many heartthrobbing incidents of the popular and lengthy story. Other supporting films are "Pathe War Gazette'' (topical), "The Charm that Charmed" (comedy), ''The Broken Rail" (Hazards of Helen series, featuring Helen Holmes), and "Bashful Billie (comedy). This programme will be shown at the matinee this afternoon and finally presented to-night. THE FINISH OF THE MILLION DOLLOR MYSTERY. The lovers of serial drama will be interested in the managerial announcement that to-day the final episodes of "The Million Dollar Mystery" will be screened at the Empire' Picture Palace. A most thrilling conception of a dramatic scene is the surprising denouement of Ms enthralling mystery. The film comprises the last two' chapters of this serial, and is entitled "The Mystery Solved!" Solved the trite mystery is, and with it is shown the working out of a piece of double acting which, all through the story, the surprised onlooker has never even suspected.. The last chaptor of the story shows the home-coming of the millionaire Hargreaves, and the last grand effort of the, "Black Hundred" gang to secure possession of the vast , fortune. Through the.agency of the reporter Norton, however,., tlie gang is captured while in conclave, and "the conspirator, Braine, together with the Countess Alga, are left to pursue their plot without other aid. Jim Norton, with a file of police, arrives on the scene to save Hargreaves and his daughter Florence, and in the last dread struggle the countess, by mistake, shoots her fellow criminal, and then ends her own existence. Afterwards comes the explanation of the mystery'of the early girlhood of Florence' The hiding place •if the.money is now ■ "revealed, and in the sacred atmosphere jf true love is ;the money handed over to the happy j couple as a wedding present. The supI porting series includes a reallv laughable /comedy bearing the title of '"Tilly, the j Terrible Typist," and a beautiful'scenic I film, "The Pearl ,of the Baltic." The latest war news is,ably portrayed in J the most recent issue of the' Pathe Gazette. ' Special music will be rendered by the Empire Symphony Orchestra.

i MARGUERITE CLARK IN "GRETNA GREEN." Dainty, irresistible Marguerite Clark, who is now regarded' in America as Mary Pickford's most serious rival, will be ; featured next week at the Empire Picture Pa-lace in the Famous Players' fivereel filmisation of Grace Livingstone Fumess's fascinating romantic comedy, "Gretna Greer,." This charming old English play centres round the ancient .•Scottish marriage laws, which provided Ithat an eloping couple crossing the border into Gretna Green had merely to make a declaration before a and the tic became legal. This small village at the head of Sohvay Firth became less famous 'when in 1806 the custom became illegal. Throughout the portrayal Miss i Clark invests the part of Dolly' Erskine | (who is described as "a belle, an heiress, i and a bit of a flirt") with the same [dainty deftness and mischievous cleverness and gaiety that carried all.before her in her recent successes, "The Crucible," "Wiklflower," etc. "Gretna Green" will be screened at the Empire on Wed-" j nesday, Thursday and Friday only, and there will be no alteration in prices. (Seats may be reserved at the Theatre, "•-here the box plan is on view.

GABY DESLYS IN " HER TRIUMPH." In this celebrated film, which will be shown at the Theatre Royal on Monday evening next, picture-'&ers of New Plymouth will have an opportunity of witnessing life behind the scenes, on a scale never seen except by the favored few. The average person who witnesses a theatrical performance only sees the. rosy side of the life of the artist, and is apt to envy the favorite of the footlights, forgetful of the fact that the artist has, in nlany cases, only attained ultimate success, after experiences which ; would break any but a'strong and dominant personality. These are some of the outstanding features which are skilfully unwoven befere the audience in "Her Triumph.' This film, which is practically the life story of Gaby Deslys, is an education in the mann:-Vs and morals of the stage. It shows in no uncertain manner how difficult the road to success for the theatrical aspirant, even when accompanied by talent, unless, also, there is grjt and determination to win out. In "Her Triumph" the whole gamut of the human emotions are run, the filial'devotion of the loving daughter and sister, the jealousy and envenomed tongue of scandal which assails her, and the.whole-hearted charity whic'h she lavishes upon the less fortuapte ones, when success comes to her —these are only some, of the main points in a pictured story which will be long remembered by those fortunate enough to witness it. Although it is in this picture that Mademoiselle Deslys makes her debut as a screen actress, and scores an undeniable success, yet it it as a dancer that she has attained worldwide celebrity. Several of her most successful dances have 'been introduced into the picture, and are. given in conjunction with Mons. 1T ' Pilcer, who is also an artist wil international reputation. The fac .. the film has been produced by the Famous Players' Company makes further comment unnecessary. The box plan for reserved seats is at Collier's.

PAUL DUFAULT CONCERT. On Wednesday next, May 24, at the Theatre Royal, New Plymouth, the popular Paul Dufault will give a concert recital. The famous French-Canadian has visited New Zealand three times, and each visit has but added to the conviction that 'he is an apostle of style and interpretation. Carlisle's definition that genius is merely "an infinite eapaiety for taking pains" lias its full exemplification in Paul Dufault, for he has jnalvsed every syllable of every sonft

he sings. Every word has been focussed, every note carefully placed. Who can forget the enprmous impression made by Dufault during his first visit by his singing of "Invictus," then heard here for tiie first time? It is doubtful' ii any other song has ever rivalled its sudden bound to popularity. Of Paul Dufault's Dunedin recitals the (Otago Daily Times says:—"So large an audience assembled for. Paul Dufault's final concert that a portion of it had to be accommodated on the stage. Not only was tile audience large in numbers; it displayed an unusual intensity of enthusiasm Every item was followed by an extraordinary outburst of applause, rising and swelling forth into a fullbodied roar that was sustained until the singer was compelled, after having vainly bowed his acknowledgments several times, to lift up his voice, in yet another of his soul-satisfying melodies. The music-loving people of Dunedin gave the great tenor a magnificent farewell."