The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-02-18
THE CATTLE CRY OF PEACE"
GRIPPING WAR LESSON
(From the Chicago Daily News)

(From the Chicago Daily News)
Pacifists who shout against increas-
ing the army and navy for national
defense receive a body blow in "The
Battle Cry Of Peace" the film spec
tacle which opened at the Olympic
Theatre Sunday evening. In vivid
pictures and through sub-titles those
who decry war preparedness are
brought face to face with the disas-
ter that might ensue should a power
full foreign nation invade our shores
in u present military state.
No attempt has been made by J.
Stuart Blackton, author of the play,
to deal with his subject with kid
gloves. Blunt, unvarnished and grim
facts were set forth by Mr.. Blackton
and Capt. Jack Crawford, who spoke
from the stage during the intermis-
sion of the opening night, to sound q
warning to this country.
The author has deviated far from
the beaten path in picture drama
building. To drive home his message
he shows var in all its brutality and
gruesomeness, carrying his theme
into two peaceful homes which suf-
fer from the invasion of a foreign
army. An observer will not find the
happy ending prevalent in most pic
ture productions. If he seeks the
American soldiers to repel the invad-
ing forces at the end of the picture
he is doomed to disappointment. The
American soldier do have their in
ming with the enemy, but suffer a dis
astrous defeat and bow to the enemy,
accepting "peace at any price"
At the end of two and a half hours
of startling episodes picturing reali-
ties and fantasies by double photog-
raphy attended by an inspiring must
cal core and suitable "efects," spec
tators were heard to comment how
woefully weak America is. Statisti-
diagrams of population and wealth
compare this country with other ma
tons of Importance and show how
ridiculously small is the army and
navy Uncle Sam provides to safe
guard his property.
Every patriotic American will be
thrilled and inspired by this play,
which distinctly is an American pro-
duction for American people, adapt
ed by an American from Hudson
Maxim's book, "Defenseless Ameri-
ca" Hyphenated Americans will
find nothing offensive in the picture,
the enemy comes from a mythical
country. The spy in the play, a
distinguished looking foreigner who
m~asquerades as a peace propagan-
dist, is called Emanon, which read
backward stands for "no name"
To pound home it's warning, the
Vltagraph company constructed
buildings and destroyed them with
fire and shell; bought locomotives to
demolish them in a spectacular in
cident; engaged thousands Of men
and women to portray invading SOL
dlers and Americans fleeing before
the invaders. It took seem of New
York at its height of commercial
activity and when it was in the
throes of gayety. The seaside re-
sorts, with their gay picnickers max
ing merry, oblivious Of the threaten
clouds which ,ro ,Lo. ~
are pictured from life.
In the opening scenes Hudson
Maxim addresses a gathering on the
necessity of preparedness, pointing
out how we'll prepared the belligen-
ent nations in Europe were for the
present war and how poorly equipped
country is in every way. Sub
are shown in action and tor
pedoes are discharged at an imagi-
foe. The boom of the cannon
from the battleships and the disap-
pearing guns on land, accompanied
by appropriate sound from the
orchestra r absolutely thrilling.
After two reels of instructive and
inspiring film the helplessness of in
nocents is depicted.
The characters are skillfullv handl-
ed by Charles Richman, Norma Tai
madge, Louise Beaudet, L. Rogers
Lytton, James Morrison, Mary Maui
rice, Evart Overton, Lucille Hammill
and many others.
It some of the gruesome scenes
in the play appear a bit drawn out,
they firmly impress upon the obser-
yer the basic motive of the play.
The drama is well staged and deftly
acted.
Photographically "The Battle Cry
OF Peace" contains some SURPRISES.
Through trick camera work a strug-
Cling humanity is seen in the heart of
New York fleeing to escape the
bombs hurled from the shells of the
enemy's battleships.