THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9656, 22 November 1909, Page 5

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES.

There was a record attendance at the Foresters' Hall on Saturday evening, when Messrs Thompson and Payne presented (heir us al change of programme. These enterprising entrepeneurs fully deserve the praise they are receiving for their fine exhibition. The present programme is the best yet presented, and exceeded ?ll expectations. The -cinematographic art has reached such a high standard that dialogue is unnecessary; the pictures tell their own story. The natural colour films that have been shown have met with such hearty approval that Messrs Thompson and Payne have secured still further importations of this class of subject, and will produce them in conjunction with the bi-weekly change of programme. The latest programme submitted is full of interest, and the films chosen were such as to suit all tastes. The second part of the "Gota Canal" is included in this collection; the "Delta of the Nile" gives another splendid view of Egyptian scenery and industries, chief among which is cotton raising "Head dresses in. .Brittany" gives a comprehensiveidea ot the'different classes of headgear worn in the South of JBurope,. and shows the full process of manufacture. Colombo and its Environs'" belongs to the natural colour series, and patrons have a beautiful picture of Cingalese scenery. The dramatic portion of the programme is the best yet produced here. "The Street. Waif" is, without doubt, the best pictorial drama presented to a local audience. It is intensely human, and is not overdrawn. This picture opens, by showing a poor lass wandering in* the street, homeless and cold; the' snow is falling heavily, she becomes faint, and sinks to the ground overcome by hunger and exhaustion. A gentleman while driving in his motorobserves her terrible plight and alighting, assists her to rise and. hearing her pitiful story, takes her to his home. She is made comfortable, and becomes like one of the family. She takes lessons in music,and dancing and becomes an expert exponent of each. At this time.she is visited by a scapegrace brother, who' has heard of her good fortune, and he endeavours to extort money from her, but she refuses and her villainous relation is forcibly ejected from the premises. Her benefactor suggests that she should' use her talents on the stag.;, and he invites a leading theatrical manager to witness her performance. He is charmed by her exhibition, an:' she is engaged at a large salary. Her debut is a tremendous success, and her admirers fight with each other for precedence to tender their congratulations. She has just dismissed these gentlemen from her reception room when she is confronted by her brother. She again refuss his demands. He violently assaults her, and tries to choke her, but her ories bring her benefactor and friends to the rescue. A fine military subject, "A Dash For Help," gives us a story of heroism during the Afghan War. A small party of British soldiers are besieged in a fortification, and telegraphic communication ia cut oft'. Help must be obtained, and volunteers are called for. A squad of men are picked, and start on their perilous journey. They are ambushed on the way, and their number sadly reduced. After several narrow escapes they finally gee through the enemy's lines. In the meantime the besieged gar; ison are faring badly, and although they make gallant efforts in defeuc?, their dupky opponents succeed in forcing an entrance. All seems lost, but with a cheer a gallant band of : Highlanders s«e p down to the rescue and the '.rave defenders are safe. "An Aerial Ek.pemeiit" belones to the seriocomic class of film. Patrons are shown a quaint picture of an almost bankrupt parent, and a J. wish moneylender conversing by telephone. Their conversation is depicted in transit by a method known as trick printing. The Jew will have his pound of flesh, and insists on marrying his unfortunate debtor's pretty daughter, or he will "smash him." The situation is explained to the mother, who endeavours to get her daughter's consent. The father pleads with her, and 11 save him from ruin she consents, although shrj is already betroth.d. But the oil saying 'iov«jri will fi ia a wsy" comes true. The young lidy's fiances procures an aen.plane, a:id it ia placed in readiness'on the church roof. He bribes . the verger to aaisit him; When the jew and his contemplated bride appear, shs is seized by her fia-.cee, and hJrried int. a side leavirg the irate Jew aid party lo:ked out, The adventurous young couple mount to the roof by v;»:ioJs met'sods, and, boerTng the aeroplane, are soon flying in midair, and the Jew is seen frantically gesticulating far below. He s cures a motor car and starts in pursuit, his effjrts to overtake the , flying machine being ludicrous in the extavme. The aviators drop a line and anchor, which is promptly seized: by the Jew. _ He secures it to the car, and is towed, along at a ter* rihle rate un'.il a cliff is reached. The car falls over and the Jew is left suspended in mid-air. clinging to 'he anchor. He is hauled up to the aeronlat e, and relinquish his claim to the young lady iu nayment for hsslif?. "The Flower Girl of Paris" is a pathetic drama, and shows how a poor young girl sacrifices her life for a gentleman who had befriend?il her. "Married in Haste" is a fine comic picture, and the young man who hurriedly plunges iito matrimony in order to secure a portion of his uncle's wealth, had the full sympathy of the audience. The short-sighted gentleman who would go "Moth Hunting" caused great merriment. "The Inn of Death,'" "House Cleaning Days," "The Terrible flraziltan" and other?, make up. a programme that shout i not bemi&eJ.