THE GRAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17004, 4 June 1917, Page 6

THE GRAND

ROMEO AND J ULIET

COMMENCES TO-DAY

Tho pictm-isatioß of "Romeo and Juliet," which will be screened at the brand to-day, marks the first entrance of the \yillian; Fox Company into Shakespeare's drama as a field for feature jiroductiors. All in all, pictniising Shakespeare was the hardest task'the Fox forces haa undertaken, from every standpoint ci motion picture making. Theda Bara1, foremost screen actress in America, who took the role of Juliet, said that the part was the most difficult sV had ever undertaken. J,, Gordon Edwards, who has directed fourteen film plays for William Fox, round that greater care was necessary in undertaking a Shakespearean drama than m any other kind;

We had to be especially careful to get the Shakespearean .utmospJiere," Director Edwards said. "In doing .'under Two Flags," for instance, it wal 'mtnaterin! .whether w e got the Ouida spirit or not; the audience would .-a*« only for the story. But in takine; 'Romeo and Juliet' there was a difference. The American audience will not be content with ".the story alone, although there is uo finer or mors beuitiful tale in the -itprature of the world. \filliam Bach, technical director jf the Fox forces in the East, had charge of building the Italian city for Director Edwards. v - .

. Ihe American audience knows its Sheakespeare," says Mr Bach, "and >, knows what elements would be anachronistic. I had, to be careful that the architecture of fourtec7a'1i ■ century Verohi was strictly correct, nud that all interior^ were unshed. in the style of thotime. ~'.. • ■ .-■-.■■• "

"-This■difficulty" never; confronts me in staging-a. modern ■piece,.- and usually :;i other coKttime play?' I have some little liberty of select'on But in doing this* piece, I not only had to adherd to the characteristics of the period, but also had to keep an eye on former ytn^e settings that had been used for the production of .the play. People knew how the piece had been done before and they looked for what they had already seen. ."Consequently-I had to serve two masters in guiding my construction work.?' ; t

This picture -will be screened daily at 2 p.m. and 8 pm. Plans for reserves at Theatre. Late reserve^ by 'phone Hoi!. '■■■.■ ■ ' ■■ ■