New-York tribune., 1918-07-22
On the Screen

Writing a review tonight IS going
to be difficult in order to avoid doing
"sometning,' when we don't know just
what that Something" is.
We have just received a letter
signed "a Former II. U. Fam" and
above this signature are a number of
things, including, "Your criticisms
were once joy, "but quit dabbling in
star dust" whatever that is) and
gushing all over the kitchen" And
speaking Of kitchen, there is a new
Fatty Arbuckle comedy at the Rialto
This week, in which the scenes are laid
mostly in the kitchen. Some one told
us that Arbuckle was as funny as Chap
lin, but we do not think so; we don't
think any one could be.
We doubt, though, if Charlie could
flop pancakes with equal skill. 1t must
have been a long, long trail for Fatty
while he was learning to pitch curve
with a hapjack that would go over his
shoulder, bounce on his foot and back
into the frying pan. The name of the
comedy is "The Walters Ball." prob
ably because there is nothing in it
about q ball at all, or, possibly, it is
a serial.
1t happens that "a Former Fam is
going to be pleased this time, for we
never "gush" over Wallace Reid. 1t
always seems extremely presumptious
to say we do not like this one or that
one quite as though some stranger had
written us letter and said he did not
like US. Also, it is not exactly fair to
say that we do not approve Of the
faces and figures which nature has
given them. But it is asking lot of
any one to ask him TO believe that q
most ordinary looking little girl, with
her hair fresh from the curl papers
can sway nations, or that women who
have always remained impervious to
the call of matrimony will fall down
and worship at the shrine Of q man
who looks as though he ought to be
useful But, Of course, the managers
who insist on making every mediocre
player star are to blame. Some
achieve stardom, but mostly they have
it thrus. upon them.
Wallace Reid is starring in LESS
Than Kin" at the Rialto. The story
is by Alice Duer Miller, and was di-
rected by Donald Crisp. Ann Little is
the leading woman.
! At first Reid is two characters, Rob
ert Lee and Lewis Vickers, but pres
entity one of him dies and that makes
it easier.
1t is Lee who dies, so vickers takes
his papers and returns to the old
homestead, only to learn that Lee has
a hectic past. Well, you may judge of
how bad he is when Vickers decides to
be himself, and, incidentally, a mur-
derer. rather than be saddled with
Lees past.
Raymond Hatton is always a bright
spot in picture, and he shines in
less Than Kin" although he does not
shine often enough. We should like to
see another Whispering Chorus
Heroes need not be beautiful, but they
must be something else, and Hatton is
that
There is beautiful picture, called
mated magazine, edited by Mr.. Roth
APPEL.
AS rule we prefer being amused
to being improved, and we think that
instructive subjects and travelogues
on the screen bear the same relation
to a pleasant film drama where the
hero marries the heroine that a lee
ture on the law of gravtation does tc
a good stage drama.
SO it was with no great expectation
that we visited the Rivoli yesterday
for Mr.. Rothapfel had announced that
he was going to eliminate the featur,
pictures from his programme for the
week. But what he has in the place is
quite as thrilling as Robert Louis
Stevenson story, and you know, too
that it is all real.
1t is Martin E. Johnson's motor
pictures Of his adventures among tht
cannibal isles Of the South Pacific ant
Mr.. Johnson delivers lecture at tn,
same time, or rather he tells you il
nice, friendly way what the picture,
are all shout.
Mr. Johnson knows full we'll, too tn,
dramatic value of that break in tn,
picture where the curtain is draw
while he and Mrs. Johnson are strug
Cling in the grasp of the cannibals O
Malekula, who insist on having then
"stay for dinner"
Nv Tai