New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-09
Success and Failure Con-
sidered in Their Rela-
ton to Reviewing.
MOVING PICTURES
IN THE MAKING
New Jersey Annexed to Spain to
Make a William Fox
Camera Film.
BY HAYWOOD BROUN.

"His opinion seems to have been that
Slick Tactics $50 TO SPEAK dldh
promise a vast success" says Samue'
HOPKINS Adams in discussing our re-
view of Town Topics
Haywood Broun not being by any
means certain that il was a success,
writes William Raymond Sill concern
ing the same controversy. And othe'
folk, as we'll. treat US Ike disappoint-
ed weather prophet on such numerous
occasions as plays we praise fail and
others which we condemn soar I,
boundless prosperity. As matter OF
fact. we do not think that 1t IL any
part of our job 80 predict success OF
failure for plays, and as matter o.
fact we don't.
For two reasons we refuse 20 assume
the prophets mantle. First OF all, We
would be wrong in more than hall oui
euesses, and, secondly, it seems to VI
that the financial success or failure
Of q play is not pertinent 70 criticism
In training and instincts We are repor'
torial, but just as long as we hold our
present job we are going TO put inc
reporters point Of view behind US "a
the utmost Of our ability and stick ID
the lenses Of the critic.
The reporter is chiefly concerned
with what other persons know and
think and feel, while the business OF
the critic is to tell wha. he thinks and
feels, and why. We have code OF be
lief as to what makes a good play
These beliefs are not dogmas, and WC
do not intend to cling 10 them II they
force us over considerable period 81
time into q minority of one; neither
will we change them because on somc
particular night an audience Is not
pleased with something which tickle'
US immensely.
There was play here some week
ago called Just Boys" which made
strong appeal TO US on account OF or
act which we thought was unusually
we'll played and written. Two days
after our favorable notice the play was
withdrawn, but we took no shame &c
ourselves. Common Clay" seemed &c
us an unsatisfactory drama on account
Of its arrant theatricalisn, and we sale
so. The fact that it now an assured
success gives Us not a qualm.
The opinion of the mass Of playgoer'
Is naturally worth more than ours, bu
It is only our own opinion which W.
can attempt to phrase adequately. "Ou!
Judgment, right or wrong" say we.
A moving picture play races across
screen, but it is deliberate In its incep
ton. The original production has nom
OF the pace which marks the finished
film. We had the opportunity the othe'
day Of watching the William Fox com
pany rear castles in Spain on top OF tn
Palisades.
Seville, N. j., Is an imposing littl'
village which lacks nothing but depth
1t is all front, which is the only sid
the camera cares about. The arrival o
Carmen had Seville, n. j., agog, an
five hundred or more peasants in tn
bright of their native lar
gathered to welcome the beauty.
An enthusiastic lot, these Spaniard
of New Jersey. They cheered just a
Justify the tenth time Carmen drove II
as the first. r. A. Walsh, the director
was the man who made it difficult FOL
Carmen to get any place in particular
Time after time the soldiers paradeC
down the street, only to be called bacl
again because the director detected
some small fault in tie grouping. Ye
when the picture gets to the screen W
believe il will reflect cheerfulness, fol
Walsh seems to be imbueh with endless
patience, and conducted all his negotia
tons with the extra people without re-
course to the language OF theology.
OF course, the scenes in which only
the principals appear were photo