EVERYBODY'S.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1916, Page 2

EVERYBODY'S.

"THE BATTIB OF THE SOMME." The film of "The Big Push." officially known as "The Battle, of the Sonnne,'' is the greatestsuccess in point of public iM'»pr«eiatidn that Ihe kinematograph has ever known (so says a writer in the London Weekly Despatch of August 27). At one theatre—the Scala—l sat near a young oflicer who saw.himself on the screen marching'to the attack. Here the m'litarv element, Anzac and British, was .'.(long, ami nave vent, to loud expressions of appreciation of the picture. The management were' impressed by the retsremt. 'silence with which the scene of the arrival of the wounded at the dress-ing-station was received. Several people were reduced to tears. ' I found a largo number of wounded soldiers present to see the film, at the Royalty Kinema in Richmond when I looked in last viek. Seated in front of me, with some of the nurses were two men who lived over again their adventures in Mametz. An old lady who sat near to one of these men had everything explained to her. '•'ls that, a dug,-out,'."' she inquired. "No, madam,'' he replied, "it is a. shell-hole. I. was dug out of one of those." "Not oolite so bad as Delville Wood was," said his neighbor as the picture of the blasted ruins of Mametw eiime before their vision. His companion did not agree. A great, holiday audience at Brighton, where the, Mayor attended the exhibition, was spellbound. The Mayor remarked that it was a time of gaiety, but here they had all been gripped by a tremendous drama which made them understand the war as they had never done before. There was a great sale here of our seats. New Zealand has received tlie "Big Push" pictures with the same enthusiasm as was. manifested in London and everywhere the film has been screened to record crowds, despite the fact that the admission prices have been doubled. It will be interesting news for the public that each night the film is screened the British Government receive a wm tax payment. "The Battle of the Somme'' will also be screened to-morrow and Friday and thcrp will be matinee perform"nee,s each day, when the admission pritjs will be (id and Is.