The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-27
Dolly Sees Her Old-Time Favorite Mr.. E. H.
Sothern in His First Movie" and Declares
Him to Be Grand Master of the Screen
By DOLLY DALRYMPLn

n WISH I could have had STORY"
with Mr.. Sothern after the premiere
q of his first picture on the screen,
The Chattel."
I guess it would have been rather diff
ferent from the Shakesperian atmos-
phere which permeated the last one
had with him-sitting in his coy
apartments at the Hillman hotel with
the adorable Miss Julia Marlowe-look-
ing on.
Always Mr.. Sothern has done the big
tragedy roles and with the greatest
TART and finish; although he has the
rarest comedy spirit in the world, he
simply dotes on the grimmest and most
cypress wreathed tragedy; just as his
beautiful wife, Miss Marlowe. has al
ways given her public what it wants
and is as tragic and deep voiced as it
demands; which is greatly to the adj
vantage of the stage, for as as long
as there is a stage audiences will de-
mand at least one fine Shakespearian
figure in generation and a few grim
tragedians and tragediennes, and the
Sotherns in their day have furnished
the classic tragedies which have given
Historically inclined audiences the OPP
portunity to indulge in spasms of
lachrymal ecstacy and pillows of happy
miseryl
But to return to the fair Julia's hus-
band-Mr. Sothern.
On the screen, as the real stage, Mr..
Sothern adores doing art for arts
G. l<a nj
ties are the perversest bunch of Olym-
plans in the wide ceruIean heavens Mr..
Sothern has at last succumbed to the
movies for arts sake, although there
are those who would have sworn five
years ago even that this distinguished
star would never-no, never-have his
name flashed in front of a playhouse
where the "joy-box" was grinding out
knights of Gladness" and the pretty
blonde in the gilded cage was selling
tickets at 10 and 20 cents
But they all come to it sooner or
later; most of them sooner; witness the
classic Mr.. Mantell, who long ago de-
serted Shakespeare and the rest for the
most popular form of amusement in the
world today.
In The Chattel," Mr. Sothern main
tains the same exquisite artistry, the
same dignified bearing, the same SPLEEN
did facial expression that has made
MIN the peerless actor of the day.
Every movement is grace itself; his
grip" on his audience never loosens;
his magnetism and his charm never
weaken, and as the stern, hard hearted
domineering man of the world, he plays
the part with the same finesse and the
same inimitable grace that he played
Francis Wilton in IF 1 Were King"
or any of the other wonderful roles
that have been his.
AS everyone knows the Introduction
of a famous stage star through the
medium of the screen is an undertake
ing fraught with danger. His former
audiences are bound to be critical, and
liz in the slightest detail he does not
come up to expectations, many are the
reflections cast upon the star, the COM
pany and motion pictures in general.
The Vitagraph company has forestalled
all such criticism of Mr. Sothern's first
picture by surrounding him with an ex
lcellent cast, providing the most lavish
lof settings, and selecting a vehicle
which is eminently suited to the star.
1.-THE ChatteI is a psychological
drama of modern times, permitting of
much subtlty of character delineation,
and free from all artificial "staginess."
Mr.. Sothern plays the role of Blake
Waring, master financier, egotistical,
selfish and filled with a great pride for
his achievements and for everything
that belongs to him. His motto, flashed
upon the screen at the Introduction to
the film, is this: II must and will have
the best. For it I will pay any price and
count the cost fair. But once the thing
is mine, it is mine own, to do with as I
please, and none shall interfere"
Waring meets and woos with charac-
teristic force the woman whom he
wishes to become his wife. After the
marriage Leila finds that she is moth
ing but the fnancier's chattel and her
proud nature revolts. She buys her free
dom from Waring, and because not
legally free, hides from him at the
home Of friend. Waring for the first
time realizes how much his wife means
to him, and after wasting sickness,
sets out to find her. The last part of the
picture deals with the flnanciers second
wooing, and the story ends happily.
1.-THE Chattei' is unusually preten-
tious, and has been gorgeously staged
and photographed. In every detail it is
worthy of the prominence of the star,
who personally has scored triumph.
From Mr.. Sotherns screen presence one
would be led to believe that he had
been brought up in the atmosphere of
the technique of acting before the mo-
ton picture camera, and is entirely
successful in projecting telling per-
sonality upon the screen.