New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-19
On the Screen
Reaching for the Moon,
New F Fairbanks Picture,
Opens at Rialto

lecting the little things which are close
st hand" And the warning is timely
one, for more and more is Mr.. Fair
banks getting away from the cid style
Of picture, which every one loved TO see
him do.
OF course, it doesn't really matter so
much what Fairbanks does as what any
enc else does, for with the smiling
comedian in a picture it would be good
entertainment whatever it happened TO
be. We verify believe that if Fairbanks
essayed Hamlet or Little Eva he could
get away with them very successfully.
But there is not so much Of "Reach-
ing for the Moon" as there should be;
neither is there enough of Fairbanks
in it.
Alexis Cesar Napoleon Brown is a
sort Of Bunker Bean person who is
worshipper of kings. His humble occu-
patton is working in a button factory,
but in his spare moments he loves TO
dabble in affairs of state-so much so
that the manager finally tells him TO de-
vote all OF his time to it and they will
try to struggle along without him.
The picture is filled with typical Lors-
Emerson situations. One OF them oc-
ours when Alexis follows the King Of
NulgarIa to the Plaza and seats himself
al a table adjoining the one occupied
by tne prince and his suite.
The waiter hands Alexis bill Of fare
and he follows the column Of figures
down the right-hand side until he comes
TO a Decent item. II proves to be Brus-
seis sprouts, so he orders them.
The waiter then hands him a wine
list, and down at the bottom is a
25-Cent drink, so he orders that, with
his sprouts. Traced TO its nominal
source the drink proves 10 be Hunyadi
Janos.
After his meal of sprouts and spark
ling water Alexis wrIders home ana lies
down to rest. when a knock comes on
has door, and It Is the King OF Euiga-
ria, who soon proves to him that he is
the rightful ruler OF the country. So
he carries him away to Nulgarla, and
here 1t is Alexis learns that uneasy
lies the head that wears crown
After some heart breaking expert
ences with bombs and revolutions and
ugly princesses, he IS glad enough 10
return to his native country and
marry Elsie and live in New Jersey in
dollar-dow cottage.
Eileen Percy plays her usual role
OF the Girl in her usual way, which is
very nice way.
Eugene Ormorde H. excellent Is the
Minister Of Vulgaria, and Frank Cam
peau is q terrifying Black Boris.
There are some chances for Douglas
10 display his prowess along the Gus
tomary lines. but not so many az his
admirers coulaswish for. Il is not nee
essary for Fairbanks to think up new
things 20 do. He need only choose the
line of least resistance.
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew were seen
in comedy called "A Close Resem-
blance."
The overture was the Hungarian
Rhapsody" with BABES in Toyland'
as an added number The toys We're
represented by little dancers from the
Helen Moler School.
Greek Evans, barytone, and Mary
Ball sang The Farewell
Why is poor Pauline Frederick never
allowed to be happy? She is delightful
in comedy, and she Is wonderful IN the
Few character roles which have been
given her to do. and yet she continues
10 portray conventional, neglected wives
and strong minded society girls. why
not let Miss Frederick choose her own
story? HAPPY, she may know best what
she can do best.
The Hungry Heart" in which Adolph
' luxor is presenting Miss Frederick this
/ week at the Strand, is done IN varying
shades of drab. II is not q pleasant
play in any sense Of the word. Neither
can we sec that there is any particular
lesson to be learned from IT. unless 1t
is that husbands should not neglect
their wives-only as Arabela said
in one Of the clever comedies OF
this season: IF your husband neglects
YOU. YOU are Inundated. If he doesn't
YOU'RE bored" Only one couldn't help
feeling that with such an unprepossess-
( ing husband as Miss Frederick hap
pened to have one would prefer oelng
neglected.
/ Miss Frederick is young woman VINO
narries for love a chemist who is IN
/ love with nothing but his work. Their
/ honevmoon is only four days long. and
"
home the bridegroom becomes chemist
and leaves his bride when the sun
comes ND and goes 70 his laboratory
The scene which follows adds nothing
Ia the story and presents the bride in
an unduly familiar light. IL shows her
sitting up i'm bed and feeling around on
the empty pillow for her recently ac-
quired spouse.
When it is finally forced on her
mind that her husband has actually
loft her 10 20 to work, she dresses and
folIors him to the laboratory, and
here his perfunctory manner convlnces
her that from that time on she IS GO
ing 10 be simply one Of the family
Her heart is hungry and her life IS
duIl. until Robert Cain steps on the
scene. and then she loves him, and in
advertently she falls from the path oil
rectitude. But still she is not happy
with her lover, and when her husband
learns the truth and allows her to OBJ
tain a divorce then she is unhappy
also.
The only time that the woman lives
and breathes on the screen is when she
cries: "If you were man you would
kil us both. have been in his arms
/ the mother Of your child" At this
time the play becomes more nearly IN
teresting than at any other time. But
the characters in the play are al! still
born.
"The Hungry Heart" was adapted
for. the screen from the novel by David
Graham Phillips.
The comedy was Damaged. No
GOOD" William Fox extravaganza.
The overture was Auber's "Masaniel-
lo1 John Phillips sang "A Dream, y
and "Design." Merry Zentsy and
Mischa Violin gave r violin duet, "Sec-
ond SYMPHONY