ENTERTAINMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 90, 6 October 1911, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

THE CRUSADERS. Whitelcy Hall was literally crowded to tho doors last night to view this wonderful masterpiece by Cine Roma. Many and varied beautiful gems of motion photography have previously been screened by Mr. Saunders, but for spectacular magnificence it is difficult to conceive anything much liner than thb "Cines"" picture, "The Crusaders." It .represents Godfrey of Bouillon's great expedition to Jerusalem, as depicted in Torquato Tasso's epic poem "Jenisalemme Liberato," which created a sensation when written, and at once passed into the ranks of the classics. Godfrey is shown in shining armour visited by a spirit, who places in his hand a banner and a sword, and conjures him to go to the relief of Jerusalem. The powers of evil resent the mission, and hurl their maledictions on the crusader from a grajphieaHy-pfctured hall. But Godfrey, nothing daunted, takes command of an army, and with flying pennons leaves for the Holy Land, where he besieges Jerusalem. Armido, a .beautiful witch, is sent by the Saracen Senate to sow discord in tl>e Christian oamp, but she is converted to the true faith, and leaves the camp with the name of the Virgin Mary on her lips. Finally there is a [ great battle scene of thrilling interest, I in which many hundred* take part, won, of course, by Godfrey. The manner in •which this picture is acted and the Oriental' opulence in the mount are amazingly impressive, and cause one to wonder if there is any limit to the scope of the ikinemn.togra.ph in the presentation of such scenes. The picture will be shown to-night for the last time. Amongst tho other pictures which command attention Is a fln« colored scenic, "The Beautiful Gorges of Tarn," by Gaumont, and- a thrilling Western romance from the Kalem studio, "The Heart of an Indian Mother." The Biograph Orchestra added an artistic coloring to the pictorial programme.