THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1917, Page 7

THE EMPIRE.

Y TO-NIGHT, Captivating and bewitching Lilian Gisli, tha delightful iheroine of J). W.' Griffiths spectacular master-piece in historical romance, "The Birth of a Notion, makes a "welcome re-appearance at the Empire Theatre to-night in a charming Old World production by the Triangle Fino Arts Company, under the direction of D. W. Griffith, entitled ''Daphne and the Pirate.'' It is a story of tile days when Louisiana v.~a>s a Fiench colony, and bride ships sailcrl from France across tho pirate-infested seas with girls destined to he auctioned as wives for the French settlers. These were the days of wigs, of poiwdcr and the bclaeed and scented roue, Ithe rapier and the duel, and every detail of fascinating romance which the Senius of D. W. Griffith lias limned on tho screen, is histori«ally i perfect. The story opens in old France, w'here Philip du Mernav, son of a noble "house, appears at the zenith of his career as a debonair profligate, to whom all pleasures, and amongst them women, come easily at his call. ITo meets Daphne, t'lie daughter of one of the gamc-keop-crs, and piqued by her cool independence and maidenly rebuffs ,arranges for her abduction. Duels and complications follow, and a' dramatic train of events places Daphne in a bride ship bound for far Louisiana, and Plillip in the midst of a pirate crew. The bride s'hip and the pirate ship meet on the high mm, there is a sensational de-, nouement to the fight that follow's, and, in the end, Daphne, rescued by a. ship of the French Navy, reaches Louisiana with her companions of the bride sbip, and we next see her on the auction block, under the hammer. Here the spirit of romance appears, Daphne, who really loves (Philip, schemes in the wn.y women know bogt'iliow to do, and everything ends happily. In the title role Lillian Gish has a great opportunity, and fairly revels in a yart which is said to display her captivating graces to tho best advantage. An .i/11-stw cast which includes Elliot Dexter, the hero, and other well-known members of the Triangle Company, lends perfection to the production. Other films in support include the latest war topicals, "The High Cost- of Living" (comedy) and I "Young Bird Life" (nature study). Seats may be reserved at Collier's.

A MUCH-DISCUSSED FIU£—"THE HYPOCRITES."

"To the pure, all tilings arc ourb.'' This maxim is strikingly brought home to those who have seen "■Hypocrites," the beautiful allegory which features the propamine at tjie Empire Theatre commencing next Tliursday. A monk, work--[ ing secretly in his cell, carves a mule statue of surpassing beauty, which he calls "Truth," but when the misterpiece is publicly shown, the ignorant multitude, seeing immodesty wiliere to the pure onljj. the sculptured symbol .of truth is presented, kill the monk and destroy the statue. The spirit ,of Trutlh then .ises from the shattered fragments, and, taking her lamp, goes forth into the highways and byways of life holding up the mirror to the sjharns and hypocrisies of- men ,md -women in all.classes. With Margaret Edwards in the role, this striking and much-discuss-ed film represents a perfect example of a difficult subject chastely and delicately handled. The supporting items will be a good selection