Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-06-01
LACKETT ON THE SCREEN
Famous Players "Pris0ncr OF Zcnda'
Production Has High Merits.

Famous Players "Piisoncr OF Zcndan
Production Has High Merits.
dramatic Mirror, New York CITY
Feb, 2, 1879
All concerned with the Famous
Players Film Company's four-reel
! ,;oductlon Of THE Prisoner Of Zen
Ia" IN which James X. Eackett
A plays the dual role OF the King Of
Ruritania and Rudolf Rassendyll,
may take pride I'm the completed pro-
duct that was shown at the Lyceum
Theatre on the afternoon Of Feb. IS.
From a seat in the last row Of the
orchestra Mr.. llackett watched his
work on the screen, and scattered
through the large audience were
other members OF the company that
abandoned stage work long enough
10 act aut the picture version Of An
dlhony Hopes romance. Daniel Froh-
0nan, managing director OF the Fam
Gus Players, appeared before the cur
tain to introduce the picture ana give
n brief history OF the play BY
means of motion pictures hes aid, he
hoped TO see the art OF great actors
perpetuated and introduced 10 innum-
Aerable people In small towns who
would not have an opportunity TO see
the players In person,
Beyond the advantages that might
accrue from n closer view Of the ac-
= tors, points at which the picture
could be improved do not suggest
. themselves Edwin s. Porter, the
director, has presented the story IN a
clear, interesting fashion, making the
pictorial version adhere closely to
the narrative as found in the book.
The idea Of showing each of the prin-
rscipal characters on the screen prior
4 to the first reel, and giving a few
words Of explanation of the parts
these characters are to play in the
story, serves good purpose In maxi
ing identities clear. Even grantinr
that the spectator is being introduced
to "The Prisoner OF Zenda" for the
first time. the plot development is
easily followed. Studio settings, save
in rare instances, suggest reality, and
the outdoor scenes are pleasing.
aPrticular praise is merited by the
arrangement OF settings in the last
. reel where a drawbrldge Is lowered
from the castle, and 1t is at this point
that the picture eXcels in dramatic
quality by reason OF numerous rapid
ly changing scenes dovetailing into
euch other in a manner that eXcites
the interest of the spectator.
The idea Of the producers, and of
= Mr.. Hackett himself no doubt, was
to make his performance as nearly as
the requirements Of pictures permit
ted, duplicate Of his stage appear
ance. To see Mr.. Hackett in this film
Is to get considerable knowledge of
his original playing Of the role. The
manly bearing. the expressiveness Of
forceful gestures and the play of his
mobile features (when close enough
to be observed) lose nothing by be-
ing transferred 10 the screen. Beat
rice Beckley presents charming
figure as Princess Flavia, David Tor
renee makes a convincing "Black"
Michael, whereas Frazier Coulter c.
r. Randall Walter Hale and other
members of the cast are uniformly
capable. In the costuming and the
directing OF court scenes, in which
many characters appear, the care that
denotes finished production is ap-
parent.
This picture will be shown at the
10th, admission will be 10 and zoe.