“ZEEBRUGGE” TO BE SEEN IN NEW ZEALAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17865, 5 June 1926, Page 20 (Supplement)

“ZEEBRUGGE” TO BE SEEN IN NEW ZEALAND.

The masterpiece “Zeebrugge,” which , is shortly to be shown in New Zealand, is the only motion picture that has ever been reviewed officially at a picture theatre by their Majesties King George and Queen Mar}', the only picture, in fact, that has ever secured the patronage of a King of Great Britain. “Zeebrugge” ran for twelve months at the Empire Pavilion, London, and present indications are that the world’s long run and attendance records will be shattered by this great naval epic. Mr W. A. Gibson. 0.8. E., recently returned from London, states that he ' paid £2 2s for a seat to view this amazing production. It is the story of a handful of British officers and sailors, who, by blocking up Bruges Canal, brought the enemy to its knees, and took every risk in the spirit of joyous fun, just as if they were playing cricket. In the whole history of the world, no handful of men, or army for that matter, have been called upon to face such a deadly attack as that which met the men of Zeebrugge from the shore batteries guarding the mole, and the very men who took part in the wonderful deed, together with the Vindictive and the other ships that invaded the enemies deadly fire actual!y on that occasion, take part in the re-enactment fur the screen. The British Admiralty produced “Zeebrugge” . with all the resources at its command and the picture is something that will make even the most hardened feel proud that they are British. Torpedo-like motor-launches racing shorewards to spread a bandage of smoke over the eyes of the enenrny, the homely ferries, “Iris” and “Daffodil,” laden with a grimmer human cargo than the holiday-makers of peacetime. plodding along in the wake of the

steaming through the exploding air and the wild sea towards the gun-guarded land, brave men scaling the wall under direct fire to grapple her to the mole, her troops rushing ashore to the attack and straggling back at the signal, leaving their dead and bearing their wounded, the “Thetis,” the “Intrepid.” and the “Iphigenia” veterans all hastening to the heroic suicide to block the Bruges Canal, freighted with fearless young men going perhaps to share the sacrifice of their ships—such was Zeebrugge, “one of the greatest naval actions of an}- war,” when the lair of the German sea-wolves was grated with steel. Such is one of the most stirring films ever made.