AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1916, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE royal to night. •TIIE DRAGON." The Equitable-World Film Company's five-part drama will probably cause more discussion than any other drama of its type that has been screened. ]t is a film version of the book written by Perely Moore Sheehan. The title is a figurative one, being' really a symbol of the class of man whose riches east a glamor over the wills of weak women, and cause them to forget the true principles of life. The story centres around the doings of a young girl, at home on a vacation from a convent, where she has lived since her infancy. Her father tells her that a Dragon of Fifth Avenue has lured her mother from him, and she, quite unknown to him. goes in quest of her mother. Her adventures are sensational. She meets several kinds of the dragons, but her purity and innocence does not allow her to -<v the (Linger she is daring. 11l her se;ir h ih- various people whom she iiici i■- '"vcl linancially and phvsieiili•. ;ii «)n- is unconscious of the i'ilV. . ... . I'ving on their lives. How Till tilt ' i-■ It' escapes the wiles of the v. iiiic -i liii, how she allows a former misiiv i' a merchant to take her place at a dinner to which she has been invited, and the merchant suffers at the hands of the discarded woman, together with other marvellous escapes, go to make up an interesting entertainment. One of the big scenes of the play takes place in a fashionable New York modiste store, where are the prettiest mannikins in New York paraded in the latest gowns, said to be worth collectively ten thousand pounds.

•'THE CHRISTIAN." NINE-REEL LONDON FILM. The plot of "The Christian" lias become familiar to t,lio public not only through the extensive sale of the bookbut also by the stage dramatisation The principles are John Storm, a youm Lomhm clergyman, and Glory Quayle, tin grand daughter of the clerjvman, who;, he falls in love with. Glorv is attractei' bv John, and frequently meets him win she takes up work as a nurse in a Lon don hospital. Glorv has an ambition t. >:o 011 the stage, and is encouraged am. assisted by i wealthy acquaintance Francis Drake. In the glamor of hrr new surroundings she is drawn awai from John Storm, who in the mean tim< has renounced the world and entered ai Anglican Monastery. How Glory and John arc brought together again is portrayed under intensely dramatic cireuin stances, the final scene in the Monastery being most pathetic- in character. Tinwhole production is by the London Film Company, and was produced under i l, -personal supervision of the author. Associated with Mr. Derwent Hall Caine. are l-'Jizabeth Kisden as Glory Quayle, ar.d Herald Ames as Francis Drake, while the lesser characters are in capable hi.nils. Very great attention has been given to detail. This particularly applies the monastery scenes, which are true to life. "The Christian'' will be shown at the Theatre Royal on Monday, luesday, and Wednesday next.

VIOLA DANA IN "GLADIOLA." Miss Viola Dana will be the big attraction "at the Empire Picture Palace to-morrow commencing at the matinee at 2 p.m., when she will be seen in a fourreel feature drama. "Gladiola." Miss Dana is ivell known to photo-playgoers by i'eason of her playing the principal part in ''The Stoning'' and "Children of Eve." etc.. pictures which had a wonderful success when shown here a few months ago. The play of "Gladiola" is rather original in its conception, as most of the scenes were taken in beautiful country where the gladioli flowers grow in abundance. Miss Viola Dana has 'i part which is well suited to her. Her charming manner lends itself to the dramatic scenes in the play. As a country maid she enters into the spirit of the picture, and is ably assisted by a star east. "Gladiola" is the synipatheic story of a country maid who forsook the love of a country lad to be the wife of a city man. How she regretted her action and the pain and sorrow she suffered make a plav that, for dramatic it would be hard to excel. Some splendid pictures will be shown in support including a Pathe educational subject ''Making Big- Shells."

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. To-ni»lit will see the (Innl eerpening at till' Empire Picture Palace of the Loudon Film Co.'s recruiting drama ''You." It is a capital production and well worth seeing. The supporting films are unusually good. "The Little Angel of Canyon Creek," a three-reel Broadway star feature drama, and "A Pair of Queens," a two-reel Vita, comcdv are among the number, also the latest Topical Budget of war incidents. A new programme will be presented at the matinee tomorrow, which will commence at 2 p.m. sharp instead of the usual 2.30.