THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1916, Page 6

THE EMPIRE.

"YOUTH" AND "BRIGHT LIGHTS" TO-NIGHT. Tlie tragedy of time and the triumph of youth are exemplified in the Vitagraph dramatic picture play, "Youth,'' which is one of two special features showing at the Empire Theatre to-night. An artist's wife, after sitting for alUtis triumphs and inspiring him to great things in the paths of art, finds herself too old to pose foi his crowning success and sees her place taken by «' young fair haired siren whom she finds is stealing lut husband's affection. It is a tragic yet powerfully entertaining picture and in the end a chastened and enlightened man learns to distinguish the dross from the gold. The second feature on the programme is the highly humorous Triangle comedy "Bright I.igliis," in which "Fatty Arlitieklo" and ".Mabel Normand" enac'i a_ laughable story of the lure of New York'- lights and how a commercia l traveller with a large check suit and a small cheque book persuaded Mabel to elope to the city and leave her rustic swain. Fatly discovrs her in one of New York's Dives on "The Bowery"' and the subsequent happenings provide a farce of an unusual kind and guaranteed to make the proverbial eat laugh itself into a lit. The supporting features include the pretty scenic "Around Braemar" and the ever popular Gazette of news pictures.

PROGRAMME ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS WEEK

The Empire management-have secured a fine series of features on this week's four programmes. To-night and to-mor-row the strong' Vitagraph Blue-Ribbon feature. "Youth," and a screamingly funnv Trianble comedy. "Bright Lights," will be the chief attractions. On Wednesday, for one night only, the principle attraction will be "Alsace," a drama interpreted by leading Parisian artists, with the renowned Madame Rijane in the leading role. "Alsace" is a story of the times when Germany annexed the beloved province of France, and forced ihe French, who remained in the towns, to serve in the German army. The plot concerns a young Frenchman who had married a pretty girl with German sympathies. When war was declared the mother wished her son to take up arms for his country, but his wife was beforo her. During some rioting the young husband i.s badly wounded, and the rest of the story shows bow his mother avenged the assault on her son. The play is said' to have the most thrilling climax ever invented in any dramatic work. On Thursday the ninth adventure of Stingaree will be screened entitled "A Duel in the Desert." Friday and Saturday will see the screening of one of the most popular pictures ever introduced into the Dominion, under the title of "The Fighting Pa.'son."