EXPLOITS OF THE KELLY GANG

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 3 June 1907, Page 4

EXPLOITS OF THE KELLY GANG

In view of the oarly nppouvanco in Gisborno of Messrs J. and N. Tail’s company presenting tlio story of the Kelly Gang.by biograpli wo reprint a report of the first production in Sydney :-r- ■

Tho oxploits of the Kolly Gang, away back in tho . early oiglitios, wore admittedly sufficiently daring in -their character and tragic in tlioir soquonco to provido a sensational. page of Australian history. Hundrods scrambled wildly for soats in tho Palace Thoatro on Saturday ovoning, in rosponso to an announcement that thoro would bo presontod Australia’s groatost drama, “Tho Story of tho Kqlly Gang,” on the biogfaph—tho most thrilling moving picturos ovor taken. Tho impationco of tho “gods” in the gallory was oxprossod as noisily and emphatically as thoir liconso allows. For the sories of dramatio and comic films which comprised tho first half of the programme they showed only a passing interest, although they wore excellent pictures, sorvod up in a more palatablo fashion than usual by having tho characters “voieod” by people bohind tho scones. Tho Mossrs Tait would appear to have spared neither troublo nor oxponso in ondoavoring to picture for tho ontortainment of a 1907—audienco tho most notablo and authenticated Kelly acliiovomonts of a quarter of a century back. Tho films are clear and distinct, tho chief actors concerned in the bush drama are fairly recognisable, the photographs are taken in “Kelly country,”' and after due allowance is made for certain acknowledged liberties taken, the illustrated record is probably, as satisfactory as anything of tho kind procurable at this distant date. Tho story has for its starting point tho incident of Kate Kelly riding fast for tho homestead to warn her brother, she having heard tho polico discussing the warrant for tho arrest of Dan Kelly for cattle-stealing. Then foliotvs.tlio pursuit and arrival of tho police at the Kelly house, the shooting of a trooper in the wrist by Ned Kelly for the insult offered his sister, and tho holding-up of the police by Kate with a loaded revolver while her brothers and Steve Hart and Joe Byrne get their liorseß and escape. The tragic incidents which occurred during tho surprise of tho police camp in tho AAombat Itanges are reproduced, as well .as the sticking-up by the gang of Younglmsband’s station, and of the banks at Euroa and Jerfldorie, the shooting of Aaron Sherritt by Joe Byrne, tlio attempted wrecking of the train, which was afterwards timely stopped by Schoolmaster Cur.now, the “last stand” of the gang at the Glenrowan Inn, including the rescue of the wounded platelayer by Father Gibney after the police had fired the structure, and the accepted fact that Kelly and Steve Hart, preferring death to capture, shot each other instead of falling to police bullets. The final picture shows the last fight put up by Ned Kelly, iwhq, having escaped from the burning inn, returns, wearing his heavy armour plating, to ascertain if any of his companions are alivo, is eventually shot in the leg and captured. All this depicted with a wealth of detail and circumstantial illustration wliilo the parts are “gagged” by actors behind tho scones. Tho audience applauded the pictures very heartily.