Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-04
MABEL NORMAND IN
CAMP LIFE COMEDY
'Coldwyn Favorite Appears as
Joan of Plattsburg" at the
Stanley Theatre
"a DOLLS HOUSE"-FILM

Mabel Normand Directed by G. L.
Tucker and William Humphrey from story
Il py forter Emerson Browne. Goldwyn play.
a movie with soldiers or sailors in It
Is poor indeed If 1t cannot arouse the
audience to pitch of patriotic fervor.
and that stimulation is one Of the mis-
4 sions OF Joan of Plattsburg," In which
Mabel Normand is starred. + the en-
thusiasm does not come until the very
end, by which time the audience is
ready to applaud anything. This movie
Is not up to the Stanley or Goldwyn
standard. but 1t makes a fair program
production. The chief asset is the show
Ing of the training Of the officers at
FPiattsburg, n. Y, which is especially
timely inasmuch as the camp reopens
today for more men.
There is an element of spy melo-
drama, Joan Of Arc" mysticism and a
smattering of comedy throughout with
the soldiers coming in for big share
OF the honors. The artistic photography
with which the plot has been disguised
Is beautiful and the back-lghting of the
scenes and the silhouettes at the OPEN
ing are worthy Of special mention.
Olfver T. Marsh was the photographer.
This is the second fitting for the film
suit of JOAN" but 1t rs still out of
shape. First Director William E. Hum
phrey made the play and then George
I.oane Tucker was called in to alter it.
He did so by almost remakihg the en-
tire movie and 1t is obvious where the
scenes have been joined for the patch.
ing is not very good. Porter Emerson
Browne is not at fault, but the trouble
lies with the star Mabel Normand. Miss
Normand was long a comedienne of the
rough and tumble sort and when she
returns to that style she will be one Of
the most popular screen stars of the
day. John Smiley, Robert Elliott, Ed
ward Elkas. William Fredericks, Will
lard Dashiel1 John w. Dillon, Edith
McAlpin. Isabel Vernon and several
children have prominent parts
ARCADTA-"A Dolls House." with Elsie
Mrss Scenario srd9 an and drsst9n S BY
1bsen. Aircraft play.
Ibsen's "A Dolls House" ranks with
AN Enemy of the People" as perhaps
the best adapted to the screen of any OF
the great Norwegians social dramas.
The role of Nora. although considered
highly subjective in 1879, when the play
was written, is really susceptible of
. effective pantomimic treatment The
Y whole play is one of the clearest in con-
tent in the Ibsen list. "Rosmersholm"
might well prove a riddle on the silver
sheet, but Norah's development into as
sertfve womanhood is definitely defined
and can be expressed in photography
with telling emotional force.
Elsie Fergusons fitness for the char
acter In this photoplay is so apparent
that the hope is inspired that she will
some day portray Nora upon the spoken
stage. As it is, however. her creation adds
new distinction to the film and vastly
enlarges the general public's acquant-
ance with the most influential factor
in nineteenth century drama. The theme
has been respectfully handled in scenario
form, and the adaptor Is to be congratu-
lated for having resisted the temptation
to pervert the meaning of the play with
a happy ending. More than quarter of
a fentury ago Henry Arthur Jones was
less conscientious. Ibsen's frank realism
was then startling novelty, of which
the English playwright was so fearful
that his version of the piece, entitled
Breaking a Butterfly presented with
utter inconsistency reconciliation be.
tween Nora and her obtuse and selfish
husband.
Besides the chief role portrayed by
Miss Ferguson, that of Alex. X Shan
mons Krogstadt was the best played
with the children coming in for nex
honors. They are Tulla Belle, Ivy Ward
Douglas Redmond and Charles Compton
He; Herbert had the role of the hus
band, Ethel Grey Terry that of the
friend and Warren Cook was Doctor
Rank.
!. vICToRIAA"The Million Dollar Dollies. y
with Yanci and Rosika Dolly. Scenario
and direction by Leonce Perret. Metre
play.
No. this is NOT story about mis-
taken identity Heretofore, whenever
a story was shown on the screen with
twins, it was of the usual hackneyed
s"double' type, but in this one the au'
thor-director has shown some original
ity in his plot. The apologies made al
~. the start of the Offering call attention tc
the fact that it is impossible to differen-
tiate the Dollys and you don't try. be-
cause 1t cannot be done on the screen
although on the stage they can be dis
tingushed by their voices.
For their initial bow to the land of TIL,
celluloid these two entertainers show
an aptitude for their work that is to
be encouraged, bacause they are able
to bring to the Screen their sense OF
y. the artistic and their poses are all grace
full. The story Is light and rather
cream-puffy, but 1t does not matter be
cause there is always that treat for the
y eye in their gowns and artistic settings
For the light entertainment which is sc
much in demand at this season Of the
year there could have been no wiser
p choice for the Victoria after it's LONG
season of problem film plays and seri
Gus dramas.
While there are other players in the
supporting roles whose work is of good
quality, most of the attention is giver
to the sisters. Bradley Barker. Hunt
ley Gordon. Paul Ducet, Marshall Phili
Dolores Cassinelli "a new screen player
and Ernest Maupin are in the cast.
The Dolly Sisters will appear in per
son this afternoon and evening anC
again on Friday afternoon and evening
They are at present engaged to dance
at the Century Roof. New York city
where they went following the success
full run of Back Again" at the Chest
nut Street Opera House.
cF REGENT-"The Winning Of Beatrice" will
May Allison. Story by May Tuly anc
81 directed by Harry L. Franklin. Metre
play.
May Tullly's name has been one oi
~ prominence in the vaudeville world ant
now she comes into the realm of the
silent drama as an author of this new
vehicle for the blonde Metro star. JUNE
Mathis made the adaptation. which pro
vided satisfactory vehicle for Mis-.
Allison. The story Is of happy weir
despite the attempts at melodrams
which appear at several places during
It's unfolding. 1t tells of how the gir
fat tat