'THE KEEPER OF THE BEES'

Evening Star, Issue 22203, 4 December 1935, Page 18

'THE KEEPER OF THE BEES'

BOOKED FOR EMPIRE ON FRIDAY * The Keeper of the Bees,’ the first local screening of which will b© screened at the Empire on Friday, is a story of general appeal, the film version being particularly well handled. The story was the late Gene Stratton-Porter’s parting gift to the world. Perhaps the most widely-known of Mrs Porter’s works, ‘ The Keeper of the Bees,’ tells of a young war “ veteran,” Jamie MacFarlanc, who, given only six months to live, decides to set forth from hospital on one final fling. How, instead, lie finds contentment and health, is skili fully told. On the poin t of exhaustion Jamie reaches a beautiful seaside cottage with a garden devoted to the raising of flowers and bees. He finds the Bee Master alone and critically ill, and in persuading him to go to hospital, promises to take care of his beloved bees. From that point onwards the veteran becomes involved in a series of events which would be complicated were it not for the excellent handling of the theme. Playing the difficult role of Jamie MacFarlane, the young veteran, is Neil Hamilton, while appearing opposite him in the leading romantic role is Betty Furness. Sympathetic performances are rendered by such players as Hobart Boswortli, Emma Dunn, Edith Fellowes, Jerome Eddy, and Marion Shilling,