PERMANENT PICTURES.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14293, 23 December 1916, Page 7

PERMANENT PICTURES.

No war x>ictiires shown in England created such a sensation as the official films of "the Big' Push," as the .battle of the Somme is called. A writer in tlie London "Weekly Dispatch" of August 27th estimates "that nearly a million Londoners attended the screenings of these pictures during the first few clays they were shown. The enthusiasm and interest displayed in England is apparently to be duplicated here, j'or afc the presentation of the picture ut the Empire Theatic last night a large audience vieiwed tho grim war drama with all its tremendous realities. There are moments when the audience hurst into excited applause and continued flapping. Such a one is tbat 111 which the troops are seen to spring from tt-e trenches for the long-awaited ■ tussle with the enemy. Nothing like these films^has been previously seen hero and they wjII undoubtedly serve tobring home to the people a sense of the ■ difficulties that confront our men, and a realisation of the war as it actually is. Mr Lloyd George had no doubt this in mind when ho issued the instruction to the War Office: "See that this picture reaches everyone." This picture pays a special war-tax on its export! from England, and thus those who see it are indirectly contributing to tho war funds. The picture will be repeated at tho matinee this afternoon, at the usxial matinee prices, wfon each child will receive a Christmas present In the evening a complete change will be given, and the star picture. w?H foe a La sky sensational drama, 5500 ft, entitled^ "The Girl of the Golden West." There will be interesting supporting items. '■' '

On Christmas night the war pictura, '"'The Battle of the Somme," will again be screened, with a complete change of 'supporting items.. Piices are as usual. The box plan is open, all day at the Empire Theatre. County Tour: The usual show will be given at Motueka to-night, >vhen "The Battle of the Somme'' picture' will be screened. On Christmas Night there •will .bo.a complete chango of programme.