"JOAN THE WOMAN"
FOR THE RED CROSS COPPER TRAIL There was a treble attraction in tho picture "Joan, the Woman," presented at tho Crown (renamed the Artcrnl't) Theatre lust ovening. In the first place tho new management very generously len"; the picture, stall', aud music, and ■ tho Crown Tlieatro Company the tlieatro for the purpose of wising money for tho Red Cross Copper Trail; the film picturesquely realises one of the must mystifying miracles in the history of the world, and figuring as Joan is Miss Gc-raldine Farrar, Auiencn's foremost grand operatic artist. The. picture, though it may not liavo that in- , spirational touch that D. W. Griffith is 1 ablo to impart to big Screen studies, is extremely well done. Historic records ! have evidently been delved into, perhaps through the chief, agency of Mark Twain's "Joan of Arc," that one surprising serious work that America's great humourist -wrote. The cxcuso for tho picture is very cleverly made. A view of- au English trench in France (luring the present war is shown, and there ill the wall of ono of the earthen dug-outs a soldier conies upon the haft, of a quaint old, rusty sword, which lie with difficulty draws out of tho soil. ' As he fancies what queer old warrior <;? mediaoval limes had -ventured-into battle with' tho ancient blade, the scene fades into the iields of Domremy of tho fifteenth century, when Jacques d'Arc and his family are depicted.grubbing out a mean existence. - Upon this quaint scene comes a hungry patrol of Burgundians, led by Eric Trent, .an Englishman. The villagers fly to tho woods, tho soldiers forage, and ravage the village as it • ever was, and Trent amuses himself in n barn with Joan. Even as ho ilirts with tho wench, the blade of a renegade French soldier who has been hiding 'in the loft, streaks out from above, 'and fells him like an ox.. Joan manages lo secrete the wounded Englishman in the loft, and while she is tending him she first h'ears the "voices," and sees the., haloed .sword stretched out towards her. It is the call of France. Quietly she makes lier preparations to 1 depart where Heaven may'direct; proves her miraculous power to a disbelieving knight, and through him is ushered into the presence of King Charles, just as his kingdom is .about to crumble in his futile grasp. (There are further demonstrations. Charles is convinced, and makes . Joan commander of his feeble forces, who, with Joan at their bead, ride to the relief of Orleans; and enter tho city unopposed. . Then follows, a wonderful iight with I he' English forces—probably the best ever seen on a screen. It is a close t melco under the walls of the Tower forts. which the English troops hold. There is a sweeping charge of foot and mounted troops, the glint of thousands of lances in the maddened dust, a grand clash, and then au amazing fight for the ''walls. The moat becomes a heaving mass of blood-maddened men, scaliug-laddcrs are .reared,■ and thrown back, but inch by inch the French, led by. the silver-armoured Maid, fight their way through the breaches in the walls made by barrel-like culverins; and, alter a stern fight, right to tho battlements, the. English forces are routed, and Joan, though wounded, is hailed as tho saviour of France. Victory stays with her until the King is crowned in Eeims Cathedral. After that she is captured at Compiegn'e by the Duko of Burgundy's forces, under Trent, and after a bargaining in gold, the Maid is handed over to the brutally fanatical Bishop Ca'uchon. She is farcically tried, forced by firo to renounce her God, and oven after she does so when tortured beyond ondurance, she is dragged from her, prison and burnt at the stake, to the great joy of tho awful Caucbon, .and the despair of Trent. Tho roaring flames die down, down, down, until only a candlo flume is left. As the light grows, it is seen that the candle is the dug-out liglit, and the English'.'.oldier still grasping the old blade, ru.bs the sleep out of his eyes. Inspired by his dreams, he offers to undertake a mission which'means death, and having blown ilp an enemy trench, dies in "No Man's Land," with the spirit of Joan of Are visible to bis dulling vision. Miss Farrar, perhaps a little too matronly for tho Maid, is dramatically effective',' and Trent, Cauchon, and the King are admirably acted. Tho picture Ims some fine spectacular scenes, notably the fight at Orleans, and the crowning of-tho King. During an interval, Mr. George' Hhirtcliffe, in tho absence of Mr. T. Young, expressed the thanks of tho promoters of the Kod Cross Copper Trail to all connected with the entertainment. He apologised for tho absence' of the Mayor, who was out of town, and for Mrs. Luke, who, he was sorry to say, was not yet well enough to get out at nights. Her work in connection with tho Bed Cross and other patriotic efforts was well Ifnown, and lie hoped she. would soon : recover a full measure of health and j strength. Tho proceeds-were in.aid of, tho Copper Trail Fund, and would form i a contribution to. the "Our Day" Fund i appointed for Octolier 24, by which time i he hoped the AVellington military dis- j trict would have found their quota. That quoth was .£75,0(10. There was a ] very great need for. tho Dominion to doits utmost for Iho wounded soldiers. That would be appreciated when he said thai, the parent Ked Cross body and St. John Ambulance Association was now spending at the, rate of .£4,000,000 a year, wliicli worked out at =C 11,500 a weelc, or A'S for every minute of the year. lie thanked His Excellency the. GovernorGeneral and the Countess of Liverpool for their support of the Eed Cross, with which they had been closely identified, flic whole of the proceeds would go to the fund. 'He also thanked everyone else connected with tho entertainment, and asked the audience to express their thanks by acclamation, which was dono. "Joan the Woman," will commence a •reason 10-day at the Paramount and the Crown Theatre. The picture will be shown continuously all tho week—Para- ' mount, 11 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.; and Crown, 2 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19180824.2.7
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 2
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1,057"JOAN THE WOMAN" Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 2
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