AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1915, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.

THE EMPIRE. At the Empire Theatre to-n!gfit w!Tf be screened for the first time "the power* ful picturisation of Paul Armstrong's remarkable play, "The Escape." The great picture, which is over 7500 feet in length, is produced by the artistio American producer, D. W. Griffiths, and the cast engaged is an exceptionally strong one, including Blanche Sweet, Mae Marsh, Robert Harron, and many others well known to picture-lovers. "The Escape" is described as the vivid, realistic story of a woman's escape from the sordid surroundings of a drunken home and criminal parents, from sin, evil surroundings, and degradation, through much sorrow and suffering up into the clearer, purer atmosphere of a better life, where she finds .true love and a home. The wonderful insight of the underworld, the fight for freedom, the lesson of the power of love to overcome al, the study in eugenic science are all powerfully shown in this film, which is stated to be one of the greatest ever seen. The New York Globe, writing of this picture, says: "From the opening picture, showing May Joyce longing for escape from her surroundings, and beseeching the besotted father to better the condition of his children, through the year 3 of degradation, until at last the girl struggles up from darkness into light, the picture is real. Xnver before has the life of a character been set down with such literal detail, wilh such unswerving adherence to the truth." It is claimed to convey a powerful lesson, especially to parents.