South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-02-12
THEATERS
Garden of Allah -"
Proc uction of
Strange Richness

me famous romance OF the Sa-
hara desert, The Garden Of Allah.
shown in moving pictures at the
oliver theater all this week is a not
ably rich big scale production. full
Of scenes of strange and stirring pic
turesqueness and with many touches
OF unusual beauty. Even the camera
cannot within two hours tell all that
a novel Of nearly 90 pages desert hes
but a remarkably large part OF the
story OF the Garden OF Allan" is
told in this production. and the book
is followed much more closely than
is usual in pictUrizations of novels.
Strange streets thronged with
hundreds of Arab faces and flowing
costumes, scenes OF Mohamlnedan
worship. with vast throngs bowling
in unison in prayer. caravans in the
desert and wild dashes by scores of
Arabian horseback riders over the
sands, are among the larger effects.
great sandstone is shown in a
dozer aspects. indoors and out. in
the streets and in the desert.
The story, il may be recalled. cen
tiers about the heroine, Domini En-
hlden, an English woman of aristO-
cratic parentage. whose life has been
saddened by her mothers unfaith-
fulness 10 her father. his resulting
remuneration Of religion. and his
death denouncing the Catholic faith,
which he had joined because of love
for the mother Dimini. who has
avoided marriage. seeks relief after
her fathers death by visiting strange
scenes. and chooses Africa. and the
desert, which makes a strong. peace
producing appeal when she sees it
the desert which the Mohammedans
call the garden Of God.
On her train journey 10 Benz Mort
she meets a strangely awkward and
dihident man who interests her in
spite of his apparent rudeness. He
tries 20 shun the gentle priest of the
little Catholic church at Benz Mort.
which Domini visits with reverence.
He also fees from a MOhammedan
on seeing him pray in the desert,
and is strangely disturbed by all
manifestations Of religion. At Benz
Mort. at the edge of the desert, is
wonderful garden COT which many
beautiful glimpses are pictured).
owned by Count AnteOni DOmini
makes frequent visits 10 it. discus
sing with the elderly count the
strange religious spell of the desert
IA spell that later causes the count
to become a MOdammedan DOmini.
strong of body and independent in
mind. seeks to view the sights of the
town and the desert with as little at
tendance as possible. but she is
brought in contact with Boris An
drovsky. the awkard stranger, who
on several occasions becomes her
protector. though apparently he en-
deavors to avoid her. Despite mys
terry and the fOrebOdiugs of others,
she marries him, and they go on
long journey. seeking happiness in
the heart of the desert.
She experiences the joy and peace
she sought. but he continues mani
festatiOns of unrest. until at last his
mystery is revealed by confession TO
her. After being for % years a
Trappist monk, his longing 20 know
the outside world and its life had
caused him to break his VOWS and
escape. Like her. ne had sought the
oblivion Of the desert, and his
strange manners were due 10 mex
perience of the world and his strug-
giles with his conscience. Placing
faith and religious duty above love
though their love is great. his wife
accompanies him to the monastery,
where he is again shut of from the
world and from her. She again re-
turns to the garden of Count An
teoni. which ne has given up. and
takes solace in knowledge Of her
religious peace and in her
son.
Helen Ware enacts the leading
role of Domini Enhlden with char
intelligence. and is well
supported by Thomas Santschi as
Boris Androvsky. In addition 90 or
binary demands on them is a call
for considerable skill in horsernan-
ship.
During the action Of the piece Sig. |
Cafalin appears in white Arabian
costume. singing a song which is in
keeping. He has a rich, full voice /
that wins much applause. A musical I
OF the play is pro- /
yided 10y an augmented orchestra.