The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1917-03-01
SPECIAL TRIUMPH OF A NEW ART

David w. Griffith's most extraordi-
nary achievement with his new photo
spectacle 1.-THE Birth of Nation,"
coming to the Oakes opera house,
March 1912, is that of making history
live. He has touched the high peaks
of American history-the introduction
of slavery, the War of Secession, the
surrender at Appomattox, the death of
Lincoln, the miseries of Reconstrur-
tion and the restoration of the South
to its own. These things, it would have
seemed year ago, were beyond the
motion. picture camera. The master
producer had the faith of an enthusi-
asst. Within 10000 feet of cellulcjd
film he has successfully combined a
thrilling, plausible and dignified pre-
sentiment of national upgrowth with
real and human love story based on
Thomas Dixon's book romance, 1.-The
Clansman." AS it appears to the news
paper and magazine critics, Mr.. Grif-
fifth has not only surpassed the art of
the "indoor" theatre, but he has also
developed a new art form far super
ior to the old style history or histor-
ical novel. The best Characterization
of, it so far is that of very eminent
public man who has called it History
by lightning"
Mr.. Griffith employed $4,000 people
in taking these historical pictures. The
battle scenes were actual duplicates
of several of the Civil War conflicts,
and so were the facsimiles of import
ant events. We see Lincoln among
his councillors issuing the call for
volunteers, Grant and Lee shaking
hands at Appomattox, the shot that
John Wilkes Booth fired, the Freed
mans Bureau, the carpetbaggers' ex-
cesses, and the famous rides of the
Ku Klux. The realism is almost un-
canny. Often the old war shouts are
heard in the audience from the lips of
veterans who momentarily forgot that
it is only picture. 1t is hard to keep
ones feet from dancing to the we'll
beloved tunes of the martial music.
Scenes in the latter half of the pic
lures are so skilfully managed that
often the applause is practically con-
tinuous for half to three quarters Of
an hour.
"Cabria" and "Quo Vadis" marked
great steps forward in the screen
drama. 1.-THE Birth of Nation" points
a still more wonderful development,
the old dramatic form having been
thrown away and the epic or historical
form substituted. The old reproach
against the "ten cent movie" is for
ever removed.
1t is a curious sight now in New
York to see dozens of spectators ask
ing three or four dollars for seat for
moving pictures, whilst inside at the
box Office the public gladly pays the
regular scale of prices at fashion
able metropolitan theatre.
The labor involved in this newest
sort of picture making is enormous.
There are 5000 separate and individ-
ually posed scenes involving about
100000 interesting details. The musi-
cal score is as complex and elaborate
as that of any grand opera. Although
not word is spoken on the stage, the
musical and mechanical effects employ
a hundred flesh-and-blood helpers
nightly. In brief, the magnitude of
the stupendous film dwarfs the aver.
age stage play into insignificance.
Theatrical producers and observers
are wondering what will be the next
evolution of the art. Will the cinema
replace the text book in the public
schools? Will the Walter Scots and
the w. NJ Thackerays Of the future do