AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1916, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACE. A "bumper'' house was the order at the Empire Picture Palace last evening, when heralding in the new programme there was screened "Rupert of Hentzau," a sequel to that fine picture "The Prisoner of Zenda," shown last. week. Those who saw last week's film should make an eft'ort to witness the sequel, a film equally as fjood, if not better. "Rupert of Hentzau" carries on the story at the point where the weak King Rudolf i s restored from the prison to his throne by the help of an English soldier of fortune, one Rassendvll, The King grows jealous at his wife's friendliness with his deliverer. A copy of a letter from her to him comes into the .King's hands, and Rassendvll's efforts to rescue the stolen letter lead to most thrilling episodes. The original letter is in the hands of Rupert of Hentxau, a party to the Black Michael conspiracy, and lie seeks to "make good" with the King by delivering unto him the letter at a quiet place in the woods. Rassendyll interferes, however, and in a general altercation the King is shot by Rupert. Rupert, however, meets his death at the hands of Rassendyll, and the' letter is rescued. Just when things are coining his way, however, Rassendyll is killed by one of Rupert of Hentzau'a spies, and the Queen Flftvia is left to mourn the loss of her lover and rule her people alone. The photography of the picture is unquestionably excellent, and the interest is very well maintained. Other good lictnres are the "Pathc Gazette," "The Story of a Glove,, (an original comic), and a scenic, "A Pretty Dutch Town." Excellent music is supplied by the Empire symphony orchestra, two notable selections last night being "The Pearl Girl" and "The, Rose of Algeria." The same programme will be repeated to-night for the last time.

TI-lEATBE ROYAL PICTURES. j To-night, at a quarter to eight, at the Theatre Royal, the Fam&us Players' latest five-reel feature film, entitled "The Call of the North," will be presented for the last time. This great work, in 310 remarkable scenes, sums up as one of the most artistically arranged and most minutely detailed productions yet seen. It is said to have cost £IO,OOO in money and four months of time. When the picture went into -chcarsal, Stuart Edward White, author of "The Conjuror's House," from which the play was taken, spent four weeks in Canada engaging Indians of various types significant of the northern woods. ■ Eighteen big tiger Indians were secured. A foraging party wen forth 011 a hunt for a certain type of canoe peculiar to these Indians. One was at last located at Whitiba, in Canada, far north of Winnipeg. This, together with the Indians and a number of spruce trees, was transported to California, where the first stages of this photo-play were set. One hundred players journeyed from Los Angeles to the Great Bear Valley, where, the water scenes were enacted. These, after being joined by the 18 Indians of the company, travelled to Moose Canyon, 18,800 ft above sea level,, amidst snow and ofttimes blizzards. One clause of the contract under which the artists worked was to rhe effect that they should enact scenes as directed, no matter how unpropitious the elements, and the snow effects shown in the picture are resplendent with magnificence and grandeur. Picture enthusiasts would do well to-night to "make good" this, their last opportunity of witnessing a remarkable photoplay.'