The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-04
PICTURE A WONDER
intolerance" 3 Hours Thrill
ing Film, Beautiful Music.
Special Orchestra Carried Out
Effects of PhOtOplay.

Intolerance" That is the single
word used by D. w. Griffith to en-
compass centuries of history con-
densed into three hours Of thrilling
film. beautiful instrumental music and
soothing vocal chords. 1t might not
have been so striking as Intolerance,
but IAN Indictment of the Intolerant
would have been just as fitting.
This colossal picture shown at the
Grand Thursday night and to be seen
there afternoon and night the rest OF
the week is David w. Griffith's first
picture since THE Birth of a Nation.
AS a spectacle perhaps it is not as
great a production as the latter. But
it goes deeper in depicting the pas
sions that have ruled the human race
since the beginning.
The story, if 1t can be called a story
is really four stories. Each covers
different period. The picture delve<
into modern. medieval and ancient
history. The golden thread binding
the four stories together j. a great
truth was the fairy girl with the sun,
lit hair. her hand on the cradle u
humanity. eternally rocking me
transition from period t period is
symbolically carried out by the rock
ing cradle and during the early part
of the picture it is somewhat contus-
ing.
intolerance is aimed at hypocrisy.
1t holds up the reformer the parasite
who attaches himself to a movement
to be benefited rather than to beneth
humanity to public gaze. With the
parallel stories it disseUts the better
than thou" attitude from the time OF
Belshazzar and his Priests OF BEL
down thru the Judean peril 1, thru the
reign of Charles TX of france 10 the
present day 1t deals with the high
and low with kings and [ air favor
ties and with factory hands and their
sweethearts.
One moment you throw your heart
h
who is struggling against odds under
modern industrial conditions and th3
Dear One who is waiting for MN
and struggling against social environ
men With Just glance at the rock
ing cradle of humanity, your eyes are
taken to the feast of BelshaZZar, a
hac-hanaiian orgy, then to the intrigue
Of the French court and on to vision
of the intolerance of the Pharlsees loI
the Christ.
Love and Romance.
Back again to an in dent in the
struggle of THE Boy and The Dear
One" depicting the Intolerance OF
wealth for them and their kind In
st1ntlv YOU perceive and understand
the intolerance of Catharine de Medicl
for the French Huguenots and that OF I
the priests of Bel for BelshazZar's /
worship of the god, Ishtar. You are
shown the evils of unsolicited inter |
ference the evils of meddling and the !
sham of much reform, in way that |
makes the blood boil with indigna- |
tion. The theme is the intolerance |
of man for his brothers opinions with /
its CHASTITY results, but there is love
and romance everywhere.
The specta cular portion of the drama /
is one of the most soul stirring scenes
ina ginable. 1t shows the advance of /
the great army of Cyrus upon the an |
cient city of Babylon and its betrayal /
into his hands by the Priests of Bel |
Thousands upon thousands of men and |
horses are engaged in attacking and !
defending the city. All the ancient /
machines of war are brought into pay. !
dozens of "close-ups" are shown of
valiant soldiers offering up their lives !
as sacrifices to the spirit of intoler- |
ance The siege of Babylon by the
hordes of Cyrus proba bly, exceeds, as |
a spectacle. anything heretofore pro-
Cuced.
While Topeka sat gripping the chair !
arms watching the screen the effect |
f every scene was heightened by APP !
Propriate music, vocal and instrument |
tai. But the audience got only the /
effect 1t is doubtful If airy individ- |
ual selection was noted. 1t was all a |
part of the thrilling drama. An or |
chestra Of IS pieces is carried with |
the film.
Viewed from any and every angle |
Intolerance" is a great picture, great
even as a companion to THE Birth of
a Nation" from the same hand.
VIII Open National Parks.