THE GREAT PUSH.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 274, 4 November 1916, Page 3

THE GREAT PUSH.

“THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME.” AT THE PIUNCESS. HASTINGS. The film of “The Big Push.” officially known as “The Battle of the Somme.” is the greatest in point of public appreciation that the kinematograph has ever know n (so says a writer in the “London Weekly Despatch” of August 27th). At one. theatre —the Scala—l sat near a young officer who saw himself on the screen marching to the attack. Here the military clement. Anzac and Briti-h, was strong. and gave vent to loud expressions of appreciation of the picture. The management were impressed by the reverent silence with which the scene of the arrival of the wounded at the dressingstation was received. Several people were reduced to tears. I found a large number of wounded soldiers present to see the film at the Royalty Kinenrn in Richmond when I looked in last week. Seated in frbnt of me, with some of the nurses were two men who lived over again their adventures in Mametz. An old lady who sat near to one of these men. had everything explained to her. “Is that a dug-out?” she inquired. “No, madam.” be replied, “it is a shellhole, I v. as dug out of one of these.” “Xot quite so bad as Delville Wood was.’’ said his neighbour as the picture of the blasted ruins of Mametz camo before their vision. His companion did not agree. A great holiday- audience at Brighton, where the Mayor attended the exhibition, was spellbound. The Mayer remarked that it was one of gaiety, but here they- had all been gripped by a tremendous drama which made them understand the war as they had never done before. Nothing quite like these films has been previouslyseen here, and they will undoubtedly serve more than anything that lias been written to bring home to the people a sense of tho difficulties that confront our men, and a realisation of the war as it actually is. Air. Lloyd George had no doubt this in mind when ho issued the instructions to the War Office: “Seo that this picture reaches everyone.” This picture pays a special war tax on it.-, export from England, and thus those who see it are indirectly contributing to the war funds. There is to bo a special matinee on Monday afternoon and the final screening on Monday night of this great picture, at the Princess Theatre, Hastings. The box plan is sit Hall’s. Booking fee 6d extra. Night prices I'6, 1/- and 6cl. Matinee prices 1/-, 6d and 3d.-’