War With Words For Deaf Viewers (From This Is Local London)

War With Words For Deaf Viewers

9:30am Tuesday 19th June 2001 in

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June 19, 2001 15:18: Cinematic blockbuster Pearl Harbor will be making a splash at Barnet Odeon on Sunday complete with subtitles for the deaf.

The cinema, in the Great North Way, is holding three screenings of the World War Two action movie aimed specifically at the hard of hearing.

Manager Ahmed Mackie explained: "This is the first time we have done it here so if it's a success we will look at doing this sort of thing more in future.

"We have already got induction loops for the hard of hearing but this is a new area the Odeon is looking in to. Everyone seems excited by it."

Barnet Odeon is one of the company's cinema's chosen for the pilot project. Pearl Harbor is probably the biggest film yet to have been given subtitles, said Claire Ainsley of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People.

"Only a handful of films have been subtitled before so this is a very positive step forward," she said.

"We're really encouraging people to support things like this to ensure they continue in future. There are nearly nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK so there is certainly an audience for it."

Pearl Harbor is being screened with subtitles at 12.05pm, 3.50pm and 7.35pm, tickets cost £4.90 adults, £3.60 children. Call the cinema on 020 8449 4147 for more details.

MATTHEW NIXSON