“Dawn” is Here

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 810, 2 November 1929, Page 27

“Dawn” is Here

' MUCH-DISCUSSED PICTURE | NOW BEING SCREENED i IN NEW ZEALAND ! 1 I

“Dawn”; the picture that has aroused more public controversy than any other production in the history of the screen —first banned and then licensed in nearly all English-speaking countries —is now being screened in New Zealand. It was scheduled to open in Wellington yesterday. The film portrays graphically the colourful and adventurous life of the war nurse, Edith Cavell, whose tragic death shocked the world. It is based on the story of her life by Captain Berkeley and made into photoplay by Herbert Wilcox, one of Europe’s most famous producers. The production was over two years in the making and each scene was reenacted in the exact spot in Belgium where the tragic events occurred. Mr. Wilcox received the whole-hearted support of the Belgian Government, and it is largely due to its aid that the finished production rings so true. Sybil Thorndyke, London’s most popular and famous emotional actress and a friend of Edith Cavell, portrays the nurse, and is supported by an excellent cast including Madame Bodart., who was Nurse Cavell’s assistant, Marie Ault, Mary Brough, Micky Brantford and many others. There are no war horrors in the production, and Sybil Thorndyke gives a performance of dignity and restraint.