ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1917, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MARY PICKFORD IN "RAGS" AT THE EMPIRE TO-NIGHT.

Amongst the many pictures in which Mary Pickford has appeared, two have stood out far in excess of the others as popular attractions and pleasing subjects. Firstly came "Tcss of the Storm Country" anil more recently "Rags." Neither of these pictures were picked by Miss Pickford herself (that fatal dock on which so many promising stars hang wrecked careers) but were selected and directed by capable producers who knew the ability of the artist and the suitability of the story. Hence the remarkable success of both these subjects over the more recent productions in which this young lady has starred. To-night "Rags" will commence a two night season at the Empire with a matinee to-morrow at 2 p.m. On the same programme with "Rags" will be a fine "Metro" drama "The' Silent Voice" in which two distinguished artists Francis X. Bushman and Marguerite Snow wilt play the leading parts. The prices of admission have not been raised for this excellent programme, although in Wellington "Rags" alone was screened at 2/- and 1/-, the Empire prices will remain at sixpence to all parts. MATINEE TO-MORROW. No more pleasing subject could be selected to please both adults or children than "Rags" and with this in view the management have arranged that this picture will be the star subject at the matinee to-morrow when the prices of admission will be, children threepence and adults sixpence. A MASTERPIECE OF FILM CRAFT. THEDA BARA IN OUIDAS IMMORTAL NOVEL "UNDER TWO FLAGS."

\ibrant with the thrill of the desert, and dominated by the tragedv of love Omda's immortal novel "Under Two Flags" moved to the wildest enthusiasm the huge audience at Everybody's last evenmg. Theda Bara, in the 'role of Cigarette, is a preliminarv send-off fot this picture, but after all she is only a star part of a perfect picturisation of a popular story. The novel is probably as familiar at the household fireside as East Lynne" or "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and it holds its own with all the superlatives of a more modern literature Bright virile, and not lacking in sensation, this love tragedy works into a quite exceptional picture. Cleverly constructed and admirably acted, this picturesque drama ensures wide-spread attention from picture-goers. William Fox the genius of big motion picture production has brought all the forces of Ins mighty organisation to work on this masterpiece of motion picture craft. The magnificent scenes of the desert life and Cigarette's wild ride for the life of the man 3 he loves, and her capture by the Arabs and subsequent desperate' fight with a desert sandstorm are all powerful incidents leading to a mighty climax when the little French girl stops the bullets intended for her lover, wid with her dying breath whispers. "It is nothin<this death, I'm ready for it, I'm glad to do it, for I save the man I love." "Under Two Flags" is a motion picture classic and-will not soon be forgotten by last night's audience. To-night will be the final screening and the public can view this super-film at the ordinary rates of admission.