Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Thursday 8 November 1928, page 18


'THE EXPLOITS OF THE EMDEN.'

HJ£AS. SYDNEY IN ACTION.

Tbe statement that the looker-on sees most of the game has not always been, proved in pictures with the world war as a background. 'The Exploits of the Emden.' which was screened at the York Theatre privately yesterday, is presented by the very people wno took part In the scenes depicted, and the result Is at times a painful realism. Some time ago 'The Exploits of the Emden' w«s screened In Sydney, end among those Invited to comment, nma It. «n-« ifr w

Perry, president of the ex-Naval Men's Association of South Australia. He and other naval experts who were present at the screening were t ranWy shocked at the obvlous German atmosphere of the picture. Tnls was not surprising, however, for it had been made In Germany, and HJU13. Sydney was obviously 'faked,' while the sailors who manned her would have answered to the nanif of Fritz or Hans muca quicker than BUI or Jim. Mr. Perry and tbe others present at the screening suggested that it was high time the Australian navy stepped In and prevented such a travesty betas put before the public. The producers of the film, when cabled to, announced their willingness to co-operate with the Australian Government In rn«irit^p the Sim. The result was that the Sydney was actually sent to sea again with as many of her original crew as could be mustered, and the battle at Cocas Island was waged aU over again. The result Is a particularly good picture of this phase of the Great War and irom a technical viewpoint It Is full of interest. Toe spectacular side has been stressed aUo. There ace plenty of instances or Australian humor, and the statement that the enterprising ship's money-lender

rctuiui; couectett hia debts under the Ore of the German guns Is vouched for as a fact. Whether the Incident of the money belt with 'twenty quid in It' that was usea ta clean a gun. and was then fired at the Emden is true or not. Is a moot point. Still, anything might have been true on that day The dovetailing of the stories of the German end Australian side of the battle has been particularly well done. The tale of the r*iiiw Emden Is also well presented, and Captain Von Muller got a round of applause from the ex-naval men present at the York Theatre yesterday. Captain C. T. Glossop, dapper and s little quizzical, represented the new tradition oT the Australian Navy as opposed to the bluff sea-dog, and Captain Von Muller was an. other dapper neure before the Australians came on the scene. The Germans nave presented their hero somewhat In the light of a Sir Galahad, who could not bear to be really rude to anyone, and there Is a high falutin romantic touch about most of their men. while the art of hiding their feelings Is evidently not practised. The Australians, on the contrary, look a healthy human lot, more likely to go to *n»ir A-qths with al cheerful grin on their lips than a touching in memorlam verse. After all. the whole picture leads up to tbe battle, and no civilian can find fault with that, seeing that the District Naval Officer, commander A. Loudon-Staand. lieutenant rr P jamit

and Messrs. W. Perry (president of the exNaval Hen's Annotation). T. McCarthy, J. R. Clifford, and J. E. Williams, who were members of the crew of the Sydney, ell declared that it was 'a wonderfully taUtoluI representation of the great sea stunt' Mr. Clifford was the wireless operator who picked up the message tnat the Emden was at Cocoa bland just before the German vessel 'lammed' all land messages. 'The Exploits of the Emden' win be shown at the York on Saturday, and everybody who takes a pride In the splendid baptism of the Australian Navy will want to see It.