THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1916, Page 3

THE EMPIRE.

"SINS OF THE MOTHERS." CUE 10,000 DOLLAR PRIZE DRAMA. There can be no two opinions about lie success achieved by Vitagraph's prize cature drama, "The Sins of tlie Mobers," at the Empire last evening. A .plendir] attendance saw the film and apiroved it in a marked manner. The tory won the 10,000 dollar prize given iv the New York Sun against all comers or the best scenaria for a film play, nd after witnessing its exhibition one ealises its great merit. ; It is a story hat counts. It possesses elements that mpress and entertain, and in addition loints a fine moral. It is absolute,..* rue to life and unfortunately its counerpart may be found in many a home o-day. It deals with the evils of gambing by medium of cards, dice, roulette vheels and horse-racing, and drives its esson home with sledge-hammer force. Che crirl who, reared in a convent where ;he had been placed by a motlicr who lad driven her husband to suicld) 1 ;hrough her losses at the gambling table, inly to be taken out and set down amid I ill the temptations of her mother's Gambling house, and with the hereditary taint in her blood, gave to clever, winsome Anita Stewart, a character that afforded the wonderfully fine actress an opportunity of showing her true merit as an artist. Yells upon yells of wholesouled laughter fairly shook the building during the screening. The "Water Queen's" diving, and the work of "Reggie" were remarkable features. Other subjets are "The Lake of Tlioun" (3 fine scenic), and the latest (ixumont Graphic The great merit of the pictures should ensure a full house at the matinee this aiternoun and again tonight. MONDAY AND TUESDAY. A REMARKABLE HCTTjiIS. "THE BATTLE CRY OF PEACES '■To keep peace prepare for says an old maxim, and this is - the theme of "The Battle Cry of Peace,-' a war drama which is to be introduced at the Empire Theatre on Monday at the head of a new programme. Much controversy in the United States and elsewhere has ranger round what is alleged to be the unpreparedness of that country lor war, md the question involved is one of worldwide interest and conceit;. The picture named is aimed at showing that the best policy for America to pursue is to make ample provision to successfully wage war against any other nation which might come against it, and not only does it deal with this problrae, but it orovides i love-drama and also battle founded on the present war which, it is claimed, are remarkably realistic. The production has been prepared on an ela.-, borate scale, and depicts the shelling of New York by a hostile fleet. It u stated that some 38,000 soldiers a[»d others appear in tte- picture, and that the incidents described in some of the scenes are unusually- thrilling. The story tells how the daughter of a "peace-at-any-price" advocate of New York is engaged to''be married to a young man, who is a Minporter of the policy of being preparec for war. The father of the girl objects to the engagement on account of the views held by the man. However, the day comes when shells from an enemy fleet crash into New York with tragic results, and, incidental to the capturing at the city, the peace advocate is falsely accused as a spy and shot, while the younsr man is bayoneted before the eyes 'f his sweetheart. From this point the itory is worked out to a happy contusion in an interesting manner.