AMUSEMENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1928, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS.

EVERYBODYS PICTURES,

PAULINE FREDERICK —TO-NIGHT.

Off the coast of French Guiana, in South America, is Devil’s Island, the French penal colony, perhaps the least known land in all the civilised world to-day. Here is the prison home of France’s life prisoners, dregs of the earth, who are doomed to a living death on the island, from which there is no escape. Since the celebrated conviction of Captain Alfred Dreytus of high treason in 1893, Devil’s Island, then converted into a prison settlement, has been the centre of much discussion throughout the world. Pressure, brought to bear in the Dreyfus case, subsequent to his own commitment, indicated that his conviction was the result of religious persecution, and he was released within a few years. Devil’s Island, however, has always remained in the news. Only recently, France shipped 310 men to the island, the first group of convicts to bo sent there in two years. Interest in this unique settlement was again revived, and newspapers and magazines devoted many pages to, new stories of this little known land. Now Master Pictures introduces what it is expected will prove a distinct novelty in screen dramas, in its production of the Leah Baird story, “Devil’s Island,” starring Pauline Frederick, which will be shown at the Princess Theatre to-night. This production, which was recently completed under the direction of Frank O’Connor, is the first motion picture to use Devil’s Island for its background.

A topical, scenic and comedy will also be shown to-night.