"THE BIRTH OF A NATION."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16796, 1 November 1916, Page 6

"THE BIRTH OF A NATION."

Qoevef*the moststaj»sndG«s picture IpiFoduetions ever ntade-is acknowledged 'to be '% T>he Birth «fa Nationfi" Avhich AvilUbevpres-ented-at His Majesty's ''JRheatre by J. C. Williamson, Irtd., for a season of %feree ni^its and one matinee, ■commencing on Monday next. It it claimed, with some show of reason, to be the biggest aoid most important picture film ever screened. It is founded on tlie story of "Th<e Clansman " Avhich is as nearly the literal truth as a .novel can aiecord. and probably:much more relfaWe- than the" "history'" fr f three-fourtbs of the nations of the civilised world. . "The Birth of a Nation" oegms and e«ds in the early 'sixties •o.r the last century, and aJI the events, .save the love fieteions. are atcll within "the nwanory of men now living. The Civil Wat- in America fcirnishes the rmany moving battle scenes with which the ttcst part of this extraordina.ry picture show, is punctuated. These scenes lead up to the defeat of the bouth, the surrender of Lee, and the emancipation' of tJie negroes, followed Awth afcirmang jrapidity by the .assassination of Preside Lmcok by the actor. Wilkes Booth. The-second portion of "The Birth of a Nation" is no Jess thraling and exciting, for it detxh witii tlie running amok of the emancipated negroes of the South, and the drastic steps ta;ken' by the formation sof the Ku Klux Klan which took the law into its own hands, and dealt oat justice and pimishment — illegally no doubt, but justifiably; suppressing tho mad license-pf the intoxicated negroes aad eventua% bringing abont "The Birth of a Nation" in the restoration of sane legislation: and the real union of the Northern and Soutliepn States or America. D. W. Griffith, the producer of " The JSirth or a Nation," now running simultaneously.ia Sydney and Melbourne, spent months in securing the types of arfasts he. reqtured for the great picture spectacle. Mr Griffith visited many cities and inspected many stage aodi picture people before .he made Iris selection. Every character was filled by a particular type, of artist best suited to represent that character. A specially selected operatic orchestra wader the conductorship of i\Lr J Keaa-s-ley, will play the incidental music or tto production^ which is on© of tho outs-tnudmg features in the picture, lite plans for the entire season will <$fiL ™ TJg****? morning at 9, at Ailden s. Hie only matmee during the seasoa will be given on Wednesday, November Bth, when children will be admitted at halfprice. v