THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1917, Page 2

THE EMPIRE.

"TO HAVE- AND TO HOLD." The Lasky feature "To Have' and to' Hold" which was delayed in transit ami did not arrive in time for the advertised screenings on Wednesday and' Thursday is now to hand arid wi« be : shown tonight, and at both performances t-o'-Wior-row. The-picture' tells a romance of the time of King James the First. That mo- ! narch desires his ward to wed a favourite of his, but the young lady does not view the proposition at all enthusiastically. Tc- escape, she marries a gentleman adventurer who turns out to he an' ideal lover. Trouble vanishes and happiness reigns supreme. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES. " Tin; prize certificates won by local children in the "British Empire Rhyming Trades Alphabet" will be presented at the matinee to-morrow. "THE MIRACLE OF LIFE." A FILM CLASSIC "A fresh sweet new blossom of humanity, fresh fallen from God's own home to flower on earth." This is the text around which is built the sermon of 'The Miracle of Life,",or "The Divinity o: Motherhood," a notable picture which is promised'for production at the Empire Theatre opening'on Monday next. It is a strong sex story, but it is said that there is nothing in it that is liable to offend the most hypocritical of picture censors. The picture is stated to carry a-lesson that ■ should appeal to everyone. It -is claimed that it gets right down to realities), but handles them with such-a grace and such a. charm that even the most sensitive can only appreciate and approve. Everybody knows the old story of the unwelcome ehinld that was-"misunderstood" This is the story in different form, and it is embellished with beautiful effects, until it hecomes literally a picture clasie. With Marguerita Fischer as the unhappy wpman who shirked the responsibilities of motherhood for' the pleasure of society, the play is in strong hands and the story of '"Little might have been," j who should have (been "Little should have been," becomes invested .with double interest.

BILLIE BURKE. Tn addition to the great "Divinity 1 ' picture tlif programme will include lite first nf a series of adventures that implien Billie Burke in "Gloria's Romance," a film novel Hint is proving the most successful picture ever introduced to picture audience* in Australasia. .' Attention is drawn in our advertising columns to an important announcement regarding the business of L. Berry and Co, Tlic partnership is being dissolved and the whole of the stock must he realised. The premises will be closed until the end of the month when a clearing sale will commence.