The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-08
Delicate Comedy Has
An Appeal For
All of the
Public.

The American comedy which has
had more trials and fluctuations than
any other form of the screen play. is
coming into its own. Several refer
ences have been made from time to
time of newer and better comedy
productions by important film COM
panies. But the best evidence We
know of the Improvement that is
possible still as well as that which
has been made comes from Europe
where the screen comedy has been Of
the best type for some years past.
The correspondent of the Photoplay
Author in Europe makes some inter-
esting comments along this line, and
at the same time pays a very pretty
Tribute to Marc MacDermott,- of The
Edison Company.
Comedy is one line in which the
American companies are cXcellins
even the French" he states. who
first brought the ludicrous to perfec-
ton of presentation. But their fun
has been so long belabored out OF
authors brains by the slapstick
that We have come to aSsoclte the
with rip-roaring farce. speaking
quite as an observing outsider-and
doubtless l shall be scorned as SUCH
i wonder that we do not have more
pure comedy of the delicate sort, FOR
II IS mistake to think that audi
ences cannot appreciate the subtle.
4 case in point was related 10 me
last winter by Marc MacDermott. the
really distinguished and personally
altogether charming leading man OF
the Edison company. We were TEL
IoW-passengers on the Carpathia, out
OF Naples, and | enjoyed many chats
with him anent his interesting eX-
periences while doing The Necklace
of Rameses'- and other photopiays,
on European ground, as well as on
the Carpathia, homeward bound. II
was as leading man of the European
Edison Company that Mr.. MacDer-
mott was working abroad. All this
by way of rather extended preface to
what he told me-
lin dramatic and feeling terms
he descr bed a Pathe production
called, ] think, Impressions. There
were a number OF marvellous
w beautiful series. each illustrating
in an categorical way some single
impression. War, oddly enough, was
one of them. Each successive scene
that typified war was presented, not
as a drama, but rs an impressions
tic sketch, depicting the tone and
temper of that phase. Swiftly the
whole gamut was run, from the
announcement of war in the public
place. the excitement OF the popu-
lace. the farewell departure. the re-
turn. at length, in an exquisite Yet
POIGNANT scene. to the widowed
matron ascending the marble steps
OF a great temple and offering the
laurel wreath in memory of the slain
hero-the whole thing a wonderful
prophecy OF the bitterness of Europe
today. not melodramatic even in
suggestion. but subtle, restrained,
refined.
Now. 1t matters not at all that
] may have forgotten one-half the
details of this picture and distorted
the other half-the vital point is
that, as Mr.. MacDermott said. there
was death-like silence throughout
the vast theater during the whole
presentment, and an intense, ex-
pressive sigh arose from the people
when the scenes were over. Peas
ants. small tradesmen, nurse girls.
all types of the middle-claSs were
there, and all were rapt by beauty
and impressionistic symbolism.
Il do not believe for a moment
that American audiences are either
unable or unwilling TO appssciate
such artistic work. Our audiences