New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-22
On the Screen
Evelyn Nesbit Charms ii
Redemption "-China
Seen in Films

IL would seem that the old lure re-
mains and that the mere name OF
Evelyn Nesbit has unusual drawing
power, for the Cohan Theatre was
crowded last night for her debut in
photodrama called Redemption"
The story is trifing, and there is
nothing at all remarkable in tho set
tings, the direction or the cast, but
those who afforded came 10 see Evelyn
Nesbit--and they saw her, six reels
of her, in fact.
Miss Nesbit's beauty is not Of the
sort which appears to advantage on
the screen, though it is difficult TO
explain just why this should be so.
Neither does she lay any claim to pos
sessing histrionic ability. What she
does possess is that indeinable some
thing called charm, and one watches
her every moment with undated in
terest. Il Is well that it is so, for
there is little action in the play itself.
The story is written as a vehicle for
the star and her son. Russell, and Is
supposed to prove that the heroine was
more sinned against than SHINING.
Miss Nesbit is Alice Loring, a wife
of six years standing, who lives .
happy but uneventful life with her son,
Harry, and her husband, Tom. One
day. when she is out shopping, q GER
tain Mr.. Brooks, an architect, who had
known the lady very well before her
marriage, tries to renew the acquaint-
ance. Alice is justly indignant, and
when her husband learns OF the con-
tinued annoyance he qusrrels with
Brooks and is in consequence dis
charged from the Office where he is
employed. Tom dies eventually, but it
doesn't matter much, for he is very
uninteresting person, and the most in
teresting part of the picture comes
after Mrs. Loring has gray hair and
her son is in college. OF course, he
needs must wiring his mothers heart
by falling in love with the daughter Of
her old enemy, but while for some time
love does not run smooth, It does end
happily.
In the cast are Charles Wellesley, the
architect; Joyce Fair, Harry's fiancee;
Edward Lynch. the husband, and Will
lam Clark.
The production is by julius Steger
and the direction by Joseph A. Golden.
Viewing China via the motion picture
at the Eltinge Is almost as interesting
as viewing It from the back Of an OBJ
servation car, and the sensation is
practically the same, for the picture is
! taken in such a manner as to give one
the impression that he and not the film
is moving. The illusion is the same
as that which used to make one believe
he was taking a trip to the moon or
to Mars, when in reality he never
moved. This method is used most eff
fectively in the new feature, "Brodsky's
Thip Thru China"
The scenes in the Forbidden City
are magnificent. They show totally un-
used marble walls and temples and
staircases which have been there since
before the time of Christ. The cary
ings are wonderful, and one marvels
I that they were conceived by the same
race which still uses coolies for motive
power in its factories. Existence for
the Cinnamon Of lowly birth is just one
treadmill after another. The picture
starts at Hong Kong, and shows tha
fishing village and boat races at Aber'
deem, Kowloon, Newchwang, Moeao
/ Canton and Shanghai, the Paris OF the
| Orient.
Soochow is called "the Venice Of
China" and here the coolies drive the
boats by hand and foot power. Among
the scenes in Peking is shown the
Great Wall of China. This is the flrs'
time that this or the Forbidden City
has been photographed:
Benjamin Brodsky, who took the pict-
ures, spent ten years in China, and ne
devoted more than half that time to
collecting material for the Aim. Ten
thousand feet are shown on the screen,
but more than ten times that number
Of feet were filmed.
To give the proper atmosphere the
theatre is decorated with gorgeous
I Chinese draperiss, and there is ma
tive band which is novel, but not par
ticularly tuneful, according to Ameri'
can standards. n. y.