" The Birth of a Nation."

NZ Truth, Issue 584, 26 August 1916, Page 8

" The Birth of a Nation."

A Stupendous Pictorial Production.

Th« New Zealand Tour. v

"The Birth of a Nation." the most stupendous and fascinating motionpicture drama created, will be produced under the J. C Williamson management at the Wellington Town Hall, commencing on Tuesday next, August 29. The ■ picture Is founded upon the Rev. Thomas. Dixon's world-famed novel "The Clansman," and is placed by Mr. Hugh J. Ward with the greatest enterprises this flim has presented to the public. "Periodically/ ho said, "we offer to the public some attraction m which we take special pride. Looking back over the record of the firm, you win see such outstanding offerings as Sarah Bernhardt, H. B. Irving, Oscar Asche, Melba, to mention just a few. Well, with those place The Birth of a Nation.' We arc -as proud of being the firm that Introduced The Birth of a Nation' to Australia and New Zealand as we are of anything m the record of the J. C. Williamson management" In his novel, i "The Clansman." the Rev. Thomas Dixon has made a fervid defence *'6f his people from the harsh judgments and condemnations of unsympathetic historians. With this book as a foundation, David W. Griffith, the foremost picture producer of America, built up a structure of national .scope and of heroic proportions. "The Birth of a Nation" is a chronicle of human passion. It is true to fact and thoroughly documented. It is In no sense, an appeal to lynch law; it is a picture of a former time. It Is a brilliant, thrilling masterpiece of historical fiction; In this production the scenes change with the velocity of lightning, of thought. One moment the audience will see a vast battlefield with the enemies like midgets m the big world, the next discloses some small group filling the whole space with its personal drama; then Just one or two faces big with emotion. And always the story is being told with every device of .suspense, preparation, relief, development, and crisis. The screening of' the picture is always accompanied by an al-

most' incessant murmur of approving comment, roars of laughter, gasps of anxiety, and outbursts of applause. It is not a silent drama as far as the •audience is concerned. The box plans for the Wellington season will be opened at the Bristol on Friday morning. There will be no extra charge for booking. At the conclusion of the Wellington season the picture will be shown at *the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, commencing Saturday, September 9, at His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin; commencing September 20; His. Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, commencing Saturday, September SO.