AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

VIOLA DANA IN "GLADIOLA." Viola Dana, "the sweetest actress before the film," takes the title role ill "Gladioli!a charming Edison study showing for the first lime to-day at the Empire Picture Palace. The story concerns a young- girl, her love, and her betrayal. The scene is laid in delightful rural surroundings 'mid huge expanses of the lovely gladioli blossoms, while to a charming- subject is added just that touch of pathos which enhances the beauty of the beautiful. The young and innocent Gladiola, working amid tracts of the blossoms whose name she bears, is beloved by Ab, a farm lad.,- Ned, a city idler, who is "summering" in the district, is attracted by the winsome country lass. He is forbidden by her aged father from paving court to her, but the couple elope, and she lives with him 'in the city. Too late she disc-overs him to be already married. She flies back to her father's home, only to find him dying. The old man just lives long enough to see his daughter under the greatest misfortune that can befall a woman. Some time later the betrayer returns. She sends him about his business) and Ned leaves her for ever, while the faithful Ab gets his heart's desire, being made her protector and the father of her child. An unusually good number of the "Gaumont Graphic" is to hand, and Pathe Freres present a highly interesting picturisation of the manufacture of big gun shells. The fun-film of the entertainment has also to do with war-time with its attendant excitement, for "Wiil'les in War Time" is a hilarious example of this master comedian and his "scares." Another powerful drama is entitled "The 3eac-hcombers," which features Hobart Bo»worth, Duke Kohanamoku and Helen Wolicott. Patrons are reminded that the afternoon matinee commences at 2 o'clock sharp. Doors open at 1.30. THE DRAGON. A REMARKABLE PICTURE. In the five-part photo-play, "The Dragon," which the World-Equitable Company presents for the last time today at the Theatre Royal, there is enough of sensation to stock a popular melodrama. The author and producer must have had in their mind when the scenario was sketched out the- wellknown lines from "Hamlet," "But virtue, as it never will be moved, Though lewdness court it in a shape of Heaven; So lust, though to a radiant angel linked, will sate itself in a celestial bed." The interest in the story centres around the experiences of a girl, presumably fifteen years of age, who is searching for her mother, who has been lured away from home and kindred, by one of the money kings of Wall Street. The girl has spent .her life since infancy in a convent, and knows absolutely nothing of the wickedness of the world. Her beauty appeals to the evil side of many persons, and they try their arts, which have proved successful on another class of female; the promise of riches, the display of gorgeous robes, and other devices, but «11 these fill on dead senses, when paraded before one whose innocence and moral lectitude are irreproachable. Eventually the girl discovers her mother, and in an appealing scene persuades her father to forgive and forget. The plav ends with the mother, father, and daughter on the road to united happiness. Miss Margarita Fischer gives a splendid performance of the dual parts of mother and daughter. The attractiveness of the play is enhanced by some clever double exposure photography. The supporting- programme is well chosen. Of particular merit is the Keystone comedy "Caught in the Act.," and Ihe sce:iic "Ingleton and its Waterfalls." "Tin. Dragon" will be shown at the matinee to-day at 2.30 p.m. »nd finally screened at S o'clock to-night. On Monday night "The Christian" is due.

THE CHRISTIAN. Hall Caine the novelist, lias written many fjm#u.« books, but none have attained such celebrity as "The Christian," which has been filmed by the London Film Co., and is to be presented for the first time before a New Plymouth audience on Monday evening ue.vt at the Theatre Eoval. "The Christian" abounds in many varied and interesting situations not met with in the majority of picture plays, for in addition to the love story which runs its course throughout the plav, there are many strong moral lessons with whieli the author forces the attention of the audience. Tt is a picture for churchgoer and non-churchgoer alike. The characters stand out <is 'f drawn from life—it is indeed a picture of comparisons, the Revereiul Canon Wealthy and Father John Storm, for instance, smug complacency and worldiliness on one side, and unbounded charity for the fallen on the other, seldom has ever such an eloquent, though silent sermon keen preached. And then before our eye; are unfolded the tortuous windings of English swell society, the profligate and idle rich, the titled libertines whose whole life is an assailnicnt of virtue, and then to the very depths of the underworld—the poor, the very poor. Do you know what real poverty is? You may think you do, but until you see "The Christian" you do not know the meaning of poverty. During the filming of this uicture, one of the largest mob scenes ever taken by an English Company were composed of some hundreds of genuine dwellers of the slums of London. It is ghastly, it is appalling, but •t is true; and we want truth, not romance. And it was to save these people that John Storm left his aristocratic home and became a member of a strict monastic order in London. These are some only of the many features of "The Christian" which are a startling indictment of the cant and sham of the present age. Exceptional interest is lent to the presentment by reason of the fact that the part of John Storm is played by the gifted author's talented son, Mr. Derwent Hall Caine, who is most convincing in this difficult role. The box plan is at Collier's.