ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1918, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

FAIRBANKS AT THE EMPIRE :: THE HABIT OF HAPPINESS.-' Douglas Fairbanks .n son of a j man "who had so little sense ot humor I that, he spent all his life amassing a fortune'-' is in a, typical role as Sammy Wiggins in "The Habit of Happiness" now screening ac the Empire. The story starts off with a ru3h. Sammy has collected vlie strangest circle of Bowery deadbeats and whirls them down to breakfast after stampeding them all into the unpleasant job of L,.ving » bath. Then he opens a ' Primary Class in Laughing 7 ' • at a. slum refuge, and meets "rlt-i great sweets.,. He has a most ingenious system of physical exercises, and tWe catch on. His .iu;cess wings J.ini an appointment to Jor.itfcan Pepper, s> grouchy old millionaire who suffers from indigestion and lack ot (minor. Snvr.wy pushes into lite murky gloom of the old man's household atu. upseis Ji* whole settled arrangements in no time. He rushes the old man off up to his bedroom and locks him in, to eventually starve till lie develops an appetite. The story takes a grim surprise twist just here, and one of the Fairbanks rough »nd tumble fights, takes place, ending up with Doug, entrenched on the stairhead, holding off .1 small army of roughs down below. Dorothv West, a charming Triangle giri is the heroine, and is one of the best, ot the long line of Fairbanks leading ladies The play is the best yet of the "King of Clear Cut Comedy." The third episode of '"The Secret Kingdom" is also included on 'this programme which will be finally shown to-night. EARLY START TO-MORROW A big double programme will be introduced to-morrow (Thursday) to commence at 7.45 p,m. sharp. The stars are Metro Wonderplav ''Lady Barnacle" 5 reels with Viola Dana, and a William Fox super feature '"Melting Millions" starring George Walsh. 1 ' —rSPLENDID NEW PROGRAMME AT EVERYBODY'S TO-NIGHT THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY. Anita Stewart in her supreme screen role, is the star d£ "The More excellent Way," the immensely powerful Vitagraph drama now being shown at Everybody's. The story concerns a wealthy orphan girl who marries on a business basis, a man somewhat older than herself. He intends honestly to respect his side of the contract, but the loveliness of his bride and the tide of lovcthat threatens to overwhelm him, prove too strong, and black trouble comes to the unhappy pair. Rudolph Cameron plays the part of the young lover who has an inherited taint, and to him the heroine instinctively turns as a refuge from her husband. The plot develops with swiftness and there seems to be no way out for the unhappy little bride. Anita Stewart's acting in this great drama is a genuine surprise, and proves her to have a quite unsuspected capacity for the portrayal of intense emotion. The settings are the last word in luxury, and the much vaunted new photographic discoveries made by the Vitagraph studio experts are seen for the first time. Charles Richman as the husband plays with dignity and restraint. This is the strongest and best Vitagrapli offering put out this year. Supporting this big attraction is the Weekly War News. ' Also a 2-reel Triangle-Keystone (Sennett) Comedy scream entitled "Her Fame and Shame." This programme will bo screened for three nights.