"THE HONOR SYSTEM."

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1918, Page 5

"THE HONOR SYSTEM."

A- QREAT PICTURE. System," which took place at Everybody's Theatre last nigut, (frew a large audience, and from tho applause which greeted the showing throughout the him- was highly appreciated by patrons. The film is the production oi the Fox Corporation (which is in itself a guarantee of merit), and deals with R. A. Walsh's master-drama in such a convincing way that it is safe to say that no picture of such compelling power has ever been seen on the screen in the Dominion. The picture aims to create a public sentiment against the iniquitous prison system which makes brutes of men instead of endeavoring' to make them fit to take their place again as members of a civilised society. The opening scenes show the efforts of an unscrupulous set to secure the money of a copper company working in an American border town, and the scenic effects here produced are wonderful revelations, while the raid by brigands from a neighboring Mexican town provides some sensational effects. It is in this connection that the plot ibegins to reveal itself when Joe Stanton while acting in in a chivalrous attempt to save anotlier, causes the death of a scoundrel known as "Three-fingered Louis," For his crime he is committed for life to an American prison, and suffers all the horrors of the system which knows nothing b'nt punishment of the hardest kind, which is inflicted on the victims of the system at the most trivial provocation. The various forms of punishment and the exaggerated inhumanity of piisori officers are vividly portraved.and are ri/ost impressive of the fact that "life without' honor is life without soul." All efforts to secure a reprieve for Stanton are unavailing, and hp endures the utmost to which the system mav subject its victims, even to the snake dungeon, which it is said no prisoner has ever been known to survive for more than three vears. The story however, trradnallvunravels, and throwb a revolt in tlie ?aol Stanton is enabled to get a note to the Governor of the State, begging him to investigate the condition of prison life for himself. This he eventually does, and as a result introduces a measure in the Senate for a comprehensive system of reform, embracing the idea of putting men on their honor, recognising that though they may have committed crime they are still hu*&an beings. The effect of the reform is splendidly contrasted, m a fine series of pictures, with the old system. Men are enabled to follow occupations to which they have been accustomed, and an amount of recreation is provided for them which can do nothing but have a very elevating influence and preserve and cultivate in them a self-respect impossible under the other system. The plot, of course, culminates in the revelation of Stanton's innocence and his free pardon by the Governor and the concluding scenes, showing the erstwhile life-sentence man married to the daughter of the warder of the Honor System, distributing Christmas gifts to the men undergoing the new treatment, leave a pleasing effect in the minds of those who witness the film The caste includes as it? leading actors such artists as George Walsh, Miriam Cooper, Gladys Brockwell, and these all sustain their parts with distinct success. The photography is superb, and the picture is undoubterlv the greartest, propagandist film over presented- "The Honor System" will be screened this afternoon, and finally tonight.