Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Monday 6 July 1908, page 3


DRAMA BY ANIMATED PICTURES.

If the greatest enjoyment could bo derived from uninterrupted mirth the problem of entertaining big audiences with animated pictures would be easily solved.

The popular taste, however, demands that the humorous subjects should be deftly sandwiched with somethingof a more serious character, and the difficulty has been to ascertain what that something should be. for an essential of success is that the interests of patrons should not flag for a moment. Messrs. MacMahon and Carroll, who .began a season at 'the Town Hall _ on Saturday evening, under the direction of Messrs. J. and _N. Tait, have apparently hit upon the reqiiired expedient in the form of pictorial drama. The clever adaptation of .Marcus Clarke's celebrated novel ''For the Term of His Natural Life' to the range of biosnopic films, proved to be the feature of the programme. It would lie difficult to conceive of any snbject that could nave commanded more attention than did this portrayal of events away back in convict days, and the informative narrative delivered by Mr. A. Boothman to connect the ever-changing scenes contributed in no smiill measure to the instructiveness of the story. Beginning with the quarrel at the saining table and the murder, of Lord Bellasis. the varying fortunes of the falsely accused Dawes were depicted in a series of 30 excellent views, to his escape and death in the wreck of the Lady Franklin— all condensed into the space of three-quarters of an hour. Under the title of ''Niagara Falls in Winter' charming fjpecatcular effects were produced, and 'Playmates' nml 'A Family of Cats' provided interesting little studies. The lighter vein was well represented bv half a dozen films which dealt with 'Cupid's Pranks.'' 'Cycles to Mend,' 'Bathing Under Difficulties,' 'Hidden Hoard.' 'Tormented by Ilis Mother-in-law,' and 'The Sandwich Woman.' Altogether it was a capital entertainment, and the large audience gave frequent manifestations of its appreciation. Matinees are advertised for Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, and changes of programme will be made twice each week;