"The First World War."

Review.

This remarkably comprehensive picture shows how the world prepared for its last war, shows how it fought that war on land and sea and in the air, and gives glimpses of how the same world is preparing to-day for another war. The photography, of course, would seem crude to a sophisticated fan, and the sound consists only of alternate running comment and "appropriate" music.

The picture is marred by two defects. Although it shows much of the wastage of life, it pays no heed to the blighting and twisting of life. If this is war—if war means happy life and perhaps sudden heroic death—"now more than ever seems it sweet to die," especially to the stirring martial music. And yet one hears the film referred to as anti-war propaganda.

The other defect is not so important. Obviously, a picture of this nature cannot reveal that the war was really a crisis in the economic conflict between rival systems of imperialism, but surely it isn't necessary to suggest quite so strongly that the poor Kaiser was responsible.

Nevertheless the film is an immensely interesting historical document which nobody should miss seeing. "Smad" hears that the Anti-War Movement is having a shilling party in the best seats on Thursday (the 11th).

Prof. Murphy Tells a True Story—"The Prodigal Son."

In 1913, a wealthy gentleman in Vienna departed this life and left each of his sons a million pounds. One was a good young man and the other was bad. The good young man invested in Austrian Government stock, while the other bad young man invested his million in wine and song at all events. At the end of a short time all the bad young man had was a cellar full of bottles and corks. Then came he war and the Austrian currency went very flat so that the good young man was worth 2[unclear: 2/3]d. On the other hand, bottles and corks had shot up in value and the bad young man was worth about £30,000