Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-10
John DOE" REPLETE \
WITH HUMAN "TYPNS
Lois Weber's Capital Punishmsr,
Film at Victoria-Palace Show.
Theda Bara as Ingenue
BY the Photoplay Editar

V1CTOR1A-"The People W.. John Doe n j
and directed by Lois Weber. ''ners' Writer
How much enjoyment you get out os ~.
much-talked-of picture will depend on vo,,.
state of mind and your personal produ.s.
tions. II you are looking for the thrill !.
the unexpected and the interest tha, !.
aroused by ingenuity of plotting, You vim
be down in the mouth a bit. II You rsu,s
humanity in types" and those everva..
actual touches that distinguish all MI,
Weber's films, you won't be disappoin,.d
Much stress has been attached to tho a.,
that the production is an argument ara,n,,
capital punishment. To be sure, II does
make biting attack on that system. p,s
itis just as much an attack on third desrss
methods, one of the nure-hre movie themes
dating back to the days Of one-reelers. Thsrs
is true feminine intuition In the choies
of characters In this play. The suspecfsS
man, hang-dog helpless the grief-strickes
wife; the pathetic children-all are handlsS
with rare sympathy and understa ndnR asd
the legal and judicial atmosphere also shovs
truth and fidelity. The action Is decIded,v
jumpy, and the leaders of the old-schooi
anticipatory type. 1t is as document 81
human lives, and not as a dextrous work n
art, that THE People VS.. John Doe'' makes
its demand on the mind and heart. OF M
timeliness there can be no doubt
PA+cE-Msr H6c5s H.rs G,sssess Hs Lovs Fox. With
9Moths' Direstsd by ). Gordop Rad Edwa9Ssca HS'c.'
William Fox is proving to the trade that
his somewhat hyperbolic description Of the
Fox product as super de luxe" means
something. Here we are given produc-
ton rich in scenic merit and decorative
skill, with coincidental value. since Rus.
sia" is the background for much Of the
action. Not all of this cinema Russia
rings true, but that doesn't deprive the. d.
rector of the credit due him for some won
derfully impressive interiors and outside
long shots The furniture and accessories
leave no doubt Of their costliness and taste
If the critical photoplaygoer demands some
thing else, let him behold Miss Bara, minus
the robes of .the handmaiden Of He'll" and
disporting herself as an innocent, pure
young girl. According to the song that her
lover sings, she Is "the pearl of price on
the breast of vice, the cup of gold in the
drunkard's hand" Which means that she
is forced into marriage with a dissolute
prince. There are enough titles of royalty
in the show to stock a social blue book
Miss Baras acting shows marked improve
ment. She should get Mr.. Walter Law to
spruce up his wiiskers. Those adornments
diS Hol tHcy uTe I1SpNer.
AS forecast in the EVENING LEDGER yes
terday, the Imperial Theatre, Sixtieth street
below Walnut, has been leased by STANLEY
V. Mastbaum in conjunction with the Arm
of Sablosky & McGuirk. 1t is estimated
that the amount involved in the deal ap-
proximates and probably exceeds $100, 900.
AS heretofore, the Imperial will dedicate
itself to high-class motion picture enter
tainment All the presentat tions will he Al.
rected by the Stanley Company. First
showings in West Philadelphia will be the
rule. Many additional conveniences for
patrons will also be installed.
The Regent has as a feature vitagraph's
Captain Alvarez" with Edith Storey
starred Reviews Of the Stanley's and
Arcada's chief pictures were printed in the
EVENING LEDGER yesterday. Joan, the
Woman" the Lasky sun spectacle at the
Chestnut Street Opera House. will be re-
viewed in this paper Wednesday.