THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1917, Page 7

THE EMPIRE.

BOOTH TARKIXO TON'S BELOVED STORY. "THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA." Booth Tarkington's best-loved and most popular book, The Gentleman from Indiana," was produced in motion pictures for tho lirst time in New Plymouth at the Empire Theatre last night. The picture shows how, after leaving the university, where he has been one of the greatest football stars for years, •Whn Harkless (Lhistin Farnum) plunges into the thick of Indiana nolitics through purchasing the Platville Herald and fearlessly smashing the corrupt political machine of Rodney McCune. While this in a few words describes the gist of the pkiy, it by no moans conveys to the reader €he wonderful photoplay that lias been built around Booth Tarkington's very human story. Pen and ink cannot describe the smoothness of the action, the transition from scene to scene, as Mr. Farnum live?, not acts, the part of the character he is portraying. To the man or woman who was born in a small town, the "main street" of Platville will flccm like a picture of the old homestead. To the city-born it will bring a view of what a country town really looks like. And t'lie characters are the every-dav persons one meets in a tqivn.of this kind. The local political ."boss"; the university professor, who has fallen from grace by his love for liquor, reforms when offered a helping hand; the leader of the "Whitecaps," and his crew of ruffians; the girl «'ho has been adopted by her aunt in the city—all are true to life. For those who like a strong love story, of a real man and a real woman, will* not be disappointed. Every human element is offered, and you will enjoy it from beginning to end.