THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1917, Page 7

THE EMPIRE.

AN" ASTOUNDING PTCTUTU3. "MACISTE/' The producers of the gieat worldtamed masterpiece, ''Cabira." introduced as or.e of their chief characters the giant regro Maciste, who us-d his great strength to such good purpose in doing all manner of prodigious feats of strength on behalf of 'lie persecuted heroine of that production. Maciste appears to have made a pcnular hit as a picture player, for the producers of "Oabiria" have given him a five-reel film .ill to himself, in which he improves on the physical culture "stur.ts" with which he commenced his movie career. The new picture, screened for the first time ,tt the Empire last night, is ruled "Maciste," and is the .story of a persecuted girl, who, in escaping f-oin a gang, of •ruffians, takes refuge in a cinema theatre just in time to get the n.ighty man of "Cabiria" performing some of hi* wonderful feats. His strn.glii comes to licr a.s a revelation, and, obeying a wild impulse to seek his aid in l.er difficulties, she writes to Maciste. He answers her ; iv letter out of enriosit,'. and later she meets him and enlists his sympathy. Ihen follows a wond'vvul series of "strong mail" feats, in uliich the desperadoes who are making th" girl's life miserable come in for an extremely unhappy time. Maciste is a great actor as well as one of the most powerful athletes in the world, and his sensational picture will, no doubt, attract large audiences. A good supporting programme backs up the big feature, which will be screened again to night and tomorrow night.