New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-21
Tough and Tumble School
of Play Respects
Nothing.
SENSE OF HUMOR
BALKS AT HANGING
Blanche Sweet Seen in
Well Devised Picture at
Broadway Beatre.
By HAYWOOD BROUN.

We object to most moving picture
comedies not because they are, rough.
tough and tumble. but because they
are not funny. A Keystone entertain
ment fills US with the thought that in
the midst OF life we are in death. Inc
tmid man is ceaselessly reminded that
stairs were made to fall down, that
bricks abound, and that wild autos
roam the streets seeking their prey
II the average audience in the United
States thinks that the prevailing slap
stick STYLE of film farce Is funny then
it is time for us all TO cease sneerlng
at the English sense of humor and look
to our own.
We don't think there is anything
funny in a hanging, nor can we per-
ceive the comic possibilities OF the
prisoners last minutes with his spirit
ual adviser. Still less are we wiling
TO admit that there is Fundamental
humor in the brawling of fat drunk
ard and his slstternly wife. Yet all
these appear in the L-Ko film at the
Broadway Theatre this week which is
designated as "komedy.'
During the progress OF the picture,
the eve is assailed with such captions
as Picked" and "Still Picked" while
one sidesplitter is "She Cut Him UT
and Burned Him."
The Rialto has humorous MIN from
the Keystone laboratories, entitled
"Pills of Peril" Not little OF the
dclectable humor of this entertainment
centres around n stomach pump. II
the general public does not care for
such pictures they will cease to BE-
produced, but if, on the contrary, they
have a continued popular appeal, 1t
might be well TO invite the Moros or
the Zulus or somebody to send us
missionaries.
The Broadway has as its feature
picture public Opinion" with Blanche
Sweet Margaret Turnbull has writteh
an interesting film play. The story
deals with the force which public opln-
ion exerts in a criminal trial. The de
velopment of the theme shows the ad-
vantage WHICH a movie author has over
a playwright in certain phases OF story
telling.
Il NAV be remembered that public
opinion was an important factor IN
the trial Of the young murderer in The
Witching Hour" The only way Mr..
Thomas could bring this fact before his
audience was 10 give John Mason
number of speeches in which he eX.
planned just how the mental activity OF
the public might have a bearing on the
verdict Margaret Turnbull can do i
much better. In the picture we have
series of incidents flashed upon the
screen. First ii is "A pair OF girls IN the
subway. They are reading news
paper. and one expresses her belief thPt
Hazel Gray is guilty. Next we have
two men in n barber shop. Just before
APPLYING the lather the barber says
that it is a fine day, and adds that in
his opinion Hazel Gray ought TO be
hung. And so on il runs through club
and tenement house and what not, until
the audience really gets the impression
that whole city is talking about the
case and judging the victim.
OF course, Hazel Gray is not guilty
of the mysterious murder, and she not
only is acquitted, but eventually clears
herself Of all suspicion. Then she IS
ready to marry the hero.
"The Thoroughbred, with Frank
Keenan,. is at the Rialto. This is an
entertaining picture along more con-
ventional lines. Frank Keenan, is the
old Major and plays the type well. de
no longer poses before the camera as
he did in his early picture days. The
Majors horse, Miss Minta, has a rich
stake at her mercy, bot the state Legis
ature passes a law against racing.
The young minister had hand in get
ting the reform measure through. His
activity costs him the love of the
Majors daughter and the friendship
of the Major Fortunately for the
peace of mind of all concerned, the
minister indirectly lends the Major
enough money to ship his horse to the