New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-20
New Film at the Strand
Never Rises Above
the Obvious.
A WESTERN TERROR
AT KNICKERBOCXER
Tine Aryan' Resembles "Hell'S
iinges"-Bills at Other
Film Theatres.

John Barrymore is good actor lie
is, perhaps. inclined 20 substitute facial
distortion for facial expression. and
his eyebrows frequently lose their ef-
fcctiveness before the end Of FIVE
part film. Dut he plays with a fine
sincerity. whether on sage or screen.
and no picture I'm which he appears
can be entirely without interest. The
Lost Bridegroom" shown yesterday A.
the Strand, is nothing but obvious
twaddle from beginning 20 end. Par
rymore, however, contrives not only TO
make it interesting, but occasionally
subtle
Tho programme successfully con
coaled the fac, that the author Of The
Lost Bridegroom" was Willard Mack.
but the screen treated Mr. Mack with
less consideration. It brazenly gave
the secret away The audience. how
ever. never needed the author once the
story had got under way. From then
on the onlookers were always ten or
fifteen minutes ahead Of the story, Da-
tiently waiting for it 70 catch up.
When he bridegroom. for example.
was struck over the head on the eve
Of his wedding, no one needed 70 be
told that he was about to forget his
identity and his wedding day Falling
in with a group Of underworld citizens.
his slender fingers so attracted the
leader Of the gang that it was resolved
20 make Of him iirst class safe open
er. So far as one could gather from
the film, Mr.. Barrymore, even with
his mind gone, learned the saie-open-
ing trade In two lessons. Possessed
Of his full mental faculties, he prob
ably would not have been so backward.
it was expected. of course, that Mr..
Barrymore would be taken by the gang
70 open the safe in the home Of his
fiancee and there were no disappoint-
ments. Perhaps the picture was taken
in "a small town. however where there
were not many houses 10 choose from.
The absence Of newspapers, in fact, in
Although nersOn Of great social
prominence. ir. Barrymore Glsap-
rearance never was reported in the
press. The story. 10 seemed, was sup
pressed In the interests of the photo
play, for Mr.. Mack's plot would have
been taken away from him If the re
Dorters had been on the Job.
The film. i'm fact, is dotted with in
consistencies. .mpossibilItles and alb
surdities. But John Barrymore is
good actor
Apparently the powers behind the
Triangle comp.1" liked "Heli5 Hinges
so well that they decided TO duplicate
g.. The result is The Aryan,' 1t the
Kn.ckerbocker this week. Again we
have the bad man who controls til
dest.nies Of an iuiquitous Western set
clement, and again william 5. Hart
plays the part. Again, TOO. he Is
brought 10 himself By that sounI
dramatic influence known as the love OF
q good woman.
In "The Aryan." however. Hart sinks
90 depths Of depravity undreamed OF IN
his previous plays. The screen de
ecrfscs him as "a man whose soul has
sbr.vellcd 20 uothingness IN the are OF
an urquenchable mallgnancy.. Not
even the satrical screen leaders IN
Pay Day can tie this line from I"
mucilagiuous standpoint.
Il cannot be said that Hart slcceed5
in suggesting a man with shrlNeheu
soul. but % d majority o. the scenes re
is quite satisfactory.
Afacistc. who created considerable in
tcrcst as the "CaDuIa' giant returned
10 the screen az the Park Theatre yes
terdav iu q film cleyerly designed 20
cXp.oit his talents and proportions.
D'Annunzio is credited with discovering
Maciste, who appears 20 be vaIuaO'e,,
film property. "Marvellous MacIs'e,
the new film, reveals MIN as pleasant
faced. Hkeable chap anything but an
ogre The picture IS an eNcluhg iheio
drama in six reels.
A picturization OF Elinor Gyms novel
zone Dav." O. harmless story, with n
salacious reputation, is featured at the
broadway Theatre this week. IL IS
film version Of the average musical
comedy plot. without, uni ortunatc!y,
either an orchestra or q comely chorus
20 pull IL through.
4 Paramount release showing Con
stance Collier m "The Code OF Marcia
Gray IS az QQQcd SldItlI, Mss W.
lier's tyne Of beauty and her type OF
acting are both unsuited 20 the screen,
and She a further handicapped by the
story. which concerns frenzied finance.
II lacks novelty, and is frequently
devoid Of any sort Of interest. two
reel comedy Sears and Stripes For
ever" was the best number on the
programme.
William Farnum opened IN a William
Fox photoplay Of one thousand scenes
at the Academy of Music yesterday for
a yum Of four days. The story, me
Bordmau.' is based on Hall Gaines
novel Of that name. Farnum was sup
ported by cast including Dorothy
bernard. Carey Lee, julia llawley'
Doris Woodbridge. Harry Spiug.er,
Charles Brooke. Charles Graham and
L. o. Hart.
ENGAGEMENTS.
N1rtclair. y. j. March l9.-Mrs r..
X. Grcenough. Of $40 Highland Avenue
has announced the engagement OF her
daurhtcr. Miss Margaret Grcenough, -
Talmadgc King. OF Tennessee. Nj.
King. who has charge Of q church IN
Massachusetts. will be ordained 20 the
ministry in few months. Miss
GrocnotIgb is studying az the COrscrvH-