New-York tribune., 1908-12-13
FILM DART" PLAYS
Cinenatogrdph Theatre Drduing
. FaU Houses in Paris.


znenG The CinematograDhic Theatre" has been
opened in the Sale CharTas. and is drawing fun
houses. The performance began with LEM
preinte," & ~cinematographic mirno- -drame" in
three tableaus. the action OF which turns upon
q sensational murder, and In which the assassin
Is eventually discovered b. the traces OF his
fhur.b and fingers on cambric handkerchief
with which the culprit had wiped his blood
stained hands after committing the crime
The pantomine IS acted by eight actors and
actresses, including Messrs- Max-Dearly, SEVERN
and Dieudonne. Mile. Mistinguette, and Napier
korrska who rehearsed the drama before pow
crful cinematograph objective, and the move
rnen1s, gestures. expressions Of eyes and coun-
tenances OF the players are reproduced with
most striking effect. The impression upon the
audience is almost as vivid and hfelike as II the
actors and actresses themselves had been on the
stage. The drama presents all the incidents OF
the seamy side OF Paris. and brings out the pc
cuIa-ly dramatic methods OF French criminal
procedure such as the Reconstruction" Of tho
crime and the "confrontations' Of the accused
with his accusers.
We are first Of ali taken through the slums OF
Paris in company with a party Of grand dukes
and grand duchesses-it is the famous "tournee
oes grand iucs"-after which one Of the gov
ernunent detectives, tempted by the intoxlcauoh
OF a pleasure-ioving millionaire, robs and muir
ders his victim The drama written by NJ
Ferrand le Borne, who also composed a light
sri descriptive musical accompaniment .Ihls
number followed by the ballet OF GIucKs
opera Of "Aiceste." the music being played by
the orchestra, while upon the scene the leading
dancers Of the Opera COmique with fgurantes,
end the whole corps de ballet, execute the dances
Needless TO say great pains had been previously
taken At the special rehearsals to record all the
movements Of the original artistes, including
Mile Regina Badet, Richaume and Dugue An
other ballet that Of ''Terpscore, was given, and
the cine1natographic doubles Of Miles. cleo de
Merode and Trouhanowa were keenly applauded
The Bois Sacre," an unpublished poem by NJ
Edmond RosJand, was read by NJ le Bargy, OF
the Theatre Francais. and Immediately after the
recital the cinematographic phantoms Of the
-prerniares danseuses" and "fgurantes" Of the
Opera acted the poeI.l-a delightful idyl Of an |
cient Greece-with pleasing effect The even |
1ag's entertainment came to an end with the !
performance, on the cinematograph projection OF
an historical drama, "LAssassinat du Due de /
Guise" written expressly for the cnematographic |
stage by N. Henri Lavedan, Of the French /
Academy. with a musical accompaniment COM |
posed for il by IL Camille Saint-Saens. The |
actors who played this drama-Messrs. LIE Bargy |
Albert Lambert, fls and Miles. Gabrielle Ro- |
binne and Berthe Bovy-had rehearsed before |
the cinenlatograph apparatus Of the Film q Art
and their figures. projected on the screen were |
clean-cut and expressive, and moved about and
got through with their work without any OF |
the disQuieting trembling, shivering or jerkiness
that Sc often destroys the effects Of cinemato-
graphic performances.
The drama IS in three short acts During each
wait" & forecast Of the coming act written
concisely IN about & hundred words, was cast
upon the screen n large, distinct letters easily
legibIe from every part OF the auditorium The
tragedy os the assassination Of the Due de Guise
IS presented by ". Lavedan in concise and rapid
action The duke tears himself from the arms
OF the beautiful Marquise de Noirmoutier, who
has been secretly apprised Of the Kings project
by means Of an anonymous letter The marquise
shows the letter 10 Guise Instantly the con-
tents Of the letter appear screen in char
acters that may easily be read By the audience,
fash AND q click Of the cinematograph. and !
the play continues. Guse scorns the warning |
and proceeds to obey the summons to the Kings |
presence Another fash and click and the |
scene changes to the Chateau de Blois. Henry |
II IS busy preparing for the assassination
He feels with his finger and thumb the edges |
Of the swords which he blesses with signs Of
the cross He gives minute instructions to his |
followers, and disappears behind the tapestry |
Another fash and click Guise appears with |
naughty air, superbly costumed. AS he is about |
90 cross the threshold OF the Kings apartment |
ne Is attacked from behind by eight assassins. |
and exciting. Guise tries TO protect himself
with the cushions bearing the royal arms, for |
his assailants have already seized his rapier. |
After GUise's death. Henry II causes his valet /
10 hold a small mirror before his mouth to make
sure that life is extinct The valet then searches
the pockets CT Guise. The body Is lifted up and |
carried down the famous circular stairway Of !
She Chateau de Blcis. and taken TO the guards /
room where Il is thrown upon the large blazing /
fire and consumed The dramatic effect of this |
thrilling visual recitar' is highly creditable TO /
81. Henri Lavedan, and the symphonic music /
written by ". Saint-Saens 20 accompany II is /
considered one Of the masters happiest COM
positions.
These plays are all given in simple black and |
white tones Colors were nevertheless produced |
by the eutochrorne plates adopted by the society /
OF the Film dart but their application was |
limited TO views OF Venice and Of the Orient |
As yet means Of applying colors to the cine |
Inatograph comedies and dramas has proved /
satisfactory ewing to the rapidity Of movement |
Of the actors and the necessity OF pOrtraying the
features with adequate clearness Of line and |
ance given by the Cinematographic Theatre. The |
effort has been successful, especially during the
afternoon performances, when the auditorium |
has been crowded with young persons OF both |
sexes II is the intention Of N. Henri Lavedsn |
and NJ lie Bargy TO apply cinematogrs PHO |
methods To plays OF Shakespeare. Moliere and |
Racine. The attention OF the Partisan public
seems to have been attracted. and further devel-
oprnents are awaited with interest c. I B.
Mr.. RUSSELL's READINGS.
= Townsend Russell VIII give two illustrated
readings Carnegie Lycean. the first on Tuesday