Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-21
JOAN Of ARC
SCORES TRIUMPH
Units REALISM

| Joan the Woman" On the occasion
! OF its premiere at the Biiou theater
last night scored a triumph. 1t is the
most tremendously impressive thing
In filmdom that has ever come to Ho-
nolulu. Transcending in its realism
faithful to historical accuracy. replete
with vividness, overwhelming in
magnitude OF setting and elaborate
ness Of scenic investiture, II may truly
be said to represent the acme OF sue
cess in the silent drama. II is a won
dertul production.
View It which way you will It IS
most amazing spectacle-one conttnu
ed denouement OF dramatic action
that keeps the interest at fervid pitch
throughout with never a slackening
| Of absorption. Produced on a man
moth scale. it numbers crowds by the
thousands. and principals by the doc
en-; It depends for success not alone
on the impression produced by masses
and by rapid fire action. but superb
acting by Farrar as Joan, by Wallace
Reid as Eric Trent and by several
other renowned stars Of the film
world is conducive to realism.
Some there were who thought the
drama dealt too harshly with the Brit.
fish armies that invaded France, but
whether yes or no, history Is not to
be denied and Joan is a page from
history-unfolded, not as a condem-
nation Of medieval events, but rather
as an inspiration for the liberty-lov.
ing nations of the twentieth century.
The filming. the coloring. the re-
production Of the Battle of the Tow
ers in which 5000 men are engaged;
the death at the stake OF Joan. con
demned by the renegade bishop whose
body was afterward exhumed by the
Catholic church and cast to the dogs;
the court scenes and pageants, are
made on a bewildering scale, leaving
the audience almost awe-stricken as
the wonderful events Of history are
staged with such realism that one al
most believes he is living in the days
of Charles VII OF France.
The theme itself is most appealing;
the story Of Joan. the gentle, tender.
peasant girl, who, surmounting in
Vulnerable obstacles placed in her
patch by enemies of France and jeal
Gus army captains; handicapped In
the attainment Of her goal by q weak
and imbecile monarch; regarded not
as a woman but as witch when the |
magic of her leadership routs the Eng |
lish and saves the day for France;
her denial of love for a greater mis-
sion: condemned to death as the re |
suit of trickery, born Of hate and in |
tolerance, and finally her glorious |
martyrdom for France-the story OF |
Joan is tragedy personified.
But out Of it all, comes a great |
message, a great appeal to America; |
a. lustrous example Of patriotism, 10y |
atty and sacrifice.
Geraldine Farrar in the title role |
is revelation in her superb delinea-
ton Of Joan, giving to the character
all the angelic beauty ascribed to the
peasant girl, yet injecting strength,
determination and iron will into the |
portrayal of the warriod-woman. in
the hands of Farrar the last hours of
Joan on earth as she suffers torture
for her Savior, and then again as she
is wreathed in smoke and flames. are
given an almost beatific interpreta-
ton. 1t is an emotional portraiture Of
grandoise conceptions.