ENTERTAINMENTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9182, 5 April 1910, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

MACMAHON AND CARROLL'S

PICTURE SHOW.

A crowded house greeted tho oxhibition of the pictures which are about to tour the Dominion under tho Macmahon management. Palmerston is the first placo in New Zealand at which the programme has been given, it being substituted for Wellington, owing to the fact that the Opera House there was not ready for occupation. Last night's audionco was a favourable augury for the tour-.that is just commoncing, which should be most successful if this very excellent selection of pictures gets its deserts. The presentation of the film depicting tho chief incidents in Marcus Clarke's thrilling story, "For the Term of His Natural Life," occupies pride of placo in the programme. The scenes have been selected with a view to the dramatic interest, and the tragic history of Rufus Dawes can bo traced in all its pitiful aspects. The story opens with the falso accusation of murder, and the sontenco of transportation. The mutiny on the convict ship, Malabar, follows, and then there is tho burning of tho Hydaspes, which gives tho opportunity for tho introduction of a remarkably sensational piece of animated cinematography, involving the destruction of a ship at sea. Tho wretched life of the convicts in the Australian ponal settlements, the brutality of Lieut. Frcro with the compensating'nobility and strength of character of the Rev. North, the sweet influence of Sylvia, and the buffetings of fato to which the convict-hero is subjected, together with the tragic termination of his sad history, are portrayed in a manner that rouses many emotions in the audience. The power of pictures was undoubtedly demonstrated last night by tho repeated rounds of applauso, and even cheers, with which the films were received on -occasions. From an historical point of view "The Term of His Natural Life," as giving a correct impression of tho early clays of the convict system, is of much educational value, and generally it was a production that was well worth witnessing. The first part of the programme was occupied with a miscellaneous programme of wcll-selccted films , that served to whet the spectator's appetite for tho longer and more ambitious picture. The chief of these was entitled "The Guerilla," an incident in the American civil war, and it moved the audience to a display of enthusiasm that | found expression in an outburst of cheering. as a young officer at the head of his troop galloped to rescue his sweetheart from the clutches of, the villain, and arrived in the nick of time. The whole programme is magnificently produced. and a running commentary by Mr A. Boothman greatly adds to the pleasure ol' the audience. To-night "The Kelly Gang will form the star film, and there will be some other pictures of absorbing interest. JIAYWARD'S PICTURES. The present programme submitted by Mr Hayward continues to attract .satisfactory nudicncrs .to the Zealandia Ilall nightly. To-night will be the last occasion on which the present series _ will shown, a change of pictures being cue to-morrow night.