New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-15
Great Expectations" at
Strand Is Pleasing
PhOtOplay
ETHEL BARRYMORE
IN RIALTO FEATURE
Academy of Music Has
Virginia Pearson in
Bitter Truth"

Great Expectations" the feature
picture at the Strand this week, seems
to lend itself easily TO the require
ments Of the screen. Perhaps 1t was
not done so easily, but there is no APP
parent effort in any part Of it. The
characters which Dickens made so real
are there. They seem TO live and
breathe and have their being, and one
wishes that il could run ten reels IN
stead of five.
Where would it be possible " find a
more perfect Pip than Jack PicTofd!
He looks and acts the part just as
Dickens created it. Young Pickford has
fine, sensitive face, WHICH registers
any emotion, and his portrayal IS ex-
cellent. Louise HUFF is extremely pretty
as Estella, but she had greater leeway
than Pip. for the character IS drawn
perhaps not quite so distinctly. She Is
quite satisfactory, however, and gives
a fine blend of the heartless coquette,
brought up by her mad benefactre5s to
break mems hearts. and the girl who IS
in the throes OF her first love affair.
Frank Losees Provis ranks with the
best on the screen-hrst as the convict
death as he sat on the tomb OF his dead
parents, and later as the escaped con-
Wet and philanthropist.
Grace Barton has difficult role IN
Miss Havisham, who, because a man
had betrayed her love. had worn her
wedding gown for twenty years. Some
of the mystery and dread which at
tached itself to this character in the
hook was missing in the picture, but
that was not due TO Miss Barton's act
ing. lt probably was because the pict-
urcd scenes were not so terrifying as
they seemed when they were merely de-
scribed.
One is bound 10 oe impressed with
the perfect extra system. Ia all the
street scenes appropriately attired per
sons walked or drove, and never once
were they duplicated "Grest EXpecta-
tons is a great picture.
The real Ethel Barrymore is not on
the screen. Perhaps she never will be,
for that wonderful charm which makes
one feel at home with her the moment
she steps upon the stage is quite lack
ing i'm her film work. There is just
enough of Miss Barrymore 70 make one
feel lonesome for the real Ethel. A
distinctly Earring note is struck in the
opening scenes OF THE White Raven.
the picture in which Miss Barrymore rs
being presented At the Rialto this week.
II would seem that Miss Barrymore
does not love the role OF Nan Baldwin.
a singer in an Alaskan music hall, and
when she appears on the little stage 10
do her turn" one feels as though he
were gazing on something which he
ought not 20 have seen. Ethel Barry
more in short skirts, with her hair done
IN soubrette ROLL Oh never! And
then, TO furnish funds for her musical
education, she starts game Of poker
at 81 900 a hand, saying she will give
herself to the winner. Her words to
"Tha Stranger" are, sKick in-every-
body is welcome"
Miss Barrymore continues 20 come
back as the play proceeds, and IN the
end. where she becomes a great diva
and magnanimously helps out her for
rlcr enemy, she seems almost like the
Ethel OF "Alice-Sit blythe Fire" and
"Tante." But the charm of her voice is
keenly missed.
The supporting cast is good. Walter
Hitchcock is far too handsome and too
clever TO be as great a villain as he
was, and despite Of his rreachery one
was glad when Miss Barrymore re-
Tented and helped him out. william
Davidson is quite adequate as "The
Stranger" and is living sermon
against boards.
On the musical programme were
Amparita Farra, who sang Kiss Me
Again; the Rialto male quartet. in
"The Winter Song" and "The Drum,
and an organ solo by Dr.. A. G. Robyn.