Cosy Theatre, Woodville

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 1, 2 January 1941, Page 5

Cosy Theatre, Woodville

“FOR FREEDOM" TO-NIGHT This film commences in a newsreel office in London just before Alunich. Will Fyffc, as the editor, has the idea of a film re telling events between the end of the last war and the beginning of this. The picture portrays these actual events, and then nows is received of the River Plate Battle. Here is the very theme this newsreel genius has been waiting for, and so woven into the fabric of this film are Capt. Dove, of the s.s. Africa Shell; Captain Pottinger, of the a.a. Ashlea; First-Officer Murphy and Engineers Walker and Angel, of the s.s. Tairoa; British seamen prisoners on the Altraark, and officers of the Ajax, Achilles and Exeter, who figured in the thrilling Alontevideo fight scenes. Of local interest is tho fact that one of the commentators in. this film is ViceAdmiral J. E. T. Harper, C. 8., ALV.O. (Retd.), a New Zealander, who served in the Navy during the last war and is now retired. lie is a distinguished naval historian, and compiled the official record of the Battle of Jutland. He was the first New Zealander to achieve ViceAdmiral’s rank. At the beginning of his commentary, he states: “As one who served in his Alajestv’s Navy during tho last war, I am honoured to have the opportunity of telling the people of Britain—and the world—the glorious story of the Battle of tho River Plate—particularly as H.AI.S. Achilles is one of the New Zealand squadron, manned by New Zealanders, and went into battle flying the naval flag of the great Dominion.” Not only should wo bo proud of the heroes of “For Freedom,” but of the film itself —a masterpiece which we can show to the rest of the world with pride.