Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-19
BILLEBURKESTARS
NLIvELY WAR FILM
Comedy Phases of Conflict
Breezily Screened in "Arms
and the Girl'
By the Photoplar Editor

PALAcE--s..Arms apd the Girl" with billie
hsrke Plcturl5ed sy Grant stewart and. Rob
Paramount production.
When Billie Burke is serious in acting be-
fore the motion-picture camera she shows
possioilittes as screen player. but when she
attempts 10 be coy she is failure, for the
silence of the screen then acts as a handi-
CAP Her work shows a big Improvement in
this subject, due TO the capable direction OF
Joseph Kaufman, Thomas Meighan returns
IN a part that is well suited to his ability.
while William David, who will be remem-
bered as the excellent Juvenile man OF THE
Thirteenth Chair" company, has unfor-
tunately little work to do He screens we'll
and deserves a script calling for more act
ing George S. Trimbe gives a splendid
character impersonation of a German officer
with touch of bumor that makes the role
quite human. L. was formerly with the
Lubin Company In the part of Russian
Spy Louise Bates portrayed vivid type
Malcolm Dunn and A. Bower contributed
other character bits
The story is OF e,war. but not Of it's
cruelist aspects The play form is that OF
light comedy and the leaders bring forth
laughter by their wording. Briefly, the plot
concerns the stealing of passport from an
American girl by Russian spy just as Ger
man officers reach the inn. A guest is to be
shot as a spy, but the American girl saves
him by marrying him. The photography was
fair, with special credit due the night light
ing In the scene Of the departing troops.
MISUNDERSTANDING Tongues. with several
players. story by William Humphry and
George Edward Hall Directed by William
Humphry. Ivan Production.
Ivan Abrahamson. the producer Of this
picture. has always given quantity in fea-
tured players, while others give quality in
their casts II looks quite an old production
of the Vitagraph Company, but the direc-
tion and photography, as well as the
crowded settings, have the mark OF Abra-
hanson in each foot Of film. The subject is
not pleasant. and its author has put in that
good old life-saver Of having the story turn
out to be but the reading Of a play. The
plot recalls lagos words:
Re that alches from me my good name
And makes poor indeed
James Morrison is the best player of the
geptet, which includes Louise Babert, Grace
Valentine, Arthur Donaldson, Richard
Tucker, GLADDEN. James and Paul Capellani
1t is not always the length of film that
proclams it the feature, for the Educ ltional
Film picture showing the beauties Of Hawaii
is only one reel in length, and yet 1t re-
ceived the keenest attention from the au-
dience. The last half of this scenic hlm
contains a cartoon buresque of the music
and dances of this much-advertised island
realm. The skit is done after the fashion
of the lenders used by Lyman Howe in his
travelogues
Another picture that brought forth much
laughter was that of Laurence Semons
vitagraph comedy. Full of real slap-stick
comedy, It sustained a lively pace.
The music by the Dessauer Orchestra still
furnishes the accompaniment for the pic
lures 1t ha san affectionlte following for
many people go just to hear the selections
billed.