The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-30
RIALTO MELODRAMA
is SCREEN AT BEST
Five Reels Pass Like One in
"Thc Border Wireless" With
William s. Hart.

Whoever has any doubt as to the
proper field for the cinema may have
IL dispelled by viewing The Border
Wireless" at the Rialto. As the title
suggests, Il is melodrama, and IL breeZes
along 50 amazingly that five reels pass
like one. Word has gone about the film
world that heavy drama was unwel-
come for the present. but IL that dictum
was meant to apply TO metodrama 1t
ought to be revised Tho public likes
the lumpy feeling in the throat IL 1t
doesn't come the last moment.
The Border Wireless" was written by
Howard c. Morton, converted into
scenario by c. Gardner sullivan and
directed by William $. Hart. who plays
the leading role. The story IL n COM
monplace one Of a Western outlaw who
discovers German wireless plant OH
the border OF Mexico and has terrific
battle with the spies. but its thrills are
so nicely graduated and so skilfully
screwed up through an ascending series
that nobody stops to think that an old,
familiar formula has been used 10 pro-
duce all the excitement.
Wanda Hawley plays the telegraph
operator who sends the call for the
doughboys by the wireless apparatus OF
the spies. She seems rather exotically
sweet and pretty for town on the
Mexican border. whereas n ,Patagonian
squaw eating raw fish or filet of blub-
Der would be readily accepted, but prob
ably that Is as false as a German view
OF America. Hart. as Stere Ransom,
the outlaw, is part Of the atmosphere. n
natural born fighter and pretsrnaturally
quick on the draw. The photography
Is remarkably fine, and the few glimpses
OF scenery are bold and picturesque.
Melodrama is certainly the best mate
rial for the screen and it might be ar
gued reasonably that the screen is the
best medium for melodrama. Al least
the screen dispenses with the trashy
lines and slush while keeping the situa-
tions and celebrating on them Stories
of adventure. on the other hand. make
the most ineffective OF stage productions
For a long time the adapters o! plays
never seemed to realize that the screen
was strong where the stage was weak
and weak where the stage was strong
and that the two could not do the same
things
Dorothy GIsh In Batting lane" at
the Riveii pOrtrays a girl who earns
this sobriquet by the efficient use Of her
small fists. and thereby arouses a
sleepy Maine village to n fun realiza-
ton OF patriotic duty she drifts into
the town while the Thrift Stamp drive
is on, and assumes charge OF a de
serted baby Her next deed is to start
Il baby show to help along the drive
Her own entrant scoops the first prize
OF $500 and brings back its INDECENT
father to stand on his parental rights
Battling Jane puts him to flight, how
ever. and adds the money to the stamp
fund.
THE Goat" at tho Strand Is the fea-
ture that introduces Fred Stone to the
metropolis as a screen star. He played
, the part OF young iron worker who
is infatuated with the movies. Pathos
| and comedy both have their place in
the story and Stone has ample oppor-
tunities to display his remarkable skill
| as an acrobat
The new film at the Broadway an
adaptation of pals First" the play in
which Thomas Wise starred last sea-
son, demonstrates the manner in which
a screen version may improve on a
stage play by obtaining atmosphere in
! its own manner. Scenic episodes re-
stricted by the limitations of the stage
! were given fuller scope. a rockbound
coast and billowy ocean come in. az
we'll as woodland glimpses.