THE EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1916, Page 6

THE EMPIRE.

THE PICTURE THAT STIRRED A KATION. "THE BATTLE CRY OF PEACE." "To show the folly of peace babbling while a powerful nation exists possessed of blood lust and a desire for world domination."—This is the object of the remarkable picture .0 be shown it the Empire tin's evening for the first lime. As a story, as a spectacle, and most of all as the first motion picture to be used for the exploitation of a nitional propaganda of supreme importance, it constitutes a class by itself. Judging from the enthusiasm with which the film has been received in England and Australia and more lately in Auckland, it bids fair to be the sensation of the year, just as "Quo Vadis?" "Cabiria" and "The Birth of a Nation" in turn were sensations. But it must strike deeper than any one of these because it is more significant than an artistic masterpiece, more vital than a gigantic spectacle, more a thing of the moment than a skilled revival of a dead issue "Tlw Battle Cry of Peace" shows with unmistakable clearness just what might have occurred here on the outbreak of war had it not been for the British Navy. Notable among those whose influence made this production possible are many of the foremost names in current American history. Mr. Roosevelt, Hiram Maxim, the international authority on arms and ammunition and the author of "Defenceless America," Commodore Biackton, of the U.S. Navy, and otlurs whose names are unfamiliar here. The picture was one of the few ever shown at White House, and I'revdcnt Wilson expressed himself as being greatly interested in its effect on the Amcrican public. It is chimed that the so coning of this film in every city of the United States at the time of the exchange of Notes between America and Germany did much towards influencing the recent big naval appropriation. Tin. leading dramatic roles are taken b, v > Norma Talmadge and Charles Rahman, am! portion of the Atlantic fleet as well ■ - -'.yiOO military took part in the big iacle.