The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-28

The remarkable development of the motion picture, from the first crude at tempts made only few years ago, to D. w, Griffith's celebra ted film drama, "The Birth of a Nation" illustrates in striking manner the possibilities of a comparatively new art. Last night at the Jefferson theatre this truly great picture was presented for the first time in Birmingham, opening an engagement of one week with daily matinees for the remainder of the week and a perform ance each night. To say that the large crowd which filled the Jefferson was deeply moved would but feebly express the power of this ma sterpiece of motion photoplay. The effect on all who saw it was tremendous. One who had seen a thousand moving pictures could not re- sist the thrilling realism of this drama The presentation lasted three hours, with only one short intermission yet every one present was held spellbound from be- ginning to end.
 Starting with the causes which led up to the Civil war and showing the south Tn antebellum times the drama swiftly touches upon the incident which set the smouldering fires ablaze and depicts with remarkable vividness and minutencss of detail some of the memorable events of the Civil war, in which familiar charac- ters of Thomas Dixons novels "The Clansman' and "The Leopard's Spots" play their respective roles. Then the agonizing days just after the war are portrayed. sweeping on to the organiza- uon of the Ku-Klux Klan and the re- dempt1on of the south from the rule of the carpetba ggers.
 The battle scenes are in themselves a remarkable achievement. In numbers of men and horses taking part in the stir ring panorama of war; with it's desperate Valof, its sharp hand to- hand fighting. swift charges, artillery duels and all the sFlin realism of actual conflict there is nothlng lacking, and this part of the plcture aroused the greatest enthusiasm. II IS hard to realize at times that it is merely acted before camera
 The assassination of Lincoln gives in vivid and historically accurate manner the, details of this deplorable tra gedv "iich proved so great a calamity to the south and led up to those chaotic condi tions which brought the Ku-Klux T<Ian into being. Great care was exercised to makes the historical personages as true 10 hte as possible and to make the scenes i'll Which they figure conform in every particular to the accounts of the hest authorities. It is said that the assassin- atioh or Lincoln was one of the most ulftlcult parts of The Birth of Ma loh to stage" but the soenes as photographed will be found as nearly in accord with the actual tragedy as if was possible to make them.
 fefhaps the latter part of the drama makes a more lasting impression. at ieast on the southern mind. Recon stfuctlon days in South Carolina which 'ypi1ied many other parts of the soutb at the same period, are portrayed in way that reveals as probably nothing
 se coulu the horrors of those times aiu Justilles the organization of the 'nnu-Nlux klan to right the wrongs en- dured by the south under negro doni-
 atloh. . Faillcularly thrilling are the scenes showing the inception of tbn ku-KluX Klan. the gathering nf tbe clans and their work of vengeance at tune when no other help was at hand
 Ihe family histories of the Stone mans and the Camerons are woven into the drama, alternating tender love scenes with some of the most appalling tragedies of the civil war and the oark days following Lees surrender wealth of dramatic material has been utilized with remarkable skill by MT Griffiths. the producer It is quite impossible to describe in limited space the scope of this unique and epoch marking motion picture.
 From local point of view addi tlonal interest is created by the fact mat the principal role in "The Birth or a Nation is acted by Henry Wal. thall, an Alabama man, who has sey- eral brothers in Birmingham, and in short while leaped into fame as one of the foremost motion picture actors