“INTOLERANCE.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1413, 24 May 1917, Page 33

“INTOLERANCE.”

D. W. Griffith’s latest masterpiece, “Intolerance,” now at the height of its popularity in America, will open at His Majesty’s Theatre early next month, under the management of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. To say that “Intolerance” far surpasses Mr. Griffith’s former spectacle, “The Birth of a Nation,” is but to repeat the unanimous opinion of the press wherever it has been presented. It is without exception the most marvellous production ever fi'ashed on the screen. In it Mr. Griffith has traced a universal theme through four periods of the world’s history, ancient, sacred, medieval and modern times being utilised. The scenes of the four distinct stories follow one another in rapid succession. There is no attempt at historical sequence, but the events are shown as they m’glit flash across the mind in an effort to parallel the life of the different ages. “Intolerance” shows that, through all the ages, the same passions, the same joys, and the same sorrows have obtained, and Mr. Griffith symbolises them by the cradle, endlessly rocking. Through it all, the events shown are caused by the intolerance of man. The scene of the modern story is laid in an American city, and shows the effects of so-called reformers to stifle personal liberty; . The story of the sacred time is laid in Judea, showing episodes from the life of Christ, ending with the crucifixion. In the medieval story is shown the massacre of the Huguenots. The ancient time is in the heyday of Babylon and its destruction by Cyrus and the Persians.