AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE.

The current programme at the Empire Picture Palace will be liually screened to-night. 'J'hc series is a very attractive one and should draw another large audience. The star film is a Kalem society drama entitled "The Prison Stain," which gives a capital study of a woman's reformation. There ' are also excellent scenic views of southern India. Firing line incidents and other topical events, together with some splendid comedy films are included. The new programme which starts at the matinee to-morrow, has for its star feature, a Famous Players-Lasky master-play, entitled, '•Stolen Goods" with the beautiful Blanche Sweet in the principal role. This four-pait feature drama is rich in startling incidents. A considerable part of the play occurs in the French-German war zone. Miss Blanche Sweet as Margaret Huntley, with her sweet and attractive personality, makes a great impression. Theodore Roberts gives his usual superb character portrayal, and in the part of a German surgeon he again demonstrates his versatility. The story concerns the life of Margaret Huntley, who is falsely accused and imprisoned on a charge of theft of lace. On her release she proceeds to Belgium as a nurse, and right in the midst of war's alarms the drama 13 enacted and has its denouement. THEATRE ROYAL PICTURES.

A tin roughly enjoyable and good allround programme was presented at the Theatre Royal last evening before a large and fashionable audience. The principal feature of the entertainment Was a remarkable Thanhouscr drama entitled •'The Dead Man's Keys," which; unravels the mystery surrounding the murder of a. wealthy financier, wlio is found shot in his office. Suspicion falls on one of his clerks, Mind the evidence against him is very convincing. The loyal love of a girl amf her grandfather (an old locksmith), however, eventually, leads to the proof of his innocence, and the fastening of the.guilt on the real murderer. Many of the pictures in a lengihy trial scene are exquisite studies in facial expression taken at close range. Much of what the witnesses say can be clearly followed from the movement of their lips, and the face of the real criminal, with eyes full of terror and all the veins standing eut horribly from brow and forehead as the irime is sheeted home to him, is a very clever piece, both of acting and photonlay. Supporting films include, ''As the Crow Flies." a two-reel dramatic instalment of the serial story "Trey 0' Hearts," "With the Allied Troops at Salonika," "Topical War Bridget," "Crossed Wires," a railroad romance of the "Hazards of Helen" series, and a trio of, hilarious comedies, the best of which is "Love, Mumps and Bumps," in which Cupid gets to work in spite of many ailments. The same programme will be shown to-night and again tomorrow at both afternoon and evening performances.

"NIOBE" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL. What promises to be a most attractive programme will be presented at the Theatre Royal on Molulay night next. The chief item is a film adaptation of Paulton's fascinating comedy-drama, "Xiobe," the play that was so popular a few years ago, when the Brough-Bouci-cault Company played it throughout New Zealand. The Famous Players' Company were fortunate in securing Miss Hazel Dawn, the beautiful and clever actress who has just concluded a big starring engagement in America under the Frqhman management Miss Dawn's undoubted ability and great charm should find ample scope in the part of Niebe, the Goddess of Tears, who comes to life after 3000 years, to find conditions sadly changed from the time of her earthly tenure. Modern clothes, modern customs, modern speech, she finds "exceeding strange," and poor Peter Amos Dunn finds the "statue" an embarrassing and difficult proposition, causing many complications with his wife and family. However, to Dunn's relief, it is all but a dream, but a charming and delightful entertainment to the onlooker. The film, which is in five reels, is another rare example of the phptoplayers.art and well up to the high standard of excellence set and maintained by the "Famous Players' Film Company."