Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-06
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
! GOOD MOVIE SUBJECT
Stanley to Display Lasl1y Yer
sion Prohibition" at the
Chestnut
BY the Photoplay Editor


Romantic novels have very satis-
factory way OF turning into good photo
plays. There is always enough action to
make five reels--whch can't be said Of
svery stage-story-and the plot gets
started early and keeps going. It doesn't
always mount as high in interest as when
the scenario 10 an original work designed
with screen in mind but II seldom beats
about the bush for three reels waiting
for the punch"
Thus 'gro Have and to Hold" which
comes to the Stanley today to stay the
whole week, hasn't any scene in 1t half
30 strong as the branding or the trial
IN '"rhe Cheat" But, on the other
hand. It's early reels are not full of that
long-winded sparring which passed for
preparation in that other Lassy feature.
The screen version follows the story
closely. In Introduces the heroine at the
FIRST flicker, shows her pursuit by that
ralSish nobleman so well named Lord
Carnai. her flight to Virginia ono Of
Sir Idwin's Doves" her marriage with
Percy. and his defense of her when Lord
Carnal comes to drag her back to England.
There are stockyards and church warden
pipes, Indians, cavaliers and pirates and
lots OF duels.
Wallace Reid, as Percy runs away with
the stellar honors. Mae Murray, who has
stands about waiting for various amorous
men to carry her of. That's all the plot
calls for 1t gives her a chance for only
q fearful pout, and she does 1t so well
as to raise the suspicion that her field
is limited to this sort of emotion
Like all LaslSy productions. the detail !
is excellent. For a single example, the |
wharves of jamestown are pinned to- |
gether with pegs instead of the nails Of |
civilization. The Lasty people are de- |
veloplng a two-toned light for interiors |
lit by both candle and wood fires that is |
much superior to the current baths of |
crimson which movie rooms indulge in
when any one touches a match to the |
logs. There is, however a little irregu-
larity in the use of the famous LaslSy |
amber toning and the ordinary black and
white in the exterior scenes
The Chestnut leaps today from Eu-
ropean to congressional battlefelds. 1t is
Prohibition" a propaganda
feature hitherto unknown to Philadelphia
screens Friday it was introduced to an
audience of the clergy by speech against
the demon rum" Today and all this
week it will do its own shouting.
prohibition" carries the orthodox mes
sage OF that party which once put forward
4 candidate so inappropriately yclept
Swallow. II tells a story of villainy which
would be about the ordinary thing in
movie unreality If it weren't for the rather
skilful trimmings of propaganda which ac-
it. Thus the film begins with
Interviews with Bryan, Hobson, Daniels
md various Senators. 1t introduces alle-
sorical figures of the Devil. Demon Rum.
his henchman; Intelligence and Prohibit
ion. At crucial or significant moments in
he plot these worthless fade. in and out or
,xplosively assert their presence. recalling
o the audience the purpose of the scenes
md giving them a greater force as propa-
,anda. At the end one of the heroes, who
las reformed and got himself into Con-
,ress. Is very cleverly shown shaking
lands with some of his well-known fellow
now sitting in Washington.