AMUSEMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 17, 22 January 1919, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

MADGE EVANS.

'At the Theatre Royal tonight, a very bright and entertaining programme will be screened. The headliner is a charming World film entitled “Gates of Gladness.” A little child shall lead them, is the theme of this sweet story, and it certainly proves the truth and wisdom of those wonderful words. Delightful Madge Evans plays the part of the little daughter whose childish innocence helps to mould the fortunes of many people. Her father, Hyron Leeds, is a poor artist who has been estranged from his brother because they had at) one time both loved the same woman. In the meantime their father had died andi the -'elder brother, .Roger _ Leeds, inherits his estate. He marries, but loses his little son through an accident, and becomes very bitter. His old housekeeper then decides to appoal to the poor artist brother to allow Beth to visit her as her niece. When the artist is driven to desperation by poverty and his wife’s' illness, and condecides to rob his rich brother, the little girl comes upon her father just as h&r unc.te, not knowing who the burglar is, fires a shot at him. She is. wounded by this shot, and the I resulting situation contains some deep pathos. “The Neglected! Wife,” a topical, and at 10 p.m. ‘‘The Great Secret,” support the above feature. HAYWARD’S PICTURES.

“EMPTY POCKETS.” “Emptv Pockets” will be screened at the Empire Theatre to-night. This is' the a n reen version of the novel bv Rupert Hughes, and it is doubtful if ever anv picture has moved off at such express speed and succeeded in maintaining it, to the very end. It is also doubtful if a more uhsolvable mystery tang.'o has ever before been devised. The picture is a First National release, and the cai'St includes Ketty iGalauta. Barbara (Oastleton, Bert Lytell, and Malcolm Williams. The Tast-named takes the role of Perrv M«itbew, a millionaire about town who has a special weakness for girls with copper-coloured hair. He is found murdered on the roof of a tenement house, and five women, all with red hair, are implicated because m the dead man’s hand is found a knot of hair of that colour. The plot retains a remarkable clarity in spite of amazing complications and all sorts of cross currents which go to increase the mystification. The ending is very dramatic an<| unexpected. The characterisation, and setting of the piece are perfectly done, and the contrasts between the, slum dwellers and _ the millionaire J"! 1 ?' pions is very effective. The latest Path Gazette supports the above super-fea-ture, ' ■ THE DANDIES. The Dandies attracted a crowded audience to the Theatre Roval last even-ing.-when a farewell performance was given. The programme, was a .popular one .encores being numerous. The lady members of the company were recipients of floral tributes. . .