Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-07-12
Worlds Greatest Film Spectacle Conn
ing to the Star Next Week,
Monday July 1.-1S-f9.
PRODUCTION COST $5OO,OOO
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF %
Said to be the Greatest Dramatic
Narrative Ever Unfolded on
the Stage i'm This Country.

We take the following from the
Muscatine News-Tribune, where"The
Birth of Nation was recently
shown:
Held under the spell of the most
remarkable film portrayal ever seen
in Muscatine, comparatively large
audience was enthralled by the first
performance Of weeks engagement
of "The Birth Of Nation at the
Grand theatre last evening. Despite
the excessive warmth of the evening
Imany took advantage of the initial
opportunity of witnessing 1le Won
derful film
All indications point to record
throngs viewing the great production
at the Grand this week.
That THE Birth of Nation" is
1.-THE greatest and most stupendous
production ever filmed is the firm
conviction of those who comprised
last evenings audience at the Grand.
large orchestra, supplemented by
a crew of effects-w orkers, added to
the beauty and grandeur of the pic
ture. The big orchestra played
throughout the entire performance,
Idinning the horrible sounds of death
conflict into the ears of the audience
in ver-to-be-forgotten clamor.
Spectacle is Gigantic.
The story is based on THE Clans
imam" and is gigantic spectacle in
I IL parts. During It's portrayal scenes
of war in all it's horror are showa
with wizardry that is positively un-
the audience like blow. The bru-
tality, the scenic effects and the in
tense realism Of the acting of the in
dividual character cause an interest
that makes It hard to realize that one
is not actually looking at real war
fare.
$4,000 People i'm Battle Scene.
In the biggest battle scene over 49,
600 participate and the effect of the
portrayal Of the artillery duels is to
stamp on the mind the awfulness OF
the slaughter, which is soothed by
the thrill of patriotism when the ma
tional anthem is played by the big or
chestra. The fearful desolation
caused by the guerilla raids, the COM
plete reversal of position of the whites
faithfully shown.
Climax Smashing One.
The battle scenes gradually end
with smashing climax, the victory
of the north and as out of the medley
Of ''Dixey" and Yankee Doodle"
there emerges great triumphant
Star Spangled Banner" the audi:
ence responds in a thunder of ap-
Iplause.
Then comes the shooting of Lin
coin which IS shown in very realistic
manner, and the period of recon-
Istruction. AS the story of the play
Isathers force the applause in the
theatre at times is ear-splitting. III
the final scenes, wherein the Ku Klux
Klan ride triumphant into Piedmont
under negro rule, the applause is
IGeafening, and at times the audience
is carried on wave of enthusiasm,
Isuch as was never before equalled in
the local play house.
Biggest Thing in Pictures.
There are scenes in which it would
seem that hundreds would be killed,
the rescue in the last part being no
tably risky. The Klan, riding like
mad charges through street chokei
with negro celebrators. Some riders
are shot from their horses and fal,
Trolling across the street. Other riders
press forward, the horses leap over
them and the battle with the blacks
RACES on. At last the negroes give
way and the power OF the carpetbag-
gers is broken forever in the south,
there is wild, triumphant burst OF
Dixie from the orchestra and the
audience goes wild for the moment
"The Birth OF Nation" is too bic
and two important to ATTEMPT to re
view in small space. 1t is the big
gest thing ever offered in pictures.
Love Plays Part.
Not only in the big scenes does Mr..
IGriffiths play grip the specta+ors.
There are little love scenes between
fCOntinuad ON 1a0r 0ar