“THE BIRTH OF A NATION."

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1375, 31 August 1916, Page 36

“THE BIRTH OF A NATION."

Many pages of the history of the United States of America will be turned over at the Town Hall, Wellington, this evening (Wednesday), when the story of “The Birth oi a Nation” will Le presented in a remarkably effective spectacular cinematographic drama. There are pages in which the audience will be told in a series of the comprehensive illustrations of America’s Civil War —that feaiiul struggle for the maintenance of great principles. Pages darkened with pictured narratives of class and racial hatred, of unrighteous desires and vaulting ambition, the division of friends and families, of oppression, and the loss of dear ones. But there will also be pages illumined by patriotism and sacrifice to cause by the valour of men on both sides, by the triumph of the principle of freedom, and, finally, the restoration of national unity. This great picture drama is founded on the Rev. Thomas Dixon’s book “The Clansman,” and provides three hours of some of the most thrilling scenes yet seen on a screen in New Zealand, and many of them as nearly historically correct as is possible. Interest never ceases for a moment, and the marvellously-staged scenes of battle are succeeded by tender domestic episodes in the lives of the particular characters. There is constant contrast, and the work of a true artist is seen in the brilliant triple climax, the audience seeing three great struggles—for life, for honour and for victory — practically simultaneously. The audience sees the signing of’the famous Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln, and later the assassination of the fine old Republican in a facsimile of Ford’s Theatre, in 1865. The terrible carnage at Gettysburg and the surrender of Lee at Appomattox are also shown. With L.ncoln’s death came a temporary cessation of the policy of clemency to the South. Political tools were made of the negroes, who assumed the ascendency and terrorised the whites, and

pillage, sabotage and orgies ruled. This, the plot of the story states, forced the formation of the Ku-Klux-Klan. The doings of this strangelygarbed society were responsible for many exciting and picturesque incidents that ended in over-awing the terrorists, and the final and complete “Birth of a Nation.” The acting, though of secondary interest, is particularly fine, the outstanding characters being Henry Walthall as Ben Cameron, Mai Marsh as his sister Flora, and George Seigman as Silas Lynch, the Mulatto governor. The accompanying music is very appropri-

ate, and the power of the pciures and the old-time me’odies move one to tears. Mr. W. Griffith is to be congratulated upon producing such an exceptionally fine picture. The New Zealand tour of “The Birth of a Nation” is under the management of J. C. Williamson, Limited.

Mr. George Stephenson, manager of the Auckland Opera Hcu-e, says Mr. Ben Fuller has arranged for Miss Wish Wynne to visit New Zealam 1 , playing a week :'n each centre.