AMUSEMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 23 August 1913, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS.

THOMPSON-PAYNE PICTURES.

NEW BILL TO-NIGHT. Following on their established policy of presenting a special feature film in each change of programme, Messrs Thompson-Payne will to-night present the latest K.B. success, "On the Altar of Death." This is the story of the film:—An Indian maid, Silver Cloud, arrives at the fort to sell beadwork and other Indian ornar mente. She is being n&her roughly handled by a-sentry, when the Lieutenant intervenes. She is-taken in by the Colonel's wife, and sells some of her goods to the ladies in the drawing room. As she leaves the fort, the Lieutenant meets her again and is apparently attracted by her. The Colonel's wife receives a Jetter announcing the arrival of a friend with her daughter Mary. In the interval between the announcement and the arrival of the guests, the Lieutenant has been wooing the Indian maid. Seated on the rocks, they spell out together the old, old story. But when the American ladies arrive, his fancy quickly turns to Mary. In order to entertain his guests, the Colonel has a muster of Indians, who are invited to visit the fort. Silvor Cloud comes at the head of her tribe, together with her old mate. The Lieutenant leaves the house with Mary on' his arm. Silver Cloud, seeing her lover coming, runs and throws her arms around his neck, much to the Lieutenant's dismay and Mary's astonishment. The young fellow throws off the Indian girl's caress and walks away with his new companion. Stunned by this extraordinary treatment, Silver Cloud retreats to the gate of the fort, and there her passion breaks out, love being turned to hate,, Thelndians, dissatisfied with .the Government's treatment, declare war. . The. Indians watch the waggons with its convoy winding through a narrow rough road, between high hills, and when the train reaches a narrow gorge they pour in a deadly A tremendous fight ensues, in which the white men are hard put to keep the fed men off.. The Lieutenant scribbles a note, appealing for help, plips it under the bridle of one of the horses, and sends it riderless back. Silver Cloud intercepts the horse, and captures the note, which she destroys, but immediately she is assailed with doubts, and finally love conquers hate, and she shows the white men a way of escape. There is a tremendous explosion, which sends the white men and Silver Cloud down the mountain side. In her dying moment. Silver Cloud, with a supreme effort, casts herself on the body of her faithless lover, and so they are wedded at the Altar of Dearth,. Other choice items include "Figure Skating on Ice," "The Yosemite Valley" (scenics), and in the dramatic section "The Chocolate Gun," "Winsome, but Wise,' and "In Pursuit of Smugglers.' Amongst the comedies are Out," "A Winning Miss," and "Bob as Municipal Inspector." TOWN HALL PICTURES. ; Crowded audiences' are the order of the day at the Town. Hall,* and the management necessarily f eel-it ineira- i bent upon them to maintain the high j Standard of cinematographic enter- j tainment, which has produced this result. To-night a programme of new films will be 'screened. "Dr. Maxwell's Experiment" is a Lubin drama in which science enters largely. A new operation to the brain is heard of by the doctor, the result of the experiment being that a criminal I is converted to honest living. The doctor practises his. newi science on a "burglar, who is turned from his evil ways... The story.is full of thrilling interest,: and is improved bythe introduction, of a love romance. The star attraction of this fine programme is the sterling Edison drama, "Kathleen Mavourneen," the staging and colouring of which are on a magnificent scale. Kathleen's fresh beauty appeals to the haughty Lord of Kavanagh, who proposes marriage ; but Kathleen is loved by Terrene©, a light-hearted Irish lad. She dreams that she becomes Lady Kavanagh, and the terrible revelations which come to her make her fly to the arms of Terrence. This drama is one of the finest yet produced in the picture world. The series also includes a fine Pathe comic entitled "Amateur Blondin." Jim is not popular at the theatre, where in a fit of extravagance he.has hired a box. He makes the presentation of a bouquet the excuse for kissing the pretty equilibrist. ' What is still worse, he imagines himself possessed of the same ability, and in trying to act upon them, receives a nasty fall. The damage caused to the proprietor as a result of his foolhardiness is considerable. Jim is finally convinced that his metier must be in some other direction. Other films which complete this exceptional programme are English Gazette (Pathe), "The Man Higher Up" (Vitagraph comedy), in which John Bunny appears; "Maori Aquatic Sports" (scenic); "Unprofitable Boarder" (Edison comic); "American Floods" (Lubin topical).