"THE BIRTH OF A NATION,'

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3155, 6 August 1917, Page 7

"THE BIRTH OF A NATION,'

A REMARKABLE PICTURE. Now that the United States has joined the Allies in tho greatest fight that has been waged for freedom in all history, there has naturally been aroused a more keen interest in the affairs of the Mother llepublio of the New ,World. And, prol> ably, that interest is not confined to events of the. moment; there exists, no doubt, just as lively a desire to know nioro of tho past history of our newest Ally. That she has made history is in-_ disputable, and no event in that history" since the War of Independence is so terrible, yet so sublime, as the Civil War which broke out in 1801. Terrible because father fought son with a fury and hatred seldom displayed in warfare between nations; sublime in its results, for "out of the mortal agony of four years of Civil War and eight years of more horrible Reconstruction a Nation was born." To this momentous period in tho history of the United States the master producer, D. W. Griffith, has turned for the theme for his picture epic "Tho Birth of a Nation"—a productiou. already conceded to be in every way worthy of the great event which it portrays. l

"Tho Birth of a Nation" commenced a second season in Wellington at tho "King's Theatre on Saturday, when at both screenings there were record attendances. The story is divided into two phases. The frrst depicts tho war itself, in which the fortunes of two familiesone of tho South and -the other of the North—are recounted. The terrors of wai—particularly of civil war—are illustrated with an artistry and realism thoroughly typical of Griffith. Mauy of the spectacles, both .panoramic and in detail, are more than wonderful. Noteworthy among these are a representation of a Southern attack on the enemy's trenches, whioh exhibits the most, realistic hrtud-to-hand lighting yet seen on the screen; and the spectacle of an army in retreat, laying waste a whole countryside, together with a flying and panicstricken populace, provides a scene that will not readily be forgotten. The second part of the story deals with the Reconstruction period, after the signing of peace. Unfortunately for the exhausted and impoverished nation, and in particular for the South, tho assassination of Lincoln deprived tho- country of the services of the one man who could have guided the destinies of the State with a firm, sure, yet benevolent hand. After the death of Lincoln, the South became a happy huntiug-grouud for an army of "cni pet-baggers" and "scalawags." fA. mistaken attitude towards the newlyfreed negro slaves led -to excesses and outrages on the part of the negro militia, and this in turn promoted the formation by the whites, tor their own protection, of such societies- as the "llluKlux KJan" and the "Knights of tho White Camellia." It is mainly with the activities of the "Klii-KlUs Klan" that the latter part of tho picture deals. And here, again, the. producer has achieved many wonderful scenes. The weirdlycostumed "night-riders" and the assembling- of'the "klans" provide some picturesque and moving episodes. Ono scene that- is particularly telling is a charge en masse by ajl the clansmen through a town held and defended by negroes. Neither labour nor expense was spared to achieve historical exactitude. As a'u illustration of this, tho producer, for the scene depicting the assassination of Lincoln, had built an exact replica of the interior.of Ford's Theatre, and in another scene (of the famous negro legislature of Georgia) ho reconstructed the chamber in its entirety. Two well-fold love romances run through the story, the principals belonging to familieti of both North and South.

It-was announced thai "The Birth of a Nation" would be screened to Hie accompaniment of similar musical effects as were provided at the Drury Lano screening in London. And -there is no question thai the work of a- large orchestra, under Mr. Wynne-Jones,' was not the least striking feature.of the performance. A quartet of voices sang a. series of plantation melodies, and there was in addition some appreciated solo work. The picture will be screened twice daily until further notice

This ovoning His Excellency the Gov-cinor-Gonoral and tho Countess of Liverpool and suite will bo present, also the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet. There will also be a representative gathering of tho educational authorities of Wellington.