ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1920, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

THE EMPIRE. "THE MIRACLE MAN" TO-NIGHT. "The Miracle Man" has the distinction of being the greatest artistic and moral achievement of the screen age. Its elusive yet unforgettable quality is revealed in the fact that the story may bo told in two sentences, yet could not be conveyed adequately in words. A gang of criminals hfer of the strange powers of a "patriarch" in a remote village, whose beauty of life and helped to bring health and peace of mind to the suffering. Assuming innocence and belief, they surround him and stage a pretended "miracle," through which they plffi to exploit the sightless healer as a business Enterprise. Their cunning succeeds beyond .their hopeß, 'but unconsciously they fall under the spell which they had sought to use, and are themselves transformed, lifted by faith from depravity to a cleansed, ennobled manhood and womanhood. That is all. The passion of the theme is masterful, but its quietude is Irresistible, It steals into the heart like an exquisite poem, and lives in the memory like ft haunting melody. "The Miracle Man" is a wondrous document of humanity and love of fellow-kind; it is an awe-inspiring achievement of human endeavor and of genius, and has made the name of George Loano Tucker one that will go down the ages as the creator of "The Miracle Man." "The Miracle Man" commences a local season of three nightß and one matinee at the Empire to-night.

THE PEOPLE'S. LAST NIGHT OF "THE BRAMBLE BUSH." Corinne Griffiths in "The Bramble Bush," Vitagraph's big film, finishing tonight at the People's, gives a, very fine performance in a very difficult role. The play, apart from being a most entertaining story, ia gorgeously set and dressed, Miss Griffiths wearing some most beaut/ful creations. The Sunbeam comedy, 1 "Work and Win 'Em," is a scream of merriment', and the bill includes latest gazettes. To-morrow's big double bill presents two admirable Fox offerings, William Russell in "The Lincoln Highwayman," a wonderful play of action, suspense) thrills, mystery and romance; and Madelame Traverse in The Iron Heart," a story of lasting love that grew out of grasping greed. EVERYBODY'S. NORMA TALMADGE IN "THE ISLE OF CONQUEST. Norma Talmade has a strong part ift "Isle. of Conquest," a society drama, which reveals the pathos and tragedy of an "arranged" marriage. Driven into a distasteful alliance, a convent-bred girl bases her knowledge and conception of men on the experience of her own life, her husband being a dilettante in love as well as a scoundrel by nature. An exciting wreck at sea (the scenes are most realistically presented) take? place, and the girl-wife is cast on a desert island with a stoker from the vessel, a man who had come down in the social scale. Thus Fate placed together a woman who hated men, and a man who hated women and their frailty. Out of their close companionship springs love. They, are rescued, and the girl goes back to her home, but the fates are kind, and the way is opened to the lovers. A fine supporting programme is shown. The screening nights are to-night and' to-mor-row at Everybody's.