New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-03
Concerning the Relation
of Art TO the Toss
Of a Coin.
4 PLEASING PICTURE
AT KNICKERBOCKER
Little Meena'S Romance" Has
Entertaining Qualities-
Other Pictures.

The course OF true art runs smoothly
and easily in the Sims. Barriers that
would be difficult 20 surmount in the
engineering profession or the barber
business ave hurdied by the picture
folk with infinite ease. The case in
point is picture called "The Heart
Of Paula" which ia the weeks attrac-
ton at the Strand The history Of
The Heart Of Paula" is Illuminating,
although it may be unfair to hint that
it is typical Of the film industry.
As The Heart Of Paula" came from
the factory it was equipped with two
endings-a happy and a tragic. The
film and the double ending were shown
privately 10 reviewers in advance Of
the engagement at the Strand, with
the request that they decide by their
ballots which Of the endings should be
used As luck would have il, the bal
loting resulted in tie, and Lenore
Clr.ch. star Of the picture. was asked
TO decide which ending was the more
artistic by tossing a coin. The coin,
being bright. new and uptodate. fell
or the happy ending. Perhaps the
audiences VIII fall for IL al the Strand
this week, TOO.
Equipped with the tragic ending,
which is the natural, logical. inevita-
bile, consistent and only ending, The
Heart OF Paula is just an ordinary
moving picture. With the happy end
ing . is ridiculous. The tragic ending
tended 90 obscure some Of the picture's
more obvious flmisms; the happy end
ing emphas zCs them. But. as every one
knows. there is sadness enough IN real
lie look 40 the war. and everything.
People 90 % the theatre 20 be amused.
SOD .muse them. ANY one who is not
amused at the happy ending OF "The
Heart Of Paula" is indeed hardened.
The work Of the star, as maid Of
Spanish descent. is the bright spot OF
the finn. Miss Clrich demonstrates in
the part that her success In The
Heart OF Wetona' is far from an acct
dent.
Little Meenas Romance" at the
kn,ckeroocker. tells q simple story
simply. Barring pardonaDle coinci-
dence and q iicenseicss marriage, 10
places no dependence on the customary
screen mechanism. and is therefore
enjoyable and entertaining for every
foot Of it's length. And even the minor
roles are excelcntly acted.
Ia sense, the picture is the "Erst-
while Susan" OF The films. That is 20
rf. . q y g. nj a
Dutch. bur the only points of similarity
between the picture and the play are
the opposition Of the community 20 all
forms Of progress. and the sturdy male
Faith In the theory that woman's place
is the home.
Little Neena's Romance" IS doubly
Welcome. in that il skaters theatrl-
cal tradition, viz. the belief that any
man in this country who calls himself
count is q fortune hunter and viii
lain. The hero Of the picture is named
Count Won Ritz; he wears o mOnocle
in his left eve and a feather in his
derby-and still he IS hero. If sta
tIstics were obtainable II would prob
ably be found that most Of the world 3
real work has been done by men who
wore patent leather shoes and were
n0. above carrying handkerchiefs IN
lLtl. rltrH t1s N-l Llt 0+c-t A-' ttNf "a
learned the lesson.
owen Moore and Dorothy Gish do
good work in the leading roles, and
Margaret Marsh and Fred J. Butler are
entitled 20 mention.
"Thc Sewers" featuring Blanche
Sweet. which had ia first showing at
the Broadway Theatre yesterday. can
be neither praised nor condemned. L
is another Of the vast quantity OF pict-
urized novels which have been pro-
jected into the public eye by way OF
The acrecr. on the principle that be
cause novel is Interesting the aim
version viii be equally so.
"The Sewers was written By Henry
Seton Norman. and made into a
scenario by Marion Fairfax. II is a
story Of the battle for the political
freedom of Russia. For the most part
"The Sewers" is disappointing, for 70
lacks power and range. The mighty
drama OF q downtrodden people IS over.
looked for few petty incidents OF
court intrigue.
Theodore Roberts and Thomas Melg-
han do good work "a Russian noble
mon. but Miss Sweet was not up 20 her
standard.
"Blue Blood and Red featuring
Doris Pawn and George Walsh, was the
Offering 20 the Academy Of Music on
4.. N-,Hfr.-n Eov r.roora ~or1o Accord