SEIZURE OF AUSTRIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 November 1938, Page 2

SEIZURE OF AUSTRIA

PICTURES AT THE STATE THEATRE. Hitler in action, as a dictator pursuing a policy of aggression, is pictured effectively in one of the March of Time films included in the current programme at the State Theatre, to be screened tonight and on Monday and Tuesday. An introductory section gives glimpses of the latter days of the Hapsbwrg Empire, of pre-war Germany, when Kaiser Wilhelm was still the “All Highest,” of the infant Adolf Hitler and his parents and of the humble Corporal Hitler of the Great War period. This is followed up by impressive pictures of the funeral of Dollfuss and of events in Austria in her final days of independence, with Kurt von Schuschnigg as Chancellor. ■’Then comes the rush across the frontier of a powerful Geffnan mechanised army and the end for Austria of eight hundred years of independent existence. Hitler is shown driving in triumph into his conquered homeland, standing up in his car to receive the plaudits of a subservient multitude. There are several interesting close-ups of the Fuehrer, in one of which he is speaking at the microphone. The quality of his voice is so poor as to make any listener marvel at his established reputation as an orator. Passages from “Mein Kampf,” in which Hitler has openly and even blatantly proclaimed aims of ruthless aggression and conquest, add to the many-sided interest of the film. Another section of ttie current March of Time sequence deals elaborately and informatively with the subject of prison reform in the United States. Gaols and penitentiaries of the old type, and their inmates, make an impressive background for pictures of modern establishments in which humanitarian efforts are being made to restore to worthy citizenship a large proportion of those who have broken the law.*