The Washington times., 1914-08-25
MOORE'S STRAND.

The peculiar state OF mind that
actuated the farmer who looked over q
giraffe carefully and then declared
there wasn't no such animal
a state of mind more or less prevalent
even in this day of wireless telegraph.
fast-moving automobiles. and a general
European war-has another test for its
strength aad general stick to-it-ive-
d. d'Annunzio's impressive photo-epic.
"Cabiria.'' at Moore's Strand Theater
this week. There are d number Of peo-
pie who honestly do not like such books
as "Ben-Hur." "Quo vadis." "Hypatfa," :"
ETC., but they do not proclaim their dis
like in public places because such 3
proclamation might give a wrong i'm
preston Of their mental qualifications.
The production Of few more spectacles
like "Cabiria" will put the large class
of people who habitually turn up their
noses at motion pictures. because they
are motion pictures. in the same general
category.
1t must be understood that Gabriel
d'Annunzio did not sit himself down to
write poem only when he prepared
"Cabiria." His ideas, his motives. and
his intentions were to prepare q play
for the camera that would surpass all
other plays Of the kind. There has
never has been anything like It be-
fore. The stupendous productions Of
Quo Vadis.'' THE Last Days Of Pom
peii. 'Ben-Hur." etc, were dramatiza-
tions Of books "Cab.ria" II q photo
drama This fact must not be lost
ton because q man Of the attachments
Of d'Annunzio does not waste his time
and talents on thing that can be con-
sidered second rate in any way. He
worked out the impressive story Of the
Carthagenian war for the moving pic
ture machine because he thought this
was the best possible medium for ex-
pressing the detail, the great shading
and Of securing the tremendous effects
that were necessary to put his poem
viyidly before the people.
In working out the theme Of the dan
nunzio scenario the ITALIA company has
seemed TO exhaust every resource Of
dramatic Interpretation. and to have
tested the almost limitless possibilities
of the photo-play. It would be useless
In fact the story is somewhat lost in
the awe that Is inspired by the manner
in which, it Is tcld. It is a story Of
heroics such as the minstrels Of q few
centuries ago were accustomed to sing.
A Roman centurion and giant Nubian
slave are the principal men in the
drama. while the honors for the women
are borne off by a distinguished ltal-
ian actress in the part of Queen So
phonisba- The giant Nubian is perhaps
the most conspicuous figure because Of
the feats Of actual strength he il re-
quired to do in the course Of the work.
ing out Of the story.
From the beginning Of the drama,
with an eruption Of Mt Etna and the
disappearance of the child Cabiria. to
the end the audience Is presented with
a series Of spectacles that are as un-
usual Us they are skillfully produced. In
the opening scene Mt. Etna is not only
shown in eruption. but roads choked
with fleeing people are seen along its
fire strewn sides. The exterior and in
terror views Of the Temple Of Moloch.
the storming of the walls of Cirta. the
crossing Of the Alps by Hannibars
army and the desert at night are pro-
duced in a way that is almost over
powering to persons accustomed to the
usual limitations of the drama
The Strand Theafer. spic and span In
now paint. was especially decorated with
oriental fittings for this production An
orchestra Of twenty pieces provides spe-
cial incidental music written by one
of the most noted of italian composers
especially for the production
GARDNER MACK