Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-08
VAREGATED BILLS
AT MOVIE HOUSES
Lasky Picture at the Stanley.
Triangle at Arcadia--Chap-
lin in zone A. M"
Rr the photoplar Editor


Can YOU nut over the dream trick on
the screen? Can you tell a tragic story
and then get out of Il" by explaining that
one of the characters just thought Il all?
Yes, you can, II you know how Griffith
did IL in The Ayenging Conscience /; Raoul
walsh did Il in The Serpent" and George
Melford does It in The House Of the Golden
Shutters" which came to the Stanley yes
terday.
But II must be admitted that Mr.. Melford
doesn't do Il with quite the engrossing sue
cess of the other two efforts. At best II
is a difficult and thankless trick. II let's
the director indulge in a good deal of
tragedy without an unhappy ending But
as the audience isn't lin on the know" till
the finish, either the tragedy OF the dream
must be made strong and well-reasoned,
so as to be able to stand by itself, or else
the awakening must have some decidedly
novel element.
The new LaslSy-Paramount feature at the
Stanley fails insofar as Director Melford
presents a dream story with a sudden
spasm of vllainy on the part OF the heroes
Of the whole film which would have to be
explained and motivated all round the block
to keep the audience satisfied. Saying it's
a dream takes some of the curse off. but
not all.
The film is very well done Wallace Reid
and Cleo Ridgely do their familiar and skill
full teamwork, with good cast TO back
them. The settings are excellent. with the
exception OF some attempts to show painted
"eNteriors" through halfopen doors The
genuine exteriors have all sorts Of beauty
and vigor about them especially in the
sheep-herding scenes The story moves
with swiftness and precision.
The bill at the Stanley is completed with
two-reel Triangle comedy featuring De
Wolf Hopper. as well as the usual we'll
balanced news and educationals
The best stage setting yet used In any
photoplay theater OF the city now graces
the stage OF the Stanley. IT Is handsome.
we'll designed and cool and summery without
detracting from the light of the picture.
one OF the best Ince-Triangle films In
some weeks arrived at the Arcadia yester-
day Though it was curiously reminiscent
Of previous feature in which Frank kee-
nan and Charles Ray played southern father
and son, Honor Thy Name" :" has its own
story to tell and II tells 1t well. It Is the
narrative of a proud old planter who saves
the name of his family from besmrching
alliance with an adventures by driving
with the girl to death over cliff down
which his carriage plunges.
But IL Is not the story that counts. good
as II is Now even the natural and persuasive
acting OF the principal character. The direc-
tion Is the essence of the picture. II builds
the atmosphere swiftly and surely. II car
ries our interest into small bits Of eNpos,-
ton and reminiscence It gives even rather
Wrapping coincidence certain touch OF
inevitabillty Lighting, setting and detail
all help. The leaders are particularly effec-
tive and a new method of indicating wi
sions" Of the past is excellently used.
Chaplin is working hard He may not
do a quarter the footage that came from
him in the Keystone days but he is trying
to put variety into It. Under the Mutual
trademark he has given us the old Es-
senay stuff. the old Keystone stuff, the
sentimental stuff, and the Palace. Vic
toria. Iris, Alhambra, Locust and German
town show him in evening dress doing Wis
ual monolog without shred of plot called.
One A, NJ" He comes home at / in the
morning. pays off his taxi cabby and spends
a hilarious half hour trying 10 get into his
house and his bed 1t is the sublimaton
Of acrobatic comedy. Chaplin has never
worked harder.
In addition to Chaplin the Palace showed
yesterday Cleo Ridgely and Wallace Reid,
in "A Selfish Woman" a Lasky-P Paramount
Under Cover" with Hazel Dawn and owen
Moore. and Saturday Charles Chaplin. in
'one A. NJ" is added
The Victoria has a complicated week
ahead. Today II finishes up with Dorothy
Gish in THE Little School Maam," a Tri-
angle Aim, and gives us another day Of
Chaplin. on Wednesday and Thursday
come Bessie Love and De Wolf Hopper in
a Triangle feature, stranded" with Chap
lin continued Wednesday and Drew comedy
Thursday. Friday and Saturday The
Devil at His Elbow" with Dorothy Green
and Clifford Bruce. Popular Plays and
Players feature, will be seen. Chaplin re-
appears Saturday.