Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-22
VARIETY SCREEN OFFERTNCS ONVIFW
"THE EASIEST WAY"
PASSED BY CENSORS
Meanwhile, Pauline Frederick
Fills in With "Her Better
Self" at the Stanley

After untold troubles THE Easiest WAY"
has apparently been approved" as the
quaint saying goes, by the state censors.
II will finally be displayed at the Stanley
ell next week.
In the meantime, Pauline Frederick in
"Her Better Self is filling in The fact
Of The Easiest Ways frequent postpone
rnent is some excuse for the openly recog-
nizable weakness Of this new Famous Play
srs film. Footage is the thing these days.
"Her Better Self" IL full Of it. But II
would require a brave soul to admit that
n was equally full of story. Frankly. this
Is one of the feeblest one Of the most
ancient, one of the least credible of many
months our tottering friend. the misun-
derstanding between two lovers, Is dragged
into the light once more. In brief: Wealthy
society butterfly, attracted by young physi-
cian goes to his santarium to help him
with his work. Patient, a "wronged
woman" confesses her past to Miss Fred
erick, obllgingly referring to an anonymous
NAN as the cause of her downfall. Miss +.
Immediately thinks physician to blame. You
can easily figure the rest out for yourself
The star maintains her good looks and
nlastic theatrical poise. but neither she nor
THOMAS Meighan is able to lift the tale
into the high air of possibility Ihe pho-
,ography, lighting and interiors do all they
can for Margaret Turnbrlls script. 50 does
Director Robert Vigncla. But. its all
wrong Hercules
.pcADIA-"The silent Master" seanicK
AKdnhORbt with Robert Warwick story adapted from F. +,
Phillips oppenheims novel Ihs Porrot Tou'' vi
ST. simon" Directed by LeonGe Ferre'
Here we ara given a thoror ghly interest
ing quite cut-of-the-way yarn that makes
one regret its sudden switch in the first part
of the story from France to America Such
vivid pictorial and imaginative stun as
the PRODUCERS visualization of parts or Paris
st night is worth q ton or two OF the rather
conventional sets and eNterlors oHereu III
the hulk of the narrative, The hero lS a
sort Of Gallic Robin Hood. estabsher Of a
court of Justice where influential maletac-
tors are dealt with in a way impossible in
legal procedure The central motive is a
little weak But IL one grants IT, what toI-
lows is germane and unusual enough Ihe
fea-ure suffers from haZy notions of con-
tinuity. 1t spends too much time throwing
iight ON the intriccces of the telephone and
then bridges great gaps OF time ana space
with a cool leader or two. 1t is nicely
acted Besides the muscular Mr.. warwick,
Anna Little, remembered Tor her carry WORK
under Thomas H. Tnces direction and Don
aid Gallaher contribute clever bits Of play
ing. Some of the illumination effects betray
the French methods of NJ Perrot 1t Is a
worthwhile picture.
VT-TORIA-"IIeart and Soul" Fox. with Theda
Rara story adaDted from II. Rider HaEgard' 3
novel Jess" by Adrian Johnson. Directed
D.
Director Edwards is a man with a pene-
trating eye for color and grouping. He has
taken many a poor scenario and turned II
irto something instinct with life and glow
ing vitality. This is the sort Of treatment
that redeems essentially worthless plays
"Heart and Soul" is not worthless. but it is
swfully melodramatiC. Walter Law. the
only actor who can make jowls look villain
ous is about the most terrifying specimen
of masculine depravity visible for some
time Miss Bara is a good girl this week
We knew she was good because Jess was
made a paragon by the story. Otherwise
her wicked mouth and lusterless eyes might
have deceived us. But really the acting
is the least important part Of the film. The
phases of it that will count are the splendid
handling of mobs and riders, the brilliant
tinting, the bright, sharp, hard photography
and the destruction by fire of a big house
ostensbly in Porto Rico, but to the expert
enced vision plainly Florida. Snappy actor
and lots of close-ups are other characters
tics. There are just few too many of the
latter Claire Whitney is attractive as
Jess's sister.
REGENT-"Clover's Rebellion" Creator Vita
graph, with Anita stewart
"Clovers Rebellion" is one of those We
hcles expressly designed for a popular star
Miss Stewart is popular, but she is alsC
handsome and intelligent. So the mixture
of cuteness and crime which she has beer
given this time is not as tedious as 1
might be with less talented interpreter
The approach to the drama is very 81 adual
being made feasible solely by the principa
players cleverness and facility Of expires
sion. She is aided by n good cast, a cas-
somewhat more vigorous and impressive
than that in Her Better Self" which "Clo
ver's Rebellion" strongly presembles.
The Palace has Mary Pickford i'm "a Ro
nance of the Redwoods" this week, "Twen
ty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea- con
unues at the Forrest.