New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-19

appearing. This was done by short in
serts from some of the earlier reels.
Sixty Years a Queen" which begins an
indefinite showing at the New York Thea
tire to-day is in many ways as surprising
picture as We have seen. The surprise
lies in the really absorbing interest which
runs through the lengthy production.
When we went 10 the advance display "
sixty Years Queen we expected TO be
bored. What" thought we. "can there
be in the placid career OF Queen Victoria
which is sufficient TO hold the interest
through even small part Of eight
reels"
AS has happened before We discovered
that we were decidedly in error. The pro-
ducers of the work have followed his
torical details so carefully. arranged their
settings so effectively and introduced
special scenes with such discretion THAI
there Is not dull foot in the eight tho1-
sand.
The film commences with the announce
ment TO the youthful queen that the
throne is now hers. In order to cover the
long span OF Victora's reign three women
play her part The actresses who por-
tray her as a young woman and In her
last years are most excellent. The i'm
personation OF her middle age is not so
effective.
BY way of adding interest, a number
of scenes are shown in which the Queen
does not appear. but which were Of i'm
portance in her reign. one of these
which deserves special praise, is view
Of night attack on the trenches OF
Sci astopol during a snowstorm. TheTe
are other war pictures which are also
full OF realism.
Two scenes representing the greatest
events in Victora's life are shown with
an effect that is really thrilling. These
are her marriage and her coronation.
Much OF the charm OF the offering lies IN
the fact that many Of the intimate de-
tails of the Queens life are pictured with
as much care and fidelity 10 both fact
and detail as are used in the big scenes.
Sixty Years Queen" takes so high
p place among biographical subjects that
Il is far in advance Of many purely dra-
matte productions in point Of interest.
THE Battle OF the Sexes; or, The Sin
ole standard" the fve-part motion pct
ure now running at Weber's Theatre Is
production in which there is no beating
about the bush II is a straight from me
shoulder punch 10 the Jaw Of the unlalln-
ful husband, the shallow prater ABOUT
rr.,n's privileges. Perhaps II would be bet
ter to speak of it as a napier thrust De
cause ii is such a remarkable comolna-
ton Of force and fnesse.
It is far cry from a spectacle such as
judith Of Bethuia'' 70 The Single
Standard" but the genius Of D. w Crit
fifth is seen in both. The same Skill winch
planned the great scenes in judith IS
seen in the almost perfect structure Of
this new production. in which there Is
nothing Of a spectacular nature.
This is no discussion Of the case Tor OF
against the production Of this type OF
drama. whether on the stage or screen
hut rather a comment on this picture as
II is. Considered in this light the picture
&c ono TO be recommended, in that 1t rep
resents tie best Of its class. IT presents
great moral problem without offence and
by. its excellent dramatic structure makes
the lesson unusually effective
While the cast is capable one, there Is
2 wide variety in it. Fay Tincher, as the
siren Cleo. is without question the most
effective member. She acts her unpleas-
ant role with an air that gives it distlnc-
ton. Donald Crisp. as her victim, IS near
~ as good. Lillian Gish means well put
she is lacking in the dramatic aoihty
needed for such a part as she has.
THE Single Standard is in many re-
spects an unusual picture and us uhusudl
features are nearly all good ones.