“SPLINTERS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 981, 26 May 1930, Page 16

“SPLINTERS”

COMING TO CIVIC SHORTLY “Many thousands of ex-soldiers who knew the ‘Old Bra Sat Theatre’ in France in the brief moments they spent out of the trenches, will recall with gratitude the cheery entertainments that were given by the ‘Rouge-et-Noirs’ concert party, afterwards known as ‘Splinters,’ ” writes the critic of the “News of the World.” “Formed at the instance of the late Lord Horne, and organised by a Lancashire comedian named Hal Jones, who worked miracles with crude material and under tremendous difficulties, ‘Splinters’ became an institution and do much to brighten the lives of the troops in those dreary, monotonous years of sacrifice and suffering. Now, thanks to the talkies, the spirit and romance of ‘Splinters’ and the atmosphere of those far-off days have been recaptured. ‘Splinters’ is unique. It is not merely a first-class musical show, it is a page of history, true in every detail. One sees, as actually happened, a bewildered Tommy hauled out of the front line and ushered into the presence of august personages at Army Headquarters, there to be given instructions to organise a concert party. There were many trials and tribulations, but ‘Splinters’ at last triumphed. British and Dominion Films have produced a film worthy of the highest enconiums. and ‘Splinters’ should be highly popular with all British people in all British countries.”