"JUDITH OF BETHULIA."

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20128, 16 July 1914, Page 8

"JUDITH OF BETHULIA."

The'A.B. Company's great spectacular "ifoatiu/.-e" pict-ure-pilay, "Judith of Bethulia," will be introduced at the King's Theatre this evening for a season of three nights, and a matinee on Saturday. This subject was screened privately at Pyke's Theatre, London, before a gathering of representatives of the press, the cinema trade, and ate» distinguished guests. Commenting on the production, "Pearson's Weekly ' subsequently described it as "one of rii-? three greatest films, if not actually the best film, the world has ever . n. Lately "Judith of Bethulia" vas displayed publicly for the first time in the world at the Empress Theatre, Wellington. "The Post," in criticising the film, said: "So spectacular is the production at times that one almost requires to witness it more than once to fully grasp its splendour. . . Tho settings arc gorgeous, portions of the old walls of Jerusalem being utilised to give added effect to the production. The picture cannot Jielp but cause something of a sensation among the thousands _ of pic-ture-goers in this city." Referring to Miss Daphne Wayne, who interprets tho rolo of Judith, "The Triad" (Wellington, says: "Most remarkable of all is the work of Miss Daphne Wayne as Judith. We have thought of this actress heretofore as a laughing girl, a light of lightest comedy. But here she is playing a great and tragic part with wonderful success." There are tfiousands of supernumeraries who appear in r some wonderfully impressive scenes including t?ie grand march-past of tho Assyrian army, tho great assault on the walls of Bethulia. and tho populate welcoming Judith nftt"' Uio defeat of tin; Axsvi'i.-in-:. A brilliant .sight- is tit** ; ; - •: .■•.•■ui;-r b;illet.

"Tb" jitr,.-^ ol :h- ris'ii-,/' i;oii"orm..<l m the luxurious staf.o. rout oi Frinco •Holofernes , by t!/e •-.-u-tiul worwii iVom tho great Temple of >,in.': ■ Special appl:.anees had to be manufactured to give realistic efFect to i^o, assault on tliu walls of Bethulia, including huge, portable fighting towers, catapults for throwing balls of fire, into.'tho-streets of the city, and massive battering rams. It is said that the work is on a. scale of magnificence never hitherto attempted. A special full orchorjeira will contribute ■appropriate selections.