New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-23
THEDA BARA SEEN
ASJULET OF 1916
Bushman-Bayne Version
of Shakespeare Is Shown
at the Broadway

At the Academy OF Music this wees
Is a sophisticated and up-to-date Juliet
a Juliet with a sensuous mouth and
provocative arms, VINO leads her eye
lashe. and wears false hair. Her name
is Theaa Bara, and she is beautiful,
but, OH 40 knowing. When she de-
livers her lines. What man art thou,
that thr. besereened IN night so
stumbleth on my counsel" one fancies
she does II with a wink and an accen;
or the thou.
Her manner would indicate that the
young lady had been hoodwinking her
nurse and meeting strange men on her
balcony for a long time. In a word,
Juliet was simply Theds Bara. but
Theds Bara was not Juliet. Harry Hill
lard, as Romeo. also seemed unable 70
conceal his identity. He was merely
not so handsome a. usual, and some
how his neck trappings and the ar
rangement of his hair gave him a re-
msrkable resemblance 70 Lydia Pink
ham.
William Fox's version Of Romeo and
Juliet" was short. II was made into
just the conventional fve-reel picture,
which was shown in an hour, ana this
took the characters from one scene 10
another in quick jumps, which often
disturbed the sequence OF the story.
As picture il was interesting, and
would have furnished a splendid enter
tainment If one had never heard OF
Shakespeare. Perhaps the audience
never had read Romeo and Juliet" for
the expurgateG edition seemed 20 please
nightly and all Of Miss Bsra's scenes
were spplauded.
The original text was adhered 70
closely throughout the picture, and
only once did the producer take lib
critics with Shakespeare's tragedy. This
was in the scene in the tomb where
Juliet was carried wearing the SEM
blance OF death. Here Romeo follows
her TO seek death by her side, and after
he drinks the poison Mr.. Fox could not
resist a closeup of the lovers in each
others arms. Juliet awakes 20 learn
from Romeo's lips that he is dying.
She seizes his dagger and plunges il
into her own heart. This death scene
of Miss Bara's is performed with what
the small boy in the gallery calls pep"
She does not die gently and pleasantly,
but she emulates Svengali by falling
backward over Romeo's body and fac
ing the audience, with her head upside
down, a CHASTITY stare on her face. IL
was an effective bit of acting. but II
must have been extremely uncomfort-
able for Miss Bars before the director
called "Strike!"
Taken all in all, Romeo and Juliet
il an entertaining picture, well east
and magnifcently staged, but there IS
little in it reminiscent Of the Romeo
and Juliet of Sothern and Marlove.
Francis X. Bushman never has done
anything better than the Romeo he is
presenting at the Broadway Theatre,
with Beverly Bayne as Juliet.
Mr.. Bushman has all the idealiZed
beauty attributed 10 Shakespeare
martyred lover. and he seems right at
home in silk tights, velvet coats and
plumed hats. He is a delight to the
eye.
Miss Bayne, as Juliet. was decidedly
pleasing. She made her Juliet young
and innocent and sweet, Just as one
fancies Juliet was. One almost felt il
could have been borne with eGuanim-
ity had these two been acting in the
spoken instead Of the silent drama.
Surely q Romeo and Juliet who looked
as these two looked could have sounded
no Earring note.
The balcony scene was particularly
effective. and surely no fairer juliet
ever delivered the lines Romeo. where
for art thou" and no braver Romeo
even climbed the ivy 20 answer the
call. II was too bad those Capulets
and Montagues could not have settled
their differences without the street
brawls which had been forbidden by
the prince. ard one kept hoping right
I'D 20 the end that the producer would
take pity on the immortal lovers ana
let them live. 1t was not possible. how
ever so to diverge, and the lovers died
at the tomb Of Juliet just as they have
been diving for hundreds of years.
The supporting cast was excellent
Adella Barker, as the nurse; Fritz
7 cher. az Mercutio, and W. Lawson
Butt. a. Tybalt, we're particularly good.
The play is long. occupying the best
mart of the two hours. but the settings
are 20 magnificent and the scenes so
veil chosen that there is not dull mo-
m.nt in the entertainment
"Jim Grimsby's Boy" shown az the
RiaIto this week. lacks incident There
Is enough plot there 20 make two
, eel nicture. but not one Of five reels.
linn goes TO sleep for fifteen minutes
during the so-called action OF the play;
"a the audience could have followed
~. example without losing the thread
Frank keenan, and Enid Marley are
....eiIent in their parts, but the char
.n4a-s arc not pleasant. There are