Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-04-11
GREAT HISTORIC
MOTION PICTURE
SHOWN IN B0|2E
Audiences Aroused to High
Pitch of Enthusiasm by
"The Birth of a Nation"
at Pinney.


word in moving pictures and it's in
PRODUCTION in Boise yesterday demon
strated beyond any question of doubt
that all that has been said of it as a
masterpiece in the movies is true.
True to the history of those stirring
days just prior to, at the time of and
following the civil war, this great film,
produced under the guiding hand of ID.
w. Griffith, is so strikingly realistic
that the audience is completely swept
away with enthusiasm. The play has
fittngly been named THE Birth of
Nation" and is vivid in its portrayal of
a thrilling chapter of American history.
The 25-piece orchestra under the 'df-
rection of George Koehler, strengthens
the production as nothing else could.
1t is n finished musical organization,
capable Of producing music at times
enchanting and then swelling into the
clash of bursting shell and shrieking
bullets.
Cast Is Strong One.
The Pinney tneater was packed to
the doors yesterday afternoon and
was cast for the first times on a screen
III lllIS CITY. llt plltulS 10 hhioWi
back on the stage permitting those oc-
cupying front seats to look at 1t with
out strain to the eye. The cast of
players was carefully selected as the
film shows during the development of
the scenario. Henry Walthall, well
known film star, is better in The
Birth of a Nation" than any play he
has appeared in. Miriam Cooper, Mae
Marsh, Josephine Crowell, Spottiswood
Aitken, J. A. Beringer Maxfield Stan
| ley, Jennie Lee, Ralph Lewis, Lillian
Gish, Elmer Clifton, Robert Harron,
| Walter Reed Mary Alden, George Seig-
mann, Walter Long, Joseph Henabery
/ Raoul Walsh, Donald Grip, Howard
Gage and William DeNaull offer strong
support.
| AS Abraham Lincoln, Joseph Hena-
/ berry impersonates one Of the most
noble characters in the history of the
United States, and carries off the part
with credit to himself and the film.
Lillian Gish as Elsie" the daughter of
| Austin Stoneman, leader in congress.
a part taken by Ralph Lewis, plays "a
E! part calling for the most trying kind of
acting Mae Marsh. who impersonates
/ Flora" the pet sister of Colonel Ben
/ Cameron, also cleVerly handles a diff
cult part. Tie entire cast is strong.
Opens in Peace; Ends in War.
1t took eight months to take the pic
tnre and during that time Mr.. Griffith
employed n small army of men and
women to get the desired results. Over
Is authorities were consulted to gel
the desired atmosphere for the play
THE assassination of Abraham Lincoln
the martyred president was slain by
John Wilkes Booth. II was while this
part of the film was being reproduced
that the only accident of the entire
play took place. Raoul Walsh, whe
,impersonates Booth, sprained his ankle
when he struck the stage floor aftel
making the 12-foot leap from the DO,
of President Lincoln following the as.
sassination.
The play opens with peaceful home
scenes in the north and south prior t
the outbreak of the civil war. 1t rap
idly developed 10 that stage where vol
! unteers are called for and works int
, final climax Of the war. showing Wv
idly the terrible scenes of that con
flict when brother Was pitted agains
, brother. These scenes are mos
, graphic. Some of them show battle
field with three or four miles o
. trenches, with bursting shells and tn
! rattle of musketry. the charges of TIL
= armies of the north and the south, an