THE FIRST ARMAGEDDON.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 268, 28 October 1916, Page 3

THE FIRST ARMAGEDDON.

AT KING’S THEATRE, HASTINGS

STORY OF CABIRIAThis is not the first world war. Ther, was another away back in the beginning of history—in the third centurybefore Christ. The world was then bounded by the Mediterranean Sea and two great Powers strove for its mastery while all the rest supported one or the other. Carthage, richmighty, armed; with all the resources of science and wizardry, equipped with a mighty army, a great war chief, and the will-to-po«er determined to sweep Rome from 1 fie headship of the world and the overlordship of the sea. The famous Punic Wars followed which ended m the complete overthrow and destruction of Carthage, the ancient counterpart ol modern Germany, and the triumph of Rome which then stood where Great Britain stands now. It is not a little curious that while events in Europe were bringing about a second clash of rival Empires, a second struggle lor the headship of the world, there shou.d have been in preparation in Italy a mammoth picture play depicting in all its grandeur and all its horrors that first mighty struggle which took place 300 years before the dawn of Christianity. It is fitting too that while this 20th century war of esterniination is in progress there should be shown throughout the world the completed picture of that 2300 year old A rinageduun which overwhelmed Carthage and its people with their mighty fleets, their splendid temples, their terrible ideals, their art, thengenius and their civilisation so that meir name became a memory and their country a desolation. Moloch was the chief god of the Carthaginians, lie was a huge monstrous idol into whose flailing breast children were passed in sacrifice, lhe temple of Moloch at Carthage was one oi the wonders of that wonderful city. I o reproduce it and the thrilling scenes which are enacted in it the fta.a Company bunt a huge stucco temple in their grounds and their 700 actors and actresses trained and rehearsed for months and finally produced the scenes presented on the linn. The priests of Moloch had to have long hair. It was louiid that wigs were not sufficiently convincing anu that part oi the picture had to be postponed for many weeks while the actors allowed their hair to grow so that it would flow over their shoulders. Vi believer possible the scenes of the p.av were actually acted and photographed in the very places where they were supposed to hare occurred. lhe thrilling siege of Citra was so carried out ana so strenuous and realistic was the storming of the heights that 20 ctors had to lie taken to the hospital Mifi'ering from various injuries. the scenario was prepared by Gabriele D’Annunzio the iamous Italian author. He also supervised and superintended the whole of the cinematographic work. No expense and no etlort were spared to make it the greatest film ever produced. All sorts of attempts were made io photograph Mount Etna in order to reproduce the flaming island with like-ike accuracy. Thousands of feet of film w ere exposed and destroyed. In the end the magic of the cinema man triumphed and with the aid of superimposition a perfect picture was obtained. Perhaps the most startling figure in the film is that of Maciste the giant slave. He plays an important part and as with every other character the actor had to fill tlie part in every way. Italy was ransteked without discovering a man who was powerful and huge enough to play the part. At last there was found working on the docks at Genoa an enormous man, Ernesto Pagai. A veritable giant, fie was the ideal man tor the part but he knew nothing about acting. He had to be taugjit and trained and schooled and then it took GO rehearsals before that perfection of action which Babriele D’Annunzio demanded was obtained. It took a long time to prepare the film. The greatest secrecy was observed. Even the actors themselves were not allowed to know what aas in progress. They were given wrong parts and misled in every possible way to prevent piracy of the ideas which were being worked out. The whole production was completed in April of last year and screened first of all in Turin Milan and Rome. Its success has been instantaneous everywhere. Owing,to the length of the picture_the overture will commence sharp at < .4o p.m.

•CABIRIA" AT THE PRINCESS, HASTINGS. No picture play ever screened in America has made the sensation created bv “Cabiria,” the huge film play which is to be shown at the Princess Theatre, Hastings. In New York it was shown first at the ianwus Knickerbocker Theatre. There it was screened twice a day in the afternoon and in the evening and the theatre was packed at every ‘session. The Italia Film Company which produced the film at Turin in Italy’ itself undertook the screening of it in America and reaped a rich harvest. This was the reward of thenenterprise. The production of the film cost the company over £lOO,OOO. , The New Zealand lights have been sold by the Itala Company, and their purchase constitutes the biggest- deal ever made for a single film in the Dominion. •‘Cabiria’’ is full of startling situations wliom,’ realism is perfect. It is a thrilling plav in which all the major incidents 01 the first great world war —the struggle between Rome and Carthage for the control of the ancient world — are introduced. It is to lie shown for two nights only. Monday and Tuesday, at the Princess, Hastings. The box plan is at Hall’s.*'