ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1918, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE EMPIRE. VIOLA DANA IST "THE WINDING TRAIL." There was a big attendance at the Empire last night when the popular screen favorite, Viola Dana, starred in the Metro feature, "Tlio Winding Trail." Viola Dana plays the part of Audrey Graham who, leaving New York in the midst of her triumphs as premiere danseuse, makes the trip westward in a typical prairie schooner to find the man wlio has caused her sister's dishonor and death. Under unusual circumstances which grip the heart, she meets Zachary Wando, leader of a band of outlaws. ITc has a prior claim on Steel, Steel being the man who dragged the name 01 Wando's wife in the dust and caused her to ha known as the Sin Woman Wando nukes Audrey promise to bring him back for a unique revenge. Soul-stirring events frmn this point on follow each other in rapid succession, and the unusual ending will cause discussion and the keenest interest. Wonderful scenes in the desert are shown, the view at one point extending over a distance of fifty miles. The dance-hall and mining camp "Hashes," the life in the outlaw's camp, are all realistic in the extreme. Contrasted with these are moments in the dressing-room of Audrey Graham in a Broadway theatre when the little dancer does a difficult toe dance, and here .she demonstrates her artistry as a premiere danseuse,, also evKnitin?, before the miners, a clever Spanish dance which is brilliant and dashing. This fine photoplay shows again to-night and at both sessions to-moronv.

A SENSATIONAL TRIUMPH IN MOTION PICTURES. "EMPTY POCKETS." "Empty Pockets," which is advertised to show at the Empire next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, is a film that will Pet Hie people thinking. In its very first scenes it makes a mystery that seems all but insoluble. Then it switches back into earlier events, and traces a tab which drops several clues that make 'his mystery all the more enchanting. It depends wholly upon the way in which these little incidents are taken i". to which of five different redheaded girls is proven guilty of a crime It is rather neatly set, this "Empty Pockets'' talc, and in its scenes are many striking contrasts, going from slum to palace and back again. Its four principal stars are ICetty Gfllanta, Barbara Castleton. Malcolm Williams, and Bert Lvtell, but there are many other characters shown in lesser parts, for the tale covers a great many of the deeper human emotions. The title is quite suggestive, too, for all the motives that appear in plot are due to empty pockets and the hope of lucre. This is why a girl is kidnapped. And that, is also why one of the abductors, in the process of prizing money from a millionaire, lets slip the plot, and gives him a cliaueo to rescue the girl. But if is not because of empty pockets that the millionaire meets his death. That is only an incident that complicates matters. As a picture "Empty Pockets' is rather good. It is clear and picturesque, and its plot is well done. il< is adapted from the 'book by Rupert Hughes. The other films on the bill include comedies and topical subjects. Seats niav now be reserved at Collier's.