AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

"OUR NAVY" PICTURES TO-NIGHT. AT THE ROYAL. At a quarter to eight to-night, at .'the .Theatre Royal, the latest film of "The British Navy" will be presented. A description of the great work of the Navy lias been attempted many times In literature, never more impressively so probably I ban in Mr. Rudyard Kipling's graphic brochure, "The Fleet in Being." Its visualisation followed as a natural course in more or less imperfect form at the moving-picture theatre, but this present film, taken by Mr. Alfred West, F.R.G.S., official camera man to the British Admiralty, is stated to deal with the subject as it never before has been treated. It covers the whole field of •the vigorous life and action o'f "The Navy" in a most exhaustive manner, from the joining of the new recruit up to the present day struggles when our gallant chips and men are upholding the proud traditions of our race. The latter part of the film (.the total length of which i s 4000 ft), is given over entirely to the depiction of the stern grandeur of a great battle of Dreadnoughts when our sailors risk death every second amidst bursting shells and exploding torpedoes. In addition to this fine subject the latest Famous Players mas-ter-play will be shown. This is entitled "The Call of the North" a fivereel adaptation of the book "The Conjuror's House," by Stewart E. White. The coat of this film rm into fire figures and it took over four months to "complete. The events are all staged in the exact locale of the book, and the snow scenes are taken 18,800 ft above sea level, at the apex of Great Bear Mountain, where snow the year round makes this locality as majestically beautiful as the snow-laden Alps. ' The latest War Budget, and two comedies will also be shown. Owing to the extreme length of the programme, the performance will commence at tf quarter .to eight. Doors open 7 p.m.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. "The Million Dollar Mystery" reached its seventh stage in the new programme shown at the Empire Picture Palace on Saturday to record audiences. The sensation and thrill which have characterised the former episodes of ithis great mystery are by no means lacking in the present instalment, which is entitled "The Doom of the Auto-Bandits." The conspirators secure the aid of the autobandits, work a cunning scheme, take Florence prisoner, but Northton discovering her absence, single-handed defeats the bandits and drives their auto, loaded with its human freight, over the river bank. "Dirty Work in a Laundry" is the title of an extremely funny twopart comedy which was shown. It is an up-to-date love story, acted in a laundry. The lovers are both laundry hands, and indulge in several love scenes amid their starchy surroundings. The heroine is, of course, tracked by the heavy villain in the person of Mr. Ford Stirling, vho is an old Keystone favorite. He is intent on cither killing the girl or marrying her. She is decidedly not in favor of the latter, so he satisfies himself with merely running her through the mangle as a means of showing his feelings. The hero comes to her rescue and places the villain in a boiler with the washing., This picture is funny from beginning to end, and there is not one moment that has not its own peculiar episode which leaves the audience rocking with laughter. Other very interesting items were also shown, including the latest War Budget of picture news. The same films will be shown to-night for the last time.

SEQUEL TO THE "PRISONER OF ZENDA." "Rupert of HenfZau," the gorgeous and spectacular production of Anthony Hope's stirring novel by the great I<ondon Film Company will be screened at the Empire Picture Palace to-morrow and Wednesday evenings, Although the story is a sequel to that fine picture "The Prisoner of Zenda" (shown last week), the present picture can he seen and enjoyed, not only by those who saw the previous one, but by those to whom Rudolf and Flavia are introduced for the first time. "Rupert of Hentjzau'' carries on the plot at the point I where the weak king Rudolf is restored from prison to his throne by the help of an English soldier of fortune, one Rassendyll. The story keeps close to the stirring events of the book, and holds the onlooker breathless with interest to the very last. It is stated by e itics who have seen both productions that "Rupert of Hentzau" is by far the better of the two. For those who saw "The Prisoner of /'enda" further comment is needless. Those who did not should make a point of -ecing Ihis u>e, as nothing finer in artistic cinematography has ever been presented.