FIGHT PICTURES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1224, 5 September 1911, Page 8

FIGHT PICTURES.

4 LANGFOED V. LANG AND M'VEA, Farce in fight would bo an apt heading for Hie set-to between Lang, of Australia, and Laiigford, tho coloured pugilist, who rejoices iu the sobriquet of "the Boston Tar Baby," admirably pictured before a large audience at the Opera Houso last evening. Lang, -huge, high-shoul-dered, ami leggy, lumbers round tho ring a full head taller than his opponent, without a definite idea of what to do and when to do it. On tho other hand, Laugford, of medium height, perfectly proportioned, beautiful ami and chest development, and muscles all a-ripple. A pearl of fighters this Langford—graceful, confident, ever aggressive, quick as lightning with either hand, and an effective upper cut. He simply danced all over the Australian, dancing round like a skilled toreador, jilaiiting blows practically where, and when ho likes, until Lang makes a foul, and.so saves himself from j a certain knock-out. This occurs in tlio sixth round, when Lang, too tired to show any sort of defence against • the skilled aggression of tho black man, clips Langford, who trips and falls upon Ins hands and knees, whereupon Lang punches him on the shoulder? If tho average "white hope" can make no better sfiowing than Lang, there is yet a long Bpell of fighting honour for the black man. Another picture shown was the 20-round contest between Langford.and Sam M'Vea (both coloured men) which also took placo at the Olympia Annexe, London, under the management of Mr\ Hugh M Intosh, a few weeks ago. This is a very different affair to the Langford-Lang hglit. JuVco, is an opponent worthy of Langford's steel. He stands about four inches taller than the "Tar Baby," has the chest and arms of a superman, but is sinewy light in the nether limbs. . His poise, is not so good as Langford's, • and he appears to discount his superior reach by lighting over his opponent, almost abjuring the effective upper-cuts to which his heiglit and great strength would give immense leverage. Ho is quick though, and has a lot of latent energy which is effectively surprising on ocoa"sions. His chief hit is the straight left— a very nasty left—but he is without tho resource of the smaller man, and 'not nearly such an attractive or aggressive fighter. According to the screen notices, M'Vea got the better of tho first three or four rounds. Both men stood up gamely, and mixed it well, M'Vea paying particular .attention to Langford's right eye. After the first four rounds M Vea, instead of standing up to the evertorceful Langford, developed, backing and clinching propensities until tho touch of the ropes behind forced him to fight his way out into the open. From that out Langford, agilo and alert, was always tho aggressor, following up, and'cornering his man timo after- time. Towards the endabout tho eighteenth . round—M'Vea took a freshening turn, and mixed it considerably, but never appeared really danger!bus to the little man, who appeared— on picture evidence —to win on points. ;The result was a draw. Photographically, the pictures are excellent, and givo 'a splendid idea of both fights. ! Apart from the fight pictures, some ivory good pictures, dramatic a.nd comic, are- presented. One entitled "His Mother" is'cleverly enough planned,'and' so well acted that it touches tho emotions with no uncertainty. It is tho story of a young man, who leaves his ■aged mother to go to America to. study .medicine. Ho succeeds, and a few years later becomes a noted physician in New York. Tired of waiting for her son, tho old lady at length decides to visit' Now •York. In.the meantime he has become engaged to an heiress, and when the old ;!ady arrives, the son, who welcomes her cordially enough, has doubts as to how his betrothed will Teceivo tho poor old. woman. Giving way to .this line of .thought, he suggests that. she would bo happier in a cottage in the country. thorn in New York. Seized with the freezing thought that she -is unwelcome, tho old lady leaves home in the night, on the discovery of which the doctor becomes a victim of remorse, and searches for her everywhere, without Tesult. Tho doctor is called to attend oil urgent lease in a public hospital, and in the bed adjoining the patient he finds Ins mother. There is a scene- of reconciliation' between tlio two, and later tho young medico finds how wrongly he has misjudged the instincts of liis chanuing fiancee. An orchestra played bright music throughout the performance. Tho programme will be repeated throughout tho week.