THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1917, Page 6

THE EMPIRE.

"THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES" AND "GLORIA" NO. 9.

A large and appreciative audience welcomed ttho excellent change of programme at the Empire last night. Miss Billie Burke again won all hearts by her great charm and finished acting in a further chapter, "The Shadow of Scandal," of "Gloria's Romance." Her presentation of Gloria, driven to the very verge of madness by witnessing the murder of her fiance on the eve of their marriage, is brimful of pathos. She vows to track down the murderer; and he, for his part, is shown haunted by visions of his victim and suffering tho pangs of unavailing remorse. The supporting film, "Tile Female of the Species," is, as its name implies, something of a problem play. A young husband injured about the head in a railway collision (most realistically produced) loses his memory, and a beautiful siren takes advantage of the fact to spirit him away from his girl wife. She, however, learns of his whereabouts, and ill spite of all the siren's wiles, succeeds, even before his memory returns, in winning back his love. The plot is out, and the play, aB may be imagined, abounds in dramatic situations and romantic interest. The Patlie Gazette, of topical film-paragraphs on current events, is as usual most interesting,