The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-05-10
"THE BIRTH OF A NATION"
A Review subscriber has handed

A Review subscriber has handed II!
an article published in the Des Nome:
Capital, written by Des Moines man
depressing his opinion in regard Il
the feature film, THE Birth OF Ma
ton" requesting that the article be re
produced in this newspaper. The ar
lticle follows:
Although marvellous strides are be
ing made in the development of tho
molten picture, it is doubtful if Davi(
Grfiitls spectacular film production
The Birth of a Nation" will be
c1ualled or surpassed for many year!
to come.
The famous photoplay which has
aroused Il storm of protest from those
who would suppress and it has been
made the subject Of litigation in tho
Polk county district court. was given
its Des Moines premiere at the Der
chel Sunday. Despite driZzling rain
lheatcr patrons stormed the box al
flee in a frenzied rush for seats
Scores were turned away at both
matinee and night performances.
We had been informed that the
Birth of q Nation" was q menace TO
society; that it engendered race
haired, and tended to make the negro
a pariah and an Outcast. When we
entered the theater we We're prepared
TO be melted to riot. We expected
that our emotions would be played
upon to such an extent that after view
ing a few thousand feet Of film we
would be seized with an irresistible inn
pulse to sally forth and do manslaugh.
ter. arson or piAge.
We were doomed to disappointment.
At no time during the two and one
half hour. performance were we com.
PEELED to get u strangle-hold Oh the Or
chestra chair in an effort to remain
calm. We did not see red neither did
we work overtime to control our an.
cry passions. At the conclusion Of
the picture we were firmly convinced
that somebody lied"
When the immense crowd filed out
OF the theater all was calm and Sc
rene. There was no demonstration Of
any kind No spcllbinder mounted a
soap box and harangued the crowd to
put on a matinee lynching bee. There
were no shouts of Get rope and
the colored people of Des MOines did
not have to secrete themselves. No
one tried to shove negro from the
and all in all the film failed
to live up to the claims of the OppOsi
ton
1t is difficult to reconcile the photo
play with the reports as to its in.
sidiOuS and dangerous character. A
jury verdict of Not Guilty" or Much
Ado About Nothing" would seem &c
be meet and proper, after witness
ing it.
When the negroes were shown in
scenes and acts of violence and the
ku kluX Khan hosts came to the res
cue the audience applauded and
cllnered. At yesterdays performances
there were thunderOus demonstrations
whenever the negroes were frustrated
in their attacks upon the whites and
were subsequently punished.
That is but natural. The same would
obtain If a band of white outlaws were
attacking log cabin and Uncle Sans
brave boys in blue rode up just in
time and effected rescue amidst the
blaring of trumpets and the waving Of
Old Glory.
The theater patron hates the villain
he is black, white, red or
yellow. He is casting the ballot for
the hero first, last and always. On
The other hand. certain negroes in the
play are painted in more desirable
light than many of the whites.
Although THE Birth of a Nation" is
not historically authentic, the discrep'
ancies are forgotten in appreciation
Of the wonderful spectacle which is un-
folded.
At the conclusion comes an allie
ecrical dream which visions the re-
union of the divided sections and the
Welding of a spirit which has made
the nation one and indivisable.
The photo drama is wonderfully en-.
HANGED by reason of the operate
score which accompanies the nara.
tive There is an orchestra of TWEEN.
ty-iive pieces. PAUL BRUNER.
is THE LOGICAL MAN
Des Moines, Ia May 2-"We can