AMUSEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19551, 6 August 1925, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

OCTAGON THEATRE. The strange way in which a saleswoman in a departmental store obtains the happiness which she craves is told in ‘1 ho Brice of Pleasure,” which is showing at the Octagon Theatre. Virginia Valli, who is entrusted with the leading role, plays the part of the shop girl with success, ana Norman Kerry has the part of the son oi a rich, socially-established woman. In the disguise of a mechanic he enters the store, where he overhears the girl say that she has never had a week’s real happiness in her life. He asks her to go out with him, and she accepts. Much to her surprise he drives up in a luxurious motor car, and she is carried away almost as if in a trance. She is taken to the home of the millionaire son, where she lives as a wealthy woman, but tragedy comes stalking into the lives of the two young people. All difficulties are finally surmounted, however, and happiness is the result. The Octagon Orchestra supplies an excellent programme of music. EMPIRE THEATRE. “The Last of the Duanes,” with Tom Mix heading the cast, is the principal picture at the Empire Theatre. The story is from the popular pen of Zane Grey, and realism is one of its outstanding points. It is replete with exciting and interesting situations. There is an excellent sporting list, and the Empire Orchestra supplies a special musical programme. QUEEN’S THEATRE. At the Queen’s Theatre tne principal picture is “A Man Must Live,” in which Richard Dix has the leading male role, it tells ot the experiences of a man who becomes a newspaper reporter. “Listen, Lester,” the second feature, provides an abundance of amusement, and a comedy and a gazette arc also shown. EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. Those who are partial to mystery stories cannot do bettor, than see “Red Lights,” which will ho shown for the last time at Everybody's 'theatre to-day. it is a story of tne pursuance of a mans revenge. "Bluebeard Junior” is also shown. The cast includes Marie Provost, Roy Griffith, Johnny Walker, and Alice Lake. There are also supporting films. “FISHER’S GHOST.” A century-old crime is recalled in the screen version of the story of “Fisher’s Ghost,” which will commence at the Empire Theatre to-morrow. The two chief characters in the piece are Fisher and Worrall, two young men who were transported to Australia under the old penal laws of a hundred years ago. The Australian picture producer, Mr Raymond Longford, has adapted the story to the screen, and has spared no effort in obtaining authentic and reliable accounts of what happened in connection with this tragedy. The incidents are all remarkably reproduced, and the scenes of the tragedy—the bridge, tile creek, and the farms—have been realistically portrayed. In his search for material for liis photo-play, the producer has been greatly aided by the reminiscences of Australian nonagenarians, who lived in the locality in which the whole sordid affair was enacted. One of these was present when the unfortunate Fisher’s corpse was recovered from the creek into which Worrall had thrown it. The* story begins with the emancipation of the two young men and their subsequent acquisition of farms. Worrall did not have a house of his own. Ho lived with Fisher. The latter’s farm was much the better of the two. Fisher and Worrall went out together early on the evening of June 17, 1826. Statements differ as to _ what happened afterwards. By some it is said that they visited what is now known as the Club House Hotel, a few hundred yards from the farm, and wore drinking there for some hours, and that together they loft the hotel, apparently the host of friends. But, except by Worrall, Fisher was never seen alive from that moment. The report spread by Worrall was that there was a woman in the case, and that Fisher had slipped away to England, leaving him his farm. Nobody questioned his statements. Six weeks later, a man named Farley, a farmer of the neighbourhood, was returning homo one night. Ho had to cross tho bridge between the hotel and the FisherWorrall farms As Farley came to the bridge—so the story goes—he was astonished to sec Fisher sitting on tho rail. Farley was sober. Ho knew tho missing man intimately. From a distance of a few yards he spoke. Fisher made no reply. He did not step down from the rail —ho merely moved from it—and with a queer gliding motion went along the creek. As he did so, ho beckoned Farley to follow.. Farley’s experience at once became tho pf tho township, without Worrall being in tho least perturbed—outwardly at any rate. Suspicion was first, aroused through Worrall trying to got the title-deeds of Fisher s farm from tho person by whom they were hold in Sydney—Mr Daniel Ooopor. This led to Farley having an interview with the solicitor who had been acting for Fisher, tho solicitor being, convinced that Farley was not imagining in what ho declared he had seen. Tho Government offered a reward in tho belief that there had been foul play. The result was the discovery of tho body—four monlhs after the murder—at a point in the creek whore Farley thought lie saw tho apparition disappear. “The man who saw tho ghost,” exclaimed Worrall, “must have been the one who did it, ” Worrall was arrested, found guilty, and sentenced to death. The evidence was circumstantial. Further, the effect of Worrall’s words had been to create considerable doubt as to whether Farley was not tho murderer. So influenced was Governor Darling by the agitation that had sprung ura that ho signed a reprieve to be delivered at the scaffold at 7.30 on the morning of tho execution. But during tho night, Worrall— knowing nothing of the re-prieve-sent for a minister. To him ho confessed having murdered Fisher on the bridge and he had been haunted, night and day.'by tho apparition seen by barley, ft was’ because of a visitation of the dread spectre, in tho cell a few hours previously, that ho had been moved to reveal the whole hideous truth. In addition to this unique attraction tho usual excellent supporting programme of comedies and international news will be provided. Tire Empire Concert Orchestra under the baton of Mr Chas. Parnell will render a special entra’cte. etc. “Grand Selection of American Mrs” (Mr G. Robert Recker).