ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1918, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

DOUGLAS KAIRnAXKS AT THE JiMPIM; TO-XIGHT. T'irre is 'much sound wisdom in the mlagc that "a got'd In ugh saves many a doctor's b\l." but this piece of ojitiij.iim has so ci'.f thai most folk ileHj'Oii'l (Ai'r i" I!,i' tr"-> human '.vay. It I'.miUl be f:ir letter did they treat it as e joke. Thi'.iv is no picture exhibitor who would dream of running a programme without .i comedy among the minor events,, but it is a comparatively t j rare thing to find a movie entortainmciU with u splendid fun-film as its feature. This i s a new departure at the Empire to-night, which has at tho head of its current bill Douglas Fairbanks in "The Habit of Happiness," a comedy of superlative merit, with avalanches of laughter., and just, enough plot to keep it sweet. Kvcry picture fan knows the everlasting cheerful grin that pervades all the Fjiirtank? feats, but in ''The ilabit of Happiness 1 ' 'Doug., the most popular actor for ■ the screen to-day, outdoes himself. For the picture he jposes a-s a person who makes it his profession to banish "the blues/' and in this novel role he -is a fascinating success. II is uproarious do- • ings in the first parts of the picture not only chase away th? gloom of a long line of dead-beats, but. has an even happier effect on the audience, and his efforts to cure ft melancholy millionaire bring not only a vast deal ,of happy, wholesome laughter, but several thrills as well. The feature of Doug.'s style in this, as in all his masterpieces, is his eminently natural way. One is sure that Doug, is just as much himself on the screen as he is o!T it. and a very pleasant person to meet in any case. The latter parts especially of "The Habit- of haw some tense moments.-most thrilling | of all being the willing lisht heiwen the i happy man and a few evil ones. P.esidcs | "The Habit (if' Happiness" there is "Tho Sealed Packets'* an episode of "TV. So- j crct Kingdom"' serial, with eno'.ig I '. thrilk a-nd gasjw oi sensation to satisfy evorvj body. This programme V'll i.e shown |for three

ALICK ■ PRtAfli" IN "THE TWVORCK ("iAiI.E" AT EVKRYBODr'S. "The DiVorce Game.'' wliicii was shown at Everybody's ou Saturday urew a packed hoitse at the night sessions. In this production, adapted from the famous stage success, "Mile Fifi." Alice Brady has <i thoroughly charming rote. She appears as thp extravagant American wile of au equally extrav»f?»tiC Kr*r\c'i nobleman. The young couple *re mur.li in love with each otlwir, and ar« nlvmys . laird up b<*anse of the kvi»h vmy in J wh>.h they gpmd mon«y, and because of ' the Jact «l»i the eiri's marriage »ttlcI snrat prevent* licr from using anything llml the income from the past sum left |by her father. Thev appeil to too girl's ]mother to Kelp thnru o'Jt of their troubles, but as the mother has twice settled | their debt* she refuses to do so a third [time. This leads the vi;:i»g cmiplb to i try for a bogus clivorw, .v under tlie . terms of the marriage settlement the 'money will come into thq gir'i'i control in case of her divorce. The mother discovers the subterfuge, and then something occurs to make the girl really want 'a divorce. But now she cunuist make lier mother believe that she is in earnest. Eventually matters are straighten- ' ed out, and the young couple reconciled. The auxiliary films include the "Topical gazette" and chapter 10 of "The Iron Claw," "The Living Death." Owing tthe excellence of this programme it will be retained ,at Ev-vi<r> i.-\ , m m next ; Wednesday, when the Greater Vita;"star, Anita Stewart, will H-aturo in a dramatic success, "The Moie Excellent r-"