THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 12

THE PRINCESS THEATRE.

DANTE'S "INFERNO" PICTURE. FIRST SCREENING ON FRIDAY. The spectacular William Fox film version of Dante's "Inferno" will be shown at the Princess Theatre for the first time on Friday. It was announced in error yesterday that the picture had already commenced screening. The remarkable nature of this film may be gathered from the following account of her experiences by a visitor who was present at the making of some 'of the scenes:—"l had walked with my guide through long mazes of bare corridors and skeleton scenery in the direction from which came a bedlam of noises, which I later learned were produced by drums, cymbals and glass crashes. Suddenly we rounded a corner and the full magnificence of a Dante's 'lnferno' set burst upon us. I think I must have gasped. I know that I have never seen anything to equal the fantastic beauty and awfulness of this motion picture conception of Hades, In the far background rose erreat black rocks, sinister and formidable with deen caves yawning between them filled with molten fire. Huge volcanoes belched blue flame. Nearer at hand .were wide brimstone lakes on which a shadowy boat filled with ghostly figures moved slowly back and forth. This I learned was Charon ferrying lost souls across the River of Death. Skirting the lakes and winding up among the rocky ledges of the hilJs were narrow paths, along which flitted hundreds upon hundreds of white figures. They seemod to be beautiful women moving constantly in restless fear." The poem on which the picture is based describes an imaginary journey made by the great Italian poet through Hell, where ho saw the souls of mortals being punished according to the nature and enormity of their sins while on earth. The picture is said to follow the poem faithfully. The current programme at the Princess Theatre is headed by "A Dangerous Pastime" and "The Fast Worker."