Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-02
WONDERFUL SCENES
IN 1.-THE BLUE BIRD"
Photoplay Technique Cleverly
Displayed in New Version
of Maeterlinck's Fantasy
APPEALS TO CHILDREN

sTANLEY-"The Blue Bird" scenario by
! Charles Maisne. from Maurice MsetGr-
| i!ncks sym6olical play; ., DridrSSC,CcftGio, p'
Maeterlincks fve-act allegory con-
densed into a one hours film play Is a
pretentious and ingeniously devised Of
| fering with n special appeal to children
! The numerous transformations and cpl
| sodes of enchantment are In the main
admirably handled. The difficult char
acterizations are intrusted to competent
| players Charles Maigne's scenario em-
| phasiZes the elemental spiritual slgnih-
cance OF the original play but neceS-
sarily numerous subtletlcs and poetic
beauties must succumb to the cXactions
Of abridgment.
"Thc Blue Bird" as a drama Is a rich
| ly imaginative symbolic masterpiece
primarily adapted TO the mentality OF
adults As movie the work assumes
the aspect Of a charming fairy tale, win
a pretty moral, deliberately explained AT
the outset and repeatedly driven home.
The childish intelligence should expert
| enCe no difficulty in grasping the UNDER
lying content of this fable. Tyltyl and
Mytyl rove daringly through the limitless
domain Of fancy in quest Of the Blue
Bird Of happiness. II Is eventually dis
! covered, after the awakening from their
Nblhtllul uItdlls III TIE l'hl 1 ~ '''N'A
own humble home. The deep philosophy
irony humor and even some Of the ten-
derness with which the Flemish poet
has embroidered this theme are quali-
ties but lightly developed in the screen
ing. This procedure makes matters
much easter for the children, who VIII
naturally hail the film in a spirit of cX-
ultant romance.
Several lnadvisable interpretations
have Crept into Charles Maigne'S seem
ario. The Palace of Happiness scenes
are undiscoverable in Maeterlincks
dream play. The sentimental finale, in
which Tyltyl young as he is, seems
stirred by the charms Of Neighbor Ber-
llngots little girl, restored TO health
through the necromanCy OF the Blue Bird,
Is specimen Of film hunger for so-callcd
love interest" The blot Is less serious
than il is characteristic.
Photoplay patrons. however, both
young and old will find much to please
them in "The Blue Bird The photogra-
raphy Is often extremely beautiful The
marvellous happenings are treated with
fewer evidences OF studio mechanics than
In any other fairy film extant. The child
hero and heroine are presented with fine
sympathetic effectiveness by respective
" Robin Macdougall and Tula Belle.
Tom Corlesss Cat is almost as good as
was Cecil Yapp'S i'm the New Theatres
unsurpassed original footlght prOduc-
ton; Charles Ascots Dog, while effacing
no memories of the lamentcd Jacob Wen
dell, is vivid and appealing. 1t may be
noted that the intense affection which
Maeterlinck lavished on canine character
is but vaguely touched upon In the
movie, but that is hardly the present
actors fault Edward Elkas's Neighbor
al ITafryy IQprX1npa a
Of fantastic portraiture.
If the dilution Of Maetcrlinck be once
accepted, there can be no dispute that
the cinema Blue Bird" is well worthy Of
energy artistic talent, stagecraft and
financial expenditure involved in its
making. ii. 7. {.
Majesty Bunker Bean"
with Jack Pickford and Louise Hun.
Scenario by Julia Crawford lvers, from
bv' William d. Taylor Photographed by
Homer scott. Paramount production.
The oliver Morosco studio again
comes 10 the fore with a typical" pro-
duction and 1t must be said in all fair
ness to other producers, that this is
about as "zippy" a comedy as has yet
been shown. II makes not the slightest
difference whether the spoken play has
been seen or not, for in this interpreta-
ton there Is little missing that could
alter the charm of its quiet humor
Mr. Wilson's plot was productive OF
lauditory laughter from pleased
audience The excellent musical ac-
compartment proved an additionally
attractive feature.
Jack Pickford, whose enlistment in
the aviation corps has taken youth
full star from the screen ranks. is cast
in the part which was assumed upon
the spoken stage by Taylor Holmes
He gives the screen a clean. whole
some specimen of American manhood
and extracts every possible ounce cf
comedy from his role. OF the Pictfor0
family Of actors. Jack is the best.
Louise HuS Is a very capable artist
and gives the screen a fetching type
Of "happer." Jack Macdonald is a
typical father TO Miss Huff and inter-
prets a gouty business man in the old
fashioned manner Edythe Chapman is
pleasing, while Peggy O'Connell and
Gustav Seyffertitz supply the realistic
characters of fake" fortune tellers.
The production has been we'll staged
and the many incidents Of the story are
briskly introduced by intelligent editing
and cleverly written titles. This is an
admirable vehicle for the expression Of
the youthful stars talents.
THE Son of Democracy" eighth
episode, is an added attraction.