AMUSEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 247, 18 April 1912, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

"THE BELLS." "The Bells" was screened in the Empire Picture Palace last night. That this stupendous production has roused great interest among picture lovers was evidenced by the big attendance last night, and that it will continue to draw during its short season here is certain from the breathless interest and intense excitement with which every phase of the story so vividly enacted and depicted was followed. On this occasion the pictorial dramatisation was not a story without words, for Mr Alfred Boothmaii, billed as Australia's master dramatic elocutionist, was present, and if he did not provide the necessary dialogue his monologue was vcrv expressive and clear, and added much to, the effect. The. realism of the picture was still further enhanced by the manipulation of the mechanical effects, this artist producing the scuil of the Hells at the correct psychology"l moments. The plot of the story \> a familiar one to most readers, Tt ■ ~ircs round a poor innkeeper name,! Mathias, who is threatened with ruin unless be can raise 3000 francs within a short time. He dreads the future, as he forsees that he and his wife and child will be turned out into the cold world-and it is a cold world as depicted in the picture. On Christmas Eve, when the weather is such that one would hardly turn a dog out, he' and pome friend- are snuglv ensconaed in the inn, when a Polish Je ■.- who has lost his way seeks shelter "c'shows a belt of gold, and sudden temptation tells the innkeeper that here is a way out of the difficulty if he kills and robs the man. This he does, disposing of the body in-a lime kiln. The crime is not discovered and he prospers. His eon- [ science will not 'et him rest, and he constantly hears the sloi-h bells which warned him originallv that his victim was approachimr. The lime advances fifteen years. l|i s ul ,nghtcr is about to be married. H 0 i s wealthy iU „i ; s fearful lest his prime should, 'be discovered before he dies, p, suffers unfold agony from remorse, auu o.i the *\e of the wedding ha. .. ,i,,,.p : , ;„ „-hich he sees himself tried and condemned. This drives him mad. ai.' hj,. dies shortly alter. I'he v.-lml ■ ~..,■■ ,V Y j v idly and strikingly pertm red .--,,1 enacted bv the best hints are al-o of ],;..,;. „,..,-if. notably nn , ; SSi,,la - v ', lr: ■ '■' I'-ulval American Komanee,' a S.i:, r o-una, -Il ; i,l's Girls," a novelty, .And:.!.,. ,„ di.-ee*. and the Aiißtral.n,, i,™ •< ;| ; „ <,;„„ ; , ( , Mm , ics are also mirlh pr,.\ \ci-. <