This film charts the formation of the World War 1 concert party called splinters in 1915.It features 2 of the original performers,Sydney Howard and Nelson Keys.the first 20 minutes shows officers coming up with the idea then interviewing the potential organisers.next we see the auditions and then the concert party.It really is a mixed bag.There is a very attractive chorus line,who,at the end of their turn,take off their wigs which is extremely funny.There is a female impersonator who sings off key.There is a very nifty pair of tap artists.There are some attempts at comedy by Howard and Nelson,which now fall rather like lead balloons.Towards the end there is an enemy attack and everyone has to go to the front.So we see the rather incongruous sight of the chorus line putting on their battledress tunics over their dresses!In the battle scenes the lack of modulation of sound is quite apparent as dialogue cannot be heard above the gunfire.Audiences who saw it on its release will have enjoyed it bearing in mind that this film was made only 11 years after the end of the war.Today it is more of a historic record.
Review of Splinters
