EMPRESS.

NZ Truth, Issue 935, 27 October 1923, Page 2

EMPRESS.

The unique nature* ot "Theodora," 'adapted from Sardqu's celebrated play, 'written for Sarah Bernhardt, should create general interest utvjts screening at the Empress Theatre \ this week.

; i.The principals iriclude some .of the .•[greatest artists . in ' Europe, with Rita Jolivet. the beautiful French actress, as i the Empress. An idea of the immon-

sity of the picture may be gained from 1 the fact that an entire hillside just I outside, Rome, .'and including 100,000 ; square metres, was purchased for it at 1 enormous cost. Twenty gigantic sets, reproducing forums, amphitheatres, palaces, pavilions and gardens, built ' 'Of stone and marble, wei'e constructed I ;for, the .various scenes. Over 30,000 ■different costumes, all of which were ,made especially :for the production. ' were required. "Theodora" has been

'■ described as a magnificent epic of the screen. In a series of tremendous 1 scenes it brings before the vision, the splendour that was Rome, yeV for a spectacular film, it accomplishes much also m its object of beingr a human 1 rarrative.