ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9080, 30 August 1917, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"THE BIRTH OF A NATION."

The much-discussed wonder film, "The Birth of a Nation," attracted a bumper house at His Majesty's Theatre last evening, and it was cloarly evident that in the re-screening before an Ashburton audience the story .lost; none of its-interest. It is undoubtedly, a magnificent film of great histrionic interest, and there is a story running 1 through it of love and romance in ten- j der and stirring mood. In "The Birth:! of a Nation" it is shown why Abraham.l f/incoln was the one great outstanding figure in American history. Of humble! origin, through sheer force arid nobility] j of character he became the dominating personality in the greatest crisis n country over endured. Hie was the healing hand; ; his • the greatest heart that made a bleeding nation whole/ It' j is brought home in the."story ,6i ■ the CameronSj the fortunes of whose house' are followed in "The Birth of a Nation." Reduced . from comfort to the meanest poverty, they still' kept a brave face. The home-coming of their only surviving son, "The Little .Colonel," is the most touching incident ever screened. All might have still gone well i had Lincoln been spanxL j With his death the South became the prey of political adventurers exploiting the negro vote. The whites were terrorised, the women dared not go out of doors; the men, outnumbered and disarmed, were openly insulted. Murder was rife, vice unrestrained, and an orizy of violence held sway. Griffith, in his wonderful spectacle, depicts with lightning vividness this roign of torror, and through it all weaved a groat romance. The film will be screened again this evening.