AMUSEMENTS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 98, 7 December 1928, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

KING’S THEATRE. A GREAT WAR PICTURE. “MONS” AT, '!‘lIK KING’S.. There was a. large attendance atthe Xing’s Theatre last night lor the first presentations of “Moms”, and those present were rewarded with something out of the ordinary in the way of war pictures. An atmospheric prologue was supplied by Mr. Lula; 15. Wilson, manager of the theatre, in tho monologue “Spottie,” which was well rendered and very well received. “Mens’ ’ is ont of the ordinary run by reason of the. fact that it i s not a; 'story in a war setting, but a serious attempt to re-enact the marvels of valour and endurance, which were performed by the “old” British army —to be known lor ever in history as the Old Coutemptihles—when they did as much as mortal men could do to stem the flow of the German soldiery over Belgium into France, in

the anxious days from the middle cf August ,191-1, tin the end of the first week in September. The fight-

ing scenes are very realistic, hutTperhaps even more appealing were the scenes showing the British troops carry in gout their retirement from Mons, passing along the roads, weary aiucl wounded, but ready on the- instant to turn and fight. The picture has a. real value from the fact- that it gives a- good idea of the rough-aud-tready jused 1 in the early days of the war,, and generally tho conditions under which the British army fought as it wrote an everlasting page in the- history cf warfare. Added interest was given by the fact that when a particular regiment’s doings were being dealt with their badges were shown with the

titles. Particular attention is paid to the incidents in which Victoria Crosses were won, the. defence cf the railway bridge at Mons, the blowing, up of canal bridges at Mons, th ■ saving of horseless guns, and other events. Perhaps the. most realistic representation of snob incidents wan the fight of L. Battery against superior force o German guns, Victoria Crosses going to the: hist three surviving men on the. last gnn to continue firing till the ammunition gave out. The stand of the Guards at Lautlrecies is also well represented, and a. special feature is made of Major ITown Bridges and his toy drum at St. Quentin; the drum being the means of inducing men to continue their retirement who were apparently quite dead beat. Sir John French, General Smith- Dorrieu and. Major Bridges appearing in their own persons, thus giving the picture a. backing of reality. Altogether, ijlie picture can he written down as one well worth, seeing It i 3 net a story in a war setting, hut a. record of the story of the retreat, from Mons, and the. touches of humour and pathos introduced are of a. piece with that story. The person surfeited with stories in uai setting can still enjoy “Mons.” A New Zealand scenic “The Fiordlaud Trail,” tho first of a series to ho sent on one. of the hig American circuits, was shown to introduce the big picture. It is of a. very high standard in every way and does full justice, to NqW Zealand’s fiords. The appropriate- music -by the King’s Trio greatly heightens the- effect of “Mons.”