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26
MOTOGRAPHY
Vol. V, No. 4.
Arizath calls her attendants, who assist her in her toilet, after which Gersaken places the turban on her head and his sword in her hands. She then marches with stately tread to the temple of the Sun, followed by Gersaken.
She hands the turban and sword to the high priest of Eschmoun, who confers them again upon Gersaken. Then the high priest joins the hands of Arizath and Gersaken, and we know that Gersaken will henceforth be an ally of Carthage and not of Rome.
"In the Days of Nero" is another sumptuous production laid in Rome within a century or so of the above period. It is a chapter from the life of that brutal oppressor, Nero, who though he died at the age of thirty-one years, has left to history his name as synonymous with all that is treacherous and cruel. The producer has endeavored to bring before the public of today not only the exact costuming and architecture of the time, but characters typical of Rome at the beginning of her decline.
Locusta will be remembered by historians as the female alchemist who was in Nero's employ for the greater part of his career, and who mixed the poisons which were used in destroying the lives of many, not only of his rivals but of his friends. The building of a drama about this character, particularly making her son the victim of her own poison, gives the manufacturer an opportunity to not only supply the public with a film thoroughly educated from every stand
point, but to give them as well a film teaching a moral lesson.
The first scene is laid in Locusta's palace, where we see her and her beloved son. Her love for this youth is the only redeeming characteristic of a hideous and unscrupulous nature. The son departs for a night of revelry, and Locusta retires to her secret laboratory, where she brews poisons.
Here Nero seeks her out, demanding a poison which shall be used as a death drink for Britannicus, his rival and half-brother. Locusta pours one of her deadly decoctions into a flagon of wine. It is Nero's intention to send this to Britannicus as a gift. To assure himself of the wine's deadly power, Nero orders a slave brought, to whom is offered a glass of wine from the flagon. The slave drinks unsuspectingly and dies in terrible agony. Nero gloats with hideous satisfaction, and immediately dispatches a beautiful slave to Britannicus, bearing the poisoned wine.
On her way the slave is set upon by a band of revellers, among whom is the son of Locusta. They drag her away to a private garden and prepare to drink her wine. Locusta's son, being the leader, is the recipient of the first draught. He tosses it off merrily and drops dead where he stands. The band of reA^ellers, now horror-stricken, send to notify Locusta. She comes upon the scene and, recognizing the deadly flagon, realizes that she is responsible for the death of her son. She bears the body home and
The Little King of Rome.