“CROOK ” REFORM FILM IN GAOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1923, Page 4

“CROOK ” REFORM FILM IN GAOL.

Ui.M'FL AT KINE.MA. I’ll INC E'l’t >\VN, Devon, Oct. I i This a! lerlioon -T-t) com ids at Dait- ! moor Prison were shown the bti.-v streets of New York and sights n; the ; world they have left- behind. Tla-y were shown a film called "Mightv |,ak' a Ruse,” which was exhibited ny ils ui: in rs. the Associated tit t tiun ii I Picture-, Ltd-, after carel'ul eoii'ide rat am by tin Home t tfiicc. ■' creek drama, il unfolded to them the si on of the reform of a gang oi oninitials by the influence oi' the mu*..' plaved by a blind girl violinist who it'll into their bands. The chapel wo- converted into a l.iui-nia. -.vit h windows covered an j the light turned low. The convicts ~. >.!;•_ ■! vii.lb iottr or i'iv wtcl). rv oil I.l l i -'!: ev- e;n j] side ,n Tie hcli. Fur i no glorious hour the nee v...-rc taken back to the live world they had not seen for J. 10, er even IA year-. Due or two of tl'.em, who had long

bi'ctt in the prison bad not seen a iilu before. From tln> moment the first scene* began until the end the men -at ■ntbralled by the picture—old men.hahlbended with lined faces, and young men v. irb greased hair brushed neatly hack. When one of flic worst (looks, reformed through the playing of the blind girl, was seen hard at work sinking a fitrinuo. the joy of the crowd'd rows of men was wild and liilarous. The reform of the crooks was greeted with .great applause, and the injuring of the blind girl by a crook drew an “Oh!" of genuine disapproval. The hero of ihe film gee; to Sing Sing Prison, near New York, end is shown on I lie screen behind the liars

of hi; ceil. When the date of his release was announced one of Die audience humorously commented, "Three nituitlm; more." A number of the men Were in tears. Tbe film was aecoinnnnivd by an organ and (no violin-: . ell played by convicts. One violinist was insirnefed fo play when the girl played her violin on ihe screen, and when she tuned op he made appropriale noise:; on his iii-l rtimeut. During the intervals music was plaved hv an orchestra of convicts with a warder as ( oitdiu lor. Mrs Ralph Pugh, wife of the mamaging director of the company showing the film, sang to the men, who cheered her as she walked among Diem from the hall.