The Washington herald., 1918-07-22
PoIrs-'The Finger Of Justice.

The magnates Of the screen world
evidently count that season lost
which adds no new white slave"
film to their roster. The public has
made no gesture to indicate that its
interest in this form of celluloid
morality play is waning. The sub
ject remains almost as vital as it
was a decade ago.
In The Finger of Justice" is
painted the story of San Francisco's
battle with commercialized vice; .
brave, fiorid tale. with the motor
ious "Barbary Coast" holding the
center of the stage. and with what
Shaw calls the oldest OF profess
sions" that of the scarlet women,
treated with naturalistic detail
which surpasses anything that has
gone heretofore in movies of this
type. San Francisco, once held,
perhaps still holds, the reputation
of being the gayest and the wicked
est municipality within the con-
fines of these United States. Judge
then of the bitterness, even the
ferocity. of the fight which the pow-
ers that prey and the parasites that
plunder put up against the reform
atory zeal of the Rev. Paul Smith
and his cohorts. The winning of
such a fight in the shadow of. the
Golden Gate makes an absorbing
narrative, and it is this story which
The Finger of Justice" sets out to
tell.
The film is we'll done, the direc-
tion being skillful, and .he drama
tic values well developed, without
lapsing into the rawness of mere
melodrama. Crane Wilbur in the
central role does excellent work.
The story is unfolded in direct and
vivid style, has but little dross in it,
and altogether the film should go
far towards making the week at
Polls an interesting one.
Loew's Columbia-Margueri Clark
Marguerite Clark In q perturbation of
Uncle Toms Cabin" was the feature
at Loew's Columbia yesterday and
will remain the attraction until Thurs
day. So charming a figure as dainty
Marguerite Clark in the role Of little
Eva has seldom been seen on stage or
screen. She radiates all the pretty
appeal Of childhood innocence, a truly
wonderful juvenile performance, and
in the ivory-black, te-toothed, grim
ming character of the irrepressible
Topsy scores a distinct and telling
comedy hit. Capable support is fur
nished the diminutive star, the negro
types being especially true to life
Frank Losee is a dignified and SYM
pathetic Uncle Tom, and Mrs. Priest
ley Morrison gives an amusing per-
formance as the staid Aunt ophelia.
The producers have wisely elimi-
mated much Of the heart-harrowing
scenes Of cruelty to the negro slaves,
and although such episodes formed
the dominant theme of the book in
ante-bellum days, the need for their
savage outlining is past, and the
picture is all the better for its adap-
tation to modern taste Eliza's flight
across the ice is well filmed, and the
Southern atmosphere is best in evil
dence where the stern-wheel steam
boat glides along the wide reaches of
the mighty Mississippi. The photog-
raphy presents some exceedingly
beautiful water and woodland scenes
exquisitely tinted.
Reels Of comedy and current everts
are also being shown in addition to
the feature. Thursday and for the
last half Of the week Dorothy Dalton
win appear in "The Kaiser's Shadow" I"
"Just a Woman" will be remem-
bered by those who viewed it during
the week of its premiere in this city
few seasons ago as an intensely
human drama distinguished by all the
directness and climacteric force Of
others Of Eugene Walters success
full plays. It will also. no doubt, be
recalled that Charlotte Walker. q
Washington favorite, appeared in the
role Of the faithful wife who, by q
clever ruse in the divorce court scene,
won back the wandering love Of her
nouveau richie husband. The same
forceful qualities and the excellent
portrayal Of the leading character by
the same star are on view at Moore's
Strand Theater the first>four days of
this week, where the flm version Of
Just q Woman" II the major attrac-
tion. Since. the power Of the. screen
to visualize detail transcends that Of
the stage the pictured version Of this
gripping play creates q much more
convincing atmosphere-especia in
the Pittsburgh mill scenes-than was
possible upon the speaking stake.
Tha Gfnr-v in .f IL