AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1916, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. . NEW PROGRAMME TO-DAY. A stirring example of the photoplayer's art is embodied in the five-reel Famous Players-Laskj masterplay, "The Only Son," which forms the star attraction of the new programme to be shown at the Empire Picture Palace to-day at 2.30 p.m. and again to-night at 8 o'clock. "The Only Son" is an elaborate picturisation of Winehell Smith's well-known work, and a most interesting and powerfully emotional story has been produced. The plot deals With the fortune of a young man who\from being the lord of a simple log cabin in the wilderness, becomes the master of a mansion, and one of the world's most powerful financiers and incidentally, whose company is much sought after by society leaders. His riches, however, do not bring lasting happiness. How his son, a ne'er-do-well, took his mother's part when the world was against her, and the result it had on his future, makes a picture that gives great opportunity for scenes and incidents of a most emotional and stirving nature. Supplementary films are, "Modern and Ancient Rome" (scenic), "Pathe's Gaette" (topical), "The Jungfrau Railway" (scenic), and "The Fox Trot Finesse," a Vitagrapli comedy. Appropriate orchestral selections will be given by the Symphony Orchestra.

THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES. To-day at 2.30 p.m. and finally again to-night at 8 o'clock the current programme of photoplays at the Theatre Royal will be screened for the last time At the head of.the list is a Vitagrapli Broadway star feature entitled "The Easterbrook Case," an overpowering mystery drama splendidly enacted by a strong cast of popular artists. The story is a strong one, well within the bounds of possibility, and the scenes are at ali times natural and convincing. "The Counterfeit Rose" is another notable dramatic success. Although the eighth instalment of the serial story, 'The Trey o' Hearts," it is quite complete within itself and equally interesting both to the/casual patron and the serial enthusiast alike. Topical events are well pictured in the Australian edition of the "Patlie Gaette," whilst any amount of good comedy is supplied ov "The Great Detective" (Lubin) and "The Awful Adventures of an Aviator" (Selig). Edison and Kalem are represented by "The Secret of the Cellar" and "The Society Schemer" respectively, both sterling dramatic productions.

"JELFS" AND "ANZAC DAY IN . LONDON." Imagine a big, red-blooded young Canadian rancher, hero of many a hard fought border scrap, leader in the wild pranks cowboys love to play on each other, a laughing rollicking son of the. outdoors, being jpalled home to London to take charge of the private bank of .Telfs, for six generations a rock in British finance. Imagine the consternation with which he is received Oy proper old Adam' Winslow, the trusted chief accountant, whom his uncle's death has left temporarily in charge of the bank. Imagine the disapproval of Sir Jonathan Dunne, president of the Bankers' Association, when Dick rolls into the bank's office, attired in the best frontier, get-up. and breezily remarked, "This is soma bank," airily offers the dignified president and old accountant a big cigar each, and confidently oredicts, "Yes, she is some bank, but I reckon I can run her." Imagine the sinister delight with which the young . novice is received by the sharks of the financial world. Here is a victim to be plucked, they think, and begin to plot his downfall. Imagine the designing mammas. What a catch for their daughters! A handsome boy with thirty thousand a year income, and ail ignorant of the guile of the ways of London mothers of marriageable daughters, Imagine his. total ignorance of social usage. His etiquette has consisted of "doing as you would be done by"—favors to his friends and blows to his enemies. He knows no other, and so puts this code into operation in caste-ridden London. He causes a sensation in a fashionable restaurant by administering a muscular rebuke to a jnobbish head waiter, and then, to show there are no hard feelings, hands his crestfallen victim a golden sovereign for a tip. There is pathos, and humor too, in his vigorous love and courtship of aristocratic Lady Femella. "He is so crude," she tells her mother. "A. man with thirty thousand a year can afford to be crude, my dear," responds that astute lady. "Jelfs" is a six-reel photoplay by the London Film Company with the handsome Henry Ainley in the name part. This noted production will be shown locally at the Theatre Royal on Monday night next.

Another film which will be intense interest depicts "Ansae Hay in London," with the New Zealanders and Australians marching through the dense cheering crowds to Westminster Abbey, and a close-up view of their Majesties, the King and Queen, who attended the great memorial'service. This film constitutes a record for rapid transit, and is another example of the up-to-the-minuto management of the Taranaki Amusements, Ltd. ''Anzac 'Day in T/ondon," was held but six weeks ago, and yet on Monday next we. can see "on. boys" as in real life, although thousands of miles away.