AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 9 April 1913, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

TOWN HALL PICTURES. A special treat is promised to the many patrons of the Mjasterton Picture aiid Entertainment Company in the Town Hall this evening, when the Company will present, by special arrangement, the beautifully coloured pact-lire drama, "Written in Sands." The drama is said to unfold a most touching and romantic love story, which is of special merit on account of its natural scenery. Thi s picture .vas secured at great expense by the and as it is out of the orlinary ran of films, it can;'.be relied upon to take on immediately with the public. A programme of the very best in the art of cinematography supports this picture, and the . pror gramme can be recommended to lovers of first-class entertainment. The Masterton Symphony Orchestra will present a special programme of music to-night. THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES. "THE CRUSADERS." "The Crusaders" is" divided intothree parts, each dealing with a distinct episode, but sequence is necessary for the complete unravelling of the story. In the introduction, we are -shown - animated photos of the leading characters in the representation, notably iGodfrey of Bouilon, Ray no Id and Tancred, the great leaders of the 'Crusade; Al-ed-Cin, Sultan of Turkey; Clorinda, the Amazon leader of the Saracen hordes; and Armida, the Princess of Antioch. Godfrey of Bouilon, in a vision from heaven, is commanded to lead the Crusaders against the Turkish rule in Jerusalem, where victory and high honours are -promised him. The powers of darkness league themselves against Godfrey to overthrow the Christian's. A fine scene shows the Crusaders welcoming Godfrey as their leader, and an immediate advance upon Jerusalem is determined upon. The Sultan, Al-ed-Din, from the walls sees the vanguard of the army approaching, and-calls his warriors together. Ismene, a magician, advises the theft of a sacred Icon from a Christian church as a charm against the power of the Crusaders. The Icon- is procured arid placed in the nxosque, from -Alienee it is stolen, and the Sultan, in hi s rage, commands that all the Christians in Jerusalem be put to death. . The edict strikes horror into the hearts of the native Christians, and Sophronio, one of the humblest faith, determines to sacrifice herself to save her. people, and takes upon herself the theft .of the Icon. The Sultan condemns her to bo burned at the stake. Olindo, a native Christian, in love-with Sophronio, accuses himself of the theft in order to save her, but the Sultan bids the soldiers to tie both to the stake and let them die together. The pyre is lighted when Clorinda, the Saracen, appears and procures the liberation of the lovers on condition that she leads the Saracens against' the Christians. The- second part opens with some fine scene® showing Clorinda and her Saracens raiding the Crusaders and putting them to flight. Arraida, a treacherous princess of Antioch, makes .an appeal to Godfrey and hi s Christian knights, for them to assist her in ireoovering her lost kingdom. 'Lots are drawn as to who shall accompany the princess, and Ray no Id commands- the contin- x gent. The following scenes show ■some most realistic fighting, betwixt the Saracens under Clorinda and the knights under Tancred. The Sara.cens are ibeateh back by the Christians and re-enter Jerusalem, the gates being closed before"' Clorinda. reaches them. Tancred sees her, and thinking hea* a Saracen warrior, attacks her, and a fierce fight ends ih Clorinda being .mortally wounded. Before dying she is baptised bv Tan--cred in the Christian faithi. Part 3 deals with the final triumph of the 'Knight Templars the capture of Jerusalem. Armida, the Princess of Antioch, exercises her fascinations over Raynold and has him in 'her j power, until two Crusaders appear, and by their appeals ihreak the speli j that lias bound him, and he cavts Armida off and (rejoins the army. The Crusaders need new weapon® ,of warfare, and enter a forest to cut down trees, but the. powers of darkness have weaved' a spell of the forest. and they return empty-handed. Raynold surmounts innumerable difficulties, breaks the spell, and enables the Crusnder s to procure the wood for their implements of war. An impressive foene -shows' a huge gathering of knights receiving the blessing- of Peter the Hermit before proceeding to the storming of Jerusalem. Here we see the primitive methods and weapons used, and the wooden towers from which the boltg are shot. Hie attack on Jerusalem, the assailants being repelled by the project", lev thrown from the city walls, overpowering the Sara-cens, and the final collapse of the walls of Jerusalem, are a series of wonderfully effective scenes in which the most realistic fightingtakes place.. Godfrey of Bouilon and has army make a magnificent entry into Jerusalem, where he is proclaimed king, thus consummating his heavenly vision and rescuing the Christians from their Moslem tyrants. Accompanying this big picture are the following gems of cinematograph art: "See Anemones," an interesting nature study; "The Mayor's Crusade" (drama), "Stolen Pic- , ture" (comedy), Pathe -Gazette, the j latest news, "Laird's Daughter" : (drama), "Button Off His Trousers'' ; (comedy), "Manufacture _of Combs," an interesting industrial picture. Specially selected music will be played for the star drama , "The Criisaders."