THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1916, Page 6

THE EMPIRE.

UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS OP MAKY PIOKFORIA

"TIIK DAWN OF A TO-MORROW."

LAST SCREENING TO-NIGHT

The fact t'nat Miss Mary Pickford was appearing in a feature film-at the Empuire Theatre last evening was quite sufficient excuse for tlie- crowd that was present. ''The Dawn of a To-morrow,"' produced by tiie Famous Players Company, is a picture that delves deep into human nature, reveals with an exactitude of detail the good and bad of mankind, and as such is deeply interesting. Miss Pickford, as "Glad/' a waif of the London streets, ragged and poor, but wit'lial happy, wise and good, has a part peculiarly suited to her. Her acting throughout is splendid. The sweet-na-tured slum-born girl that is ever inh'ucncjng those about her for good is portrayed by Miss Pic-Word as only that wonder of the picture world could portiy.y her. The story tells of a rich but most unhappy magnate who is declared by the most eminent doctors of the land to be on the verge of a complete mental breakdown. In his anguish he determines to steal forth into the nig'ht and for ever end his unhappy existence. He has for an 'heir a nephew—a dashing, flash, worthless being, who, on hearing the doctor's verdict, is more pleased than sorrowful, for be foresees the coming wealth. In his he bas, while in a slum area, met a young wastrel of a girl, the beauty of whom he is much attracted by. He visits the girl in her village haunts and unsuccessfully seeks, bv the promise of fine clothes and riches, to beguile her from her fold. But the child of the street, aptly named "Glad," has already chosen, and be of her heart is u dashing, young crook, named "Dandy," cunning, but still manly. By her goodness ,she. steadily influences him to lead a straight life. He accordingly forsakes his fellow-crooks, who thereby swear vengeance upon him. During a burglary, "Dandy's" erstwhile confreres are disturbed bv; the ric-'h occupant of the bouse, who'for his pains is shot dead by the interlopers. The crooks are caught by the police, but swear t'hat the crime was committed by "Dandy.'' Meanwhile ''Dandy" in his wanderings that night meets the expectant heir and enquires from him the time. Next morning Glad is early awake and into the street. There she meets the unhappy old gentleman, and is in time to prevent bis committing suicide. There is but one person that can save "Dandy" from the clutches of the law, and that is the old man's nephew, but he, in his hatred for the lover of Glad, will not admit that he met 'him at the time of the crime and so prove an alibi. Glad invokes the aid of the old man whom she saved from a wretdhed death, and who, in a dramatic scene, unexpectedly faces his worthless nephew and forces from him the words that restore ''Daluly" to his loved one. The Pathe Gazette and a comic, "The Conquest of Constantia," are good supporting pictures. To-night is the last occasion that j this superb .picture can be screened in .New Plymouth.