WEST'S PICTURES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 116, 14 May 1909, Page 5

WEST'S PICTURES.

! The downstairs portion of the Town Hall' was crowded last night for the second night's programme of the West's Picture Proprietary. The pictures were an entirely new lot, and comprised humorous, dramatic and scenic views. There have been many picture entertainments in Blenheim during the past few months, but it is doubtful if there have been any of the same general standard of excellence as those shown by the West combination. The views are for the most part historical and geographical, and are of an educational character, and the others go to make up an enjoyable programme, and supply the invariably much-looked-for humorous vein. There are many things depicted upon the sheet by the film that serve as object lessons in every-day life, and the public are in a manner initiated into the daily intricacies widen abound in the great outer world. A picture shown last night that appealed to the audience in no small way was that entitled "The Shoe Black." The film depicted a lad on the street earning his livelihood by means of blacking shoes. He shines the boots of an apparently well-to-do gentleman, and as payment he recives a bank note for an amount considerably in excess of his small fee. Th^e. donor hides himself behind a tree aria watches the lad, who goes straightway to a stall close by and spends the note in procuring food for a starving woman and her two little children. The gentleman is so impressed with the large-heartedness of the shoe-black taht he presents the woman with a note, and then takes 1 he lad to his home,* where he is made a member of his family. The shoeblack in return saves the gentleman's daughter from being burned to aeath when the house was in flames, and once more earns the high esteem of his guardian. Another very fine picture was the manoeuvres of the Italian squadron, and "A Scene in Brittany," was very good. The humorous element was supplied ,by "The Stolen Watch" and "The Conscientious Musician," ,both evoking rounds of appaluse. The orchestra, under the baton of Mr T. Stokes, contributed in no small way towards the success of the entertainment. An entirely new programme will be given to-night, when among the pictures to be shown will be a film showing, a match of the Australian in Great Britain.