ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1918, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE EMPIRE. THE SENSATIONAL FILM SUCCESS, "EMPTY 'POCKETS," TO-NIGHT. A new producer and mostly new players (to local picture-goers) are responsible for "Empty Pockets," a photoplay founded on the novel of that name by Ruper Hughes, whkll constitutes the main attraction of the new programme at the Empire Theatre to-night. Tlu story is a decidedly novel one, and at the outset there is depicted the discovery, on the roof of a tenement in tho slum area of New York, of the dead body of a wealthy clubman, one Merithotr. In the dead man's fingers is firmly clutched a vrisp of "copper-col-ored'' hair, and beside the body is an uncommonly-mounted hatpin. At first sight the sheeting home of tbc supposed crime looks like a simple business for the police, but when it is learned that there are no iawer. than five women under suspicion—all possessing this particular shade of hair, 1 and all more or less victims ox Merithew's nnscrupulousness—it soon becomes evident that the case is an imusum one. However, one of these women Muriel Schuyler. daughter of a millionaire banker, is involved in the affair in a. peculiar way. Muriel, in conjunction with young Dr. AVorthing (with whom she is in love),' is interested in certain philanthropic work, and, iti furtherance of this, she unwittingly places herself under an obligation to tne unscupulous Mtnthew. This leads to all manner of complications, and Muriel becomes the object of a . blackmailing gang. Eventually, with the aid of AVorthing, the schemers of the gang are defeated, and it is shortly after "this that Merithew meets his untimely end. This is really tho key to the whole story, and the solving of the mystery and the climax of the most interesting end welltold romance of AA'orthing and Muriel provide an ending quite in keeping with the general excellence maintained right from beginning \to end. Tho latest Gazette provides an interesting supporting subjet. 'EVERYBODY'S. LAST NTGIHT OF ''GATES OF GLADNESS'." The splendid World film feature, "Gates. of Gladness, - ' in whinh Madge Evans starred at Everybody's on Saturday, was in cveiy way equal to the many previous successes of this delightful little actress. The story gives her many fine openings for the display of her charming personality, and the audience many moments of wholesome entertainment. "The Neglected Wife" (ilSth episode) is also on this programme, which shoe's finally to-night. TO-mmcm", WILLIAM FAWWUM, IN "PLACING FA®;." The hig Fox feature, "Playing Fair," •starring William Farntmi, which wctt astray last week, lias now come to hand, and will be included as an extra on the Mutual programme for to-morrow and Wednesday.- The Mutual feature dfl luxe to be shown is "Miss jaeky of the Navy," a rippling comedy drama with Margarita Fischer in the leading role.