AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

LAST NIGHT OF "STOLEN GOODS." At tlic Empire Picture Palace to-night tl'<' current programme of successful photoplays will be finally presented. Tonight will see the final appearance of that charmingly bewitching actress, Blanche Sweet in the fascinating part of Margaret Huntley, a red-cross nurse in' the Jesse Lasky feature film "Stolen Goods." When photoplays were becoming the rage, Blanche Sweet joined the ranks of the "movie'' artists under the nom-de-plume of Daphne Wayne, and her name on the bill was always responsible for big business. She appeared with great succefs in "Judith of Bethnlia," "The Mikado," etc. Reverting to her own name, Blanche Sweet joined the Jesse Lasky Feature Films, and she made nn immediate success, so much so that throughout Australasia the grand drama,

''Stolen Goods," he* been a great moneymaker. 'Die plot is of an uncommon kind, and the ordeals and troubles that beset the heroine make it most difficult to interpret, but in the sweet, sympathetic hands of Blanche Sweet, the character seems to live and you suffer silently : n watching ihf most emotional scenes. Other good pictures are "Welcome to Bohemia," a Vita, i.ncdy; "Gaumont Graphic": "Genoa," a beautiful scenic; and a picture of the last reinforcements 10 leave Wellington. A DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS. The feature of to-morrows new programme is "The Daughter of Darkness," a sensational story of a woman who was ostensibly a dancer and music-hall artiste, but in reality was a clever thief, whose daring exploits had baffled the detectives for years. The battle of wits between (he woman and the'guardians of the law is said to provide plenty of thrill and excitement, and at the same time contains that heart interest which is easy to associate with a beautiful woman's daring. "XIOBE" AT THE ROYAL. A SPLENDID COMEDY. \

"Xiobe," the delightful comedy introduced to Antralasian theatre-goers over two decades ago by the talented Brough Boucicault Company, is the subject of an artistic adaptation in motion-picture by the Famous Players Company, which was presented with the change of programme at the Theatre Royal last evening. A charming interpolation is the introduction of a few brief scenes depicting the incident that caused Niobe of Grecian mythology to become changed into stone. Miss Haw! Dawn, the graceful theatrical "star" of the American stage, who lately scored a big success in ''The Debutante," interprets the leading role. The plot, which is laid in the present time, shows that one. Peter Amos Dunn, president of an insurance company, brings to his own house, for safe keeping, the £20,(100 statue of Niobe, which has been heavily insured with his company. While installing electrical lighting in the house the workmen roll the wires around the statue at the conclusion of their day's work. Dunn's wife, sister-in-law and others go to the. theatre, and lie falls asleep in the sitting-room. He suddenly sees the statue come to life through the effect of the electrical current that passes through the wires. Dunn finds himself in a delicate yet amusing position in trying to explain to his shocked wife and other members of his household the presence of the scantily-clad woman, who has made herself thoroughly at home there. At first Dunn pretends that Xiobe is the new governess who was expected to arrive, but this subterfuge is levcaled by the arrival of the real governess. There arc several extremely hilarious predicaments, and escapades, including Dunn's pursuit of his living statue through a public park in the moonlight. In the end the whole adventure turns out to lie a dream, and Dunn is much relieved when he wakes up and discovers that Niobe is still merely a statue. As supporting subjects there are "Picturesque. Matlock, England" (Gaumont scenic), "Good in the Worst of Us" (i'itagraph drama), "The Pathe Gazette" and "Deserted, at the Auto" ("'Beauty" honeymoon comedy). The orchestra gave a most pleasurable programme. The' same series will be repeated again to-night and to-morrow night. A MILLION IX MOVIES. Those who have followed; motion pictures at all closely have long since come to the conclusion that of American producers D. W. Griffiths stands preeminent as the practical idealist, Mack Bennett as the mirth maniittctm'er, and Thomas 11. Ince as the film realist. Their individual association with different companies in the past has invariably resulted in a sudden jump in the quality of the productions of that concern, and their ability to achieve this has brought each a yearly salary of £20,000. These three have now gone into active cooperation, and under the Triangle brand the films manufactured by them will b« seen shortly. The concern is incorporated for £1,000,000, the whole of which sum is to he spent in the production of motion pictures that will mark a new era in the film world. Griffith, Sennett. and Ince control the expenditure of that entire sum, and arc spending it in a way that promises many film trqats for local picture patrons. The artists they have engaged on the dramatic side of the concern include Sir Herbert, Beerbohjm Tree. Marv Anderson de Navarro, De Wolf Hopper, Miss F.illie Burke, Douglas Fairbanks, Helen Ware, Katherine Haelred. Mary Roland, Frank Campesu, and others of international reputation, in addition to the host of screen artists already under engagement to the Triangle producers. Indeed, at just one studio, fnceville. the weekly s alary sheet totals SL'.lfOO dollars. Mack Sennett took with him' to the Triangle the whole of his Keystone organisation That has now mown to seven companies located in different parts of America, and headed by such well-known comedians as Weber and Fields, Jackson and Clarke, Sam Barnard. Willie Collier, Eddie Foy and ftaymond Hitchcock, recruited straight from the stage, who supplemented tile companies in which the well-known Mabel Xormand. Fatty Arbueklc, Chester Conklin, Mack Swain, Syd. Chaplin and the legion of others appear. After seeing the first of the Triangle pictures there can be little wonder that during their New • York, exhibition at the Knickerbocker - Theatre they, drew 100,000 spectators who Willingly; paid two dollars for* a seat. Triangle films are shortly due to be screened in New Plymouth. . ' . '