AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1916, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS.

EMPIRE PICTURE PALACIi. . \."ihe Valley of Lost Hope," a powerful dramatic "feature" photo-play adaptation of Shannon Fife's novel,' constitutes the chief attraction of the new piogiamme at ihe Empire Picture Palace .tonight. The.plot deals with the wild and lawless days of the early Californian mining rushes. The producers give a fine representation of the birth of a mining town, and in some of the scenes there are hundreds of people enacting the episodes incidental to the story, The oig event, however, is a head-on railway collision which is an actual affair and free from any of the cheap faking which has typified some train "accidents" previously seen in motion-pictures. Romaine Fielding, a prominent American player, impersonates the Rev, Dean, who is a power for good among the rough miners. Tersely told, the story is of a "salted" mining field in a locality known as "The Valley of Lost Hope." 'Ewing, tho arch swindler, by his ingenuity causes a great rush to the place, whero in reality there is no gold. He sells claims as fast as he can sign the receipts. His son is not at first aware of the fraud, but when he docs discover his father's dishonesty he demands the latter to return every dollar to the miiiers. The, swindle is discovered, and the miners set out to be avenged. Ewing and his colleagues seek to escape in a special train and the swindlers are killed. Young Ewing finds the' ill-gotten money and restores every dollar to the miners. A love theme is entwined in the story, young Ewing arid Helen Dean, the parson's sister, being drawn together by mutual regard. This film is the first screened in New Plymouth of the output of the new combination of the Vitagraph, Lubin, Selig, and S. and A. companies. The auxiliary items are ,"Mr. Santa Claus," a tworepi Vitagraph comedy, "Pathe Gazette," "CiilTs and Caves of Flamborough Heads, YoricsMre," and a brilliant little comedy, "Boots, not 'arf." LAST NIGHT OF "ROSE OF THE RANCHO." There was a good audience at the Theatre Royal last evening to witness the second screening of the Belasco play "The Rose of the Rnncho," and all were more than pleased with the excellent results obtained by the Lasky Company of Famous Players. The film is full of action and vim, there is a charming love romance, and a decided thrill in many of the situations. Splendid acting and production also help considerably to the artistic and dramatic success. The story is an enchanting tale of California in the strenuous days of the middle of the last century when land-jumpers went out on organised raids, taking advantage of lax_ laws and weak governments. The acting throughout is good, Miss Bessie Barriscall as the bewitching Jnanita, the "Rose of the Rancho," being especially charming. The picture is surprisingly beautiful in its settings amid the hills, gardens, and romantic old buildings of sunny southern California. The introductory films are excellent, including some splendid views of Rieti (Ttaly); a most amusing "Vita." comedy "His Fairy Godmother," and the latest "Pathe Gazette." The programme will be shown to-night for the last time. "THE TREY 0' HEARTS" TOMORROW AT THEATRE ROYAL. The ladies' serial photoplay supreme, "The Trey O' Hearts," will' commence at the Theatre Royal to-morrow (Thursday) night. This great picture drama, which is based on the saying "love rules the world," is in fifteen instalments, one of ■ which will he screened each week, every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Swift as light, powerful as fate, thrilling with emotion and brimful of exciting incidents, "The Trey O' Hearts" fairly carries the spectators right off their feet into the realms of breathless romance. Free from improbable, bloodcurdling situations or slapstick horseplay, void of mere, claptrap sensationalism, it is yet full of real red-blood life and realism, coupled with a heart-throb-bing story by Louis J. Vance, a past master of soul-stirring fiction. The two principal players are Miss Cleo Madij son and Mr. George Larkin. . Miss Madison makes a lovable heroine, as fearless as she is beautiful, whilst Mr. Larkin's type of handsome face, the high moral tone of his personality and the refinement and softness of his acting renders his interpretation of the "modern lover" beyond criticism. The first instalment of the picture depicts the motive for all the subsequent exciting heartrending and romantic incidents, so patrons would do well to make a special effort to see the commencement of the series, which will doubtless prove the most popular serial yet secured for New Plymouth.