New-York tribune., 1917-12-24
On the Screen

Of the Prince Charming and whose
seven beautiful brothers are turned
into seven swans. And right here
seems 70 be the proper time to voice
an inquiry. We ask, in the name OF
all those who saw the picture-for we
know they. too, wish TO know-how
did Miss Clark persuade those swans
TO sit at the table with her and per-
form all the other histrionic fcats
which they did perform?
The picture is so beautiful that
were the plot one whit less engross-
ing the spectators would forget the
story in watching the central figure
and the background. But the plot is
fsscinatirgi Fancy a beautiful prin-
cess. with seven brothers turned into
swans. being bound TO weave seven
squares OF reeds to cover them before
she dare speak 10 2 human, and then
fancy the splendid Prince Charming
doubling her because she would not
say ayes" 20 his pleadings, and fancy
the princess about to be burned al
the stake and then liberated by
miracle at the last moment. Oh. in
deed. there are plenty Of thrills in
the new picture.
Miss Clark is just as sweet as she
always is; and Richard Barthelmass
looks far handsomer than he ever, has
looked before in the robes and trap
pings Of Prince Charming. He made
one understand quite we'll Miss Clark's
anguish at losing him.
In the cast, besides Miss Clark and
Mr. Barthelmess, are William Danforth,
Augusta Anderson, Edwin Dennison
and Daisy Belmo-e.
Whether you believe in fairies or
rot, YOU should sec The Seven Swans"
The comedy is James Montgomery
Flagg's Girls You All Know
The overture was "In the Hall of the
Mountain King from the Peer Gynt
suite, and Reginald Barrett's Christ
mas Morning" Anita Zagel and Rosa
Lind sang the duet from "Lakme."
Herbert Wsterous had to respond to
a dozen encores when he rendered "Out
on the Deep" and There's a Million
Heroes"
"The Grand Passion" which was
shown at the Broadway Theatre YES
terday, is singular where it should be
plural. for surely not a single passion
has been omitted. There are greed,
anger, revenge and lOve--in short, 1t
is an absorbing, first class melodrama,
anu every OHc - bOlAN " lint ~ loi
the simple reason that the film fen
has a passion for melodrama.
And then there is Dorothy Phillips.
Miss Phillips is like caviar, olives and
other acouired tastes. She is in
sidious, and the first thing you know
YOU cannot do without her.
This much is certain: No picture
could be uninteresting in which she
appeared Her personality dominates
everything. and even when her path
lies. as il usually does. in rough places
there is sort of ultra refinement
about her which is most pleasing
Poor girl, her usual screen habitat is
a gambling den or mining Gimp, and
the new picture is no exception.
Miss Phillips is Viola, a young girl
who is forced by circumstances TO join
her uncle in Powderville. town which
boasts one restaurant, known as the
New York.
There is also a newspaper in the
town. Il is called "The Trumpet" and
is owned by Dick Evans and edited by
Jack Ripley. Now, il seems that Jack
is from metropolitan daily, and
as soon as he goes TO work on THE
Trumpet" he installs a sort of Ad-
Visor. Net unnaturally this starts
trouble. and things come fast and fu-
rious. There are abductions, shoot
ings. robberies, raids, wild motor rides
and everything, and the. handsome
reformed newspaper man dies to make
room for the cub reporter.
The cast is excellent. Besides the
beautiful star. there are William Stow
ell the martyred newspaper owner;
Jack Mulhall. the handsome reporter;
Lon Clancy. the crazy uncle, and Eve
lyn Selbie, the bad lady.
The Grand Passion" was produced
bv lido Nav Parks after the story, The
Boss of Powderville," by Thomas Ad-
olson.
There is an excellent bill at the
Academy this week. The feature pct
ure is 1.-THE Heart Of Lion" with
William Farnum, and it is a very good
picture. II is an old story, but IT Is
told a little differently, and William
Farnum is as satisfying as Barney
Kemper. 81,
The new leading woman we liked,
too. She is Mary Martin, beautiful
blond girl who plays convincingiy and
with discretion.
William Courtleigh, jr., looks just
like his father. In the picture he is
cast for Dick Kemper, a no-good
brother Of Barney. who reforms and
becomes a preacher.
There were two girls who played
small parts. One was lola and the
other Dolly, but we do not know which
was which. Anyway, they were e%,
cellently well done by Rita Bori and
Wanda Petit. They should do bigger
things. Al.
yillain. Of course, and Mare Robbins,
as Hiram Danford. NJ.
The picture is taken from Ralph
Connor's novel, "The Doctor, and was
l.. loyd III. u.