Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-11
TOM SAWYER A RARE
" TRIUMPH IN FILMS
Twain's Famous Tale Vividly
Screened, With Jack Pick
ford in Title Role
DEVIL STONE STANLEY

mario Tho program credits the work to
Julia Crawford 1vers, but her task was
simplicity itself a trusty pair Of scis-
sors did the trick. for with almost start
ling prescience the great humorist and
humanist seemed TO have anticipated
photoplay technique in devising his now
classic tale.
Ills greatest art has long defied the
stage. Many years ago. 1t is true. the
footlights beamed on The Prince and
the Pauper," but that semi-historical
story. delightful as It is. is hardly typical
Of the authors finest fictionai manner.
"Puddin' Head Wilson" in the theatre
won chiefly through its melodramatic APP
peal. Both Of these. II may be mentioned,
and also "The Death Disk" achieved
further success In films Tho spirit OF
"The Gilded Age" was largely misrepre-
sented By John T. Raymond. whose stage
performance Of that celebrated optimist.
Colonel Sellers. WAS admitted by MARK
himself TO be "A perverson of the original
character. Arthur Dunn once essayed a
clownish muscal-comedy version of
"HuckIeberry Finn" Failure was its
tell-merited fate.
Tho application OF merely ordinary
taste and Intelligence. however. eiimi-
mates the possibility OF any such disas-
ters for Mark Twain In the cinema prov
ince. His episode, plotiess. picturesque
taIo-sninninr his racily veracious. dia-
;orue. his vivid Characterization provide
Tho entire basic material. Photoplay
,mbroidery is utterly specious This mas
been realized with unerring tact by the
makers OF the celluloid TON sawyer.
with scrupulous and soul-gladhening nc
euracy, the present scenario toiioWs t,'e
main incidents of the book tomitting the
.Tn;ur Joe,' melodrama) up to and in-
Guiding the "f IKE" funeral of the boyish
..n;rates" Nearly all the leaders are
direct trapscriptions from Twain's text
and their flavorful humor Is fuiiy as en-
terta,nins as the pictures to which they
arc complimentary.
Among the matchless scenes dis-
closed are those Of the fence wnite-
washing almost as PREGNANT WIN nu-
man philosophy as La Fonta'ne iao,e ;
the courtship OF Becky Thatcher the
sunday school sensation. in which rom
declares the first two disciples to have
been David and Goliath the Jackson
Island adventures ard the mock obse-
ouies which the bodily manifestations
of Huck, Tom and Joe Harper convert
into a rhapsodic Thanksgiving service
without serious exception all the por-
traits have been faithfully presented
Jack Pickfords Tom is at once In
gratiatlng md amusi. 8, In the rieh'
clemens spirit The battle with the
model boy. albeit he is incorrectly btlleo
as Alfred Temple instead of Willie
Nufferson. Is stimulating youthfu
exhibit. The Huck Finn Of Robert Cor
don is little short Of masterpiece. IN
fectously light hearted exultant!y lazy
bright Of eye. disreputable OF apparel
In short every healthy "nome-raised
lads ideal persouification of unshackled
freedom Clara Horizons Becky Thatcher
Is duly winsome ard coquettish. withou
a trace of smrking sentimentality. Fine
bits of realism are contributed by
George Hackathorne as Sid and Alice
Marvin as Mary. Eduthe Chapman's
Aunt Polly is a shade css convincing
than other genre sketches
Some of the admirable "exter,ors
were taken at Hannibal. Mo-. the "St
Petersburg" of the story. The Sawyer
household and the Sunday and day
school scenes betray mastery direction
The moonlight effects in Toms noctur'
nal visit to the Thatcher lawn are soms
what too bright and the steamer DIS
matched in search of the alleged drowned
boys Is not the venerable fcrryboat oi
the book. These. however. are triiins
defects in an unprecedented gem OF mo
tiOn picture art ut Sh
beavers of D. w. Griffith pale into in
significance beside an achievement for
which even the photoplay Philistint
need not blush Tom Sawyer Is tt
Intolerance" "rhe Birth Of Nation
and their kind Is n Tanagra is To G
"Rodgers Group" II. T. c.
aidinc Farrar. Scenario ~ Jsanig Mac
pherson. from the story by nratriC1i H.
Cecil Il. DE Mile. Aircraft production.
This is said to be the last production
in which Geraldine Farrar Is TO appeal
upon the Aircraft program before sh'
assumes her obligations in her contrac
with the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation
Whatever the present quality or hei
voice. 1t is quite SAFE 10 say that sh'
Is a good screen actress. Her work Il
always of the best and her understand
ing of the parts she is called upon t
play adds another tally to the score o
good things supplied by this opera ac
tress.
1.-THE Devil Store" her present vehicle
is replete with vivid dramatic situations
and the element Of mystery Is well sus
tanned. The theme is modern and keep
Miss Farrar In the dress OF the presen
day from her garb as a Breton maid 4
that OF u wealthy American wife. Their
are, however. SeNefal teet ot costuiH
drama in the opening telling history O
'the' great emerald. II. this prologue Mis-
Farrar assumes tho grand manner"
The plot centers about the msrriaR
4, of the wealthy man TO the poor Brit
tany maid In order to gain possession
of the emerald she possesses. lie i
murdered by his wife and II IL the soir
ing of this mystery with which most o
the story is concerned. Its solution
dore In the usual scientific manner. ant
the belief in superstition plays small
part in its clearing,
Miss Farrar gave a perfect perform
ance as the wife and looked charming
In the gorgeous gowns she wore. as wei
as comely in her fishermaid appsre
Wallace Reid was his usual photop'a
self in a part that did not require muc
acting, while his friend the criminolo
gist, was faithfully portrayed by HobaI
Bosworth. Tully Marshalls characte
study was the best piece OF acting dis
closed upon the local screens for som
time. Others whose parts were well han
died include James Neill. Gustav vo
Seyfferitz. Ernest Joy, Burwell Ham
rick. Mabel Van Buren, and Lila
Leighton.
Cecil b. De Miles ability Is stampe
IN the directior Of this Aircraft stor,
The photography is q tribute to tn
skill Of his co-workers.
tPALACE-'.The Curse OF Ihu," with Tsur
Aoki and Frank BorzaRe. Written and di
Tscted by Frank berznEe ,s psodnced Hs.ss ,