The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-03-18

, night with daily matinees thereafter
 Not even Nero, with his prodigal spend ing ever staged such splendors.
 That Griffith could follow his own, The Birth of a Nation" with film masterpiece worthy to succeed it was deemed most improbable. but that he could exceed his own achievement and present to the world something fourfold greater in magnitude of production. null ttude of performers and mighter in the sweep of imaginative vision-that was deemed impossible. But the miracle has happened.
 In the free acknowledge cement of all film
 pr oducers D. W. Griffith has no rival The appeal of 'sIntolerance'' is so broad and varied that it pleases all. Like every masterpiece in every art it is approach able in many moods and 1t may be seen for many diverse effects. The movie fan who asks merely for thrilling story; the historian seeking light on the manners and customs of ancient times; the artist searching for new forms of beauty; the sensationalist who yearns for excitement; the sociologist looking for the solution of human. problems and the rcrlantically inclined who delight in love s struggle throughout the ages, all find in Intolerance" that which they desire
 MAGNIFICENT PAGEANTRY
 'Iltclerance" is a fourply story through which the pageantry of history magnifi- gently marches. Across the lifelike screen the worlds most momentous events pass
 in mighty review. From the crumbing of Babylon's walls to the worlds su- premest tragedy enacted in ,Judea are brought the evidences by which, Griffith proves the fearful truth that man has hated that which he did not understand and has burned or crucified or maimed those who did not agree with him.
 Griffith is the Beethoven of the motion picture because he has created new art form. He has abandoned the old, stiff, stereotyped methods of dramatic express sion, familiar on. the stage from Shake speare to Ibsen. Griffith has pointed out the way for the emancipation of the mo- ton picture. although no one as yet has had the courage to follow him. Like Richard Wagner he has prepared the foundation for school but there has been none with genius to tread in his foot steps
 The beholder of this spectacle is taken on an imaginative Sor soul journey. For him neither the limitations of time or place exist. He sees the unfolding of four distinct stories, each complete in it. self. There is sense of unity because easy story bears the same message and the same plea for tolerance. Each tale is protest against mans inhumanity to
 man and history is called upon to testify tu the horrors that have befallen man. kind when fanaticism has stalked through
 the land; when Babylon fell through the
 scorchng hatred of the rival priests of
 Bel and 1shtar; when Paris ran red with
 blood because of the intolerance of Cath erne de Medici; when the Nazarene trod
 the sorrowful way to Calvary, and when intolerant reformers try to take the joy
 out of life and bind personal liberty with selfish bonds.
 Scene follows scene in breathess haste. A mountain girl. riding to the tents of Cyrus to spy upon the plotting priests or Bel. is seen madly driving her chariot ahead of the swift moving hordes of the Persians in a vain attempt to save her