AMUSEMENTS. McLEAN'S PICTURES.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 August 1925, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

McLEAN'S PICTURES.

“FISHER'S GHOST"’ TUESDAY. Whether it is the fascination of the inexplicable or whether it is purely an inherently morbid attraction for the supernatural or the gruesome, it is hard to say, but weird tales and ghost stories wield a powerful hold over the imagination of the average citizen. Perhaps an explanation is flint this lias become such a matter of tact old world, that anything that science cannot explain borders on the marvellous, and is therefore worthy oi notice. “Fisher’s Ghost” which will he screened at the Princess Theatre on Tuesday is just such a tale, with a real transparent ghost in it—a ghost moreover that sits on a fence and then floats away into space. A ghost to make one’s hair stand on end while the skin creeps upwards and goes prickly, and the knees smite one against the other. The story happens in' Australia, and hinges round a crime which took place a century ago. The two chief characters in the piece are Fisher and Worrall. two young men who were transported to Australia under the old penal laws of the time. The Australian picture producer, .Mr Raymond Longford, has adapted the story to the screen, and has spared no elfort in obtaining authentic and reliable accounts of what happened in connection with this tragedy. The incidents are all remarkably reproduced, and the sesues of the tragedy— t.ie bridge, the creek and the farms—have'lieen realistically portrayed. Suspicion was first aroused through Morrell trying to get the title-deeds to Fisher’s farm from the person hv whom tl.ov were held in Sydney, Mr Daniel Cooper. This led to Farley having an interview with the solicitor, who had been acting for Fisher, the solicitor being convinced that Farley was not imnfining in wlinfc ho (IcclnrcKl ho h.i< semT The Government offered a reward in the belief that there had been foul plav, and the result was the discovery of the body—four months after the murder—at a point in the creek where Parley thought lie saw the apparition disappear. “The man, who saw the ghost,” exclaimed Moira,l. “must have been the one who did it. ’Worrall was arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to death on circumstantial evidence. Further, the eflect ol Worrall’s words had been to create considerable doubt as to whether Farley was not the murderer. Go influenced was Governor Darling by toe agitation that had sprung up, that he signed a reprieve to he delivered ul the scaffold at 7.H0 on the morning of the execution. lint during the night, M orrall - knmvino nothing of the reprieve—soul for the minister. To him he confessed lmvine murdered Fisher on the bridge and he had been haunted, night and dav, hv the apparition seen by I'‘tries. Ti, was because of a visitation of the dread spectre, in the cell a few horns previously, that he had been moved o reveal the whole hideous truth. In addition a strong supporting proßrunnu. of comedies and interna, lonal nev 11 ~c provided. The pries >'e, adult, dress circle. Us; stalls. Is hd.