THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1916, Page 6

THE EMPIRE.

A BLUE-RIBBON MASTERPIECE. "THE CHALICE OP COURAGE" TO-NIGHT. The story of William Nonbotd, the iDininir enginect, and the tragic circumstances that led to his retirement from the world, living as a recluse among the snow-capped mountains, is remarkably well told in the six-reel "Blue Ribbon Feature," "The Chalice of Courage," which will be screened for the first time at the Empire to-night. The picture is a most unusual one, combining sensational and thrilling incidents with an interesting ps.vliologie.il study of a man and woman who arc snowed up in a i.r.t on the mountains. It is from this scene the picture gets its title, both characters drinking deeply from the "chalice," and both winning through temptation to love and happiness. Magnificent mountain scenery is i feature of the picture. Several thrilling incidents take place durng the action of the story; the fall of horse and rider down a precipice being perhaps the most daring. A storm on, the mountains, the rescue from the whirling rapids, the encounter with a huge grissly bear, the snowed-up hut on the mountain side, and the deadly struggle between two men torn by primeval passions are episodes that are convincing by the realism of acting and setting. The "Pnthe Gazette" and a cartoon comedy are also shown. THIS WEEK'S ATTRACTIONS. TOUR COMPLETE CHANGES OF PROGRAMME. The lour programmes, to be screened at the Empire this week are probablv ihe strongest selection the management has yet handled in one particular week. Commencing to-night and showing again to-morrow, the star attraction %vill be a wonderful Vitagraph blue-ribbon feature, "The Chalice of Courage," from the wellknown book by Cyrus Townsend Brady. On Wednesday and Thursday the .startling World Film star, "The ©evil's Toy," will be presented, in many ways tins is one of the most remarkable films yet released in New Zealand, and baa caused quite a sensation in the towns where it has been screened. It is advertised as the greatest love story ever written for screen presentation, and contain? five acts, with forty surprising episodes. The production is on a stupendous scale, scores of magnificent gowns, each one a creation of [lhe best designers in America, being worn. Thousands of people appear in the big ensembles, and marvellous spectacular scenes are profusely distributed throughout the drama. One big feature in the play is an actual motion picture of the Biltmore Ice Gardens, New York, which is the resort of the very wealthy, and their associate. There is shown a scene of revelry in which hundreds of the prettiest American girls take part. The plot centres on the vaulting ambition of an artist, who sacrifices all that he might haveriches, fame, and love. Riches- and Tame j were grantci, uut love was denied him wine l -, as Oscar Wilde would say, is hit J tragedy. On Friday the seventh adven ture of the. fascinating "Stingaree" will j be presented and patrons are requested to notice the change of night for this picture, also that it will be screened, or. , Friday night only. Saturday at 2 p.m. and again at 8, the delightful Viola Dana will appear in her latest and greatest triumph, "The Innocence of Ruth." This beautiful and versatile young actress has already won the hearts of picture patrons by her superb acting in "The Stoning," "The Children of Eve," and lastly in 'iGladiola," screened a few weeks back at this theatre. '