The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-18

CLEOPATRA"

The history of Egypt. when Cleo
patra ruled as queen until her SOW
ereignty was overthrown by Octsvius
and his victorious legions of the Ro-
man empire, is thrown upon the
screen in William Fox's gigantic
photo-d drama production. Cleopatra"
with Theda Bara in the title role. is
a stupendous production. one of those
unusual screen dramas that completes
an afternoons or evenings perform
ence, with full orchestral accompani-
ment. that will occupy the Academy
next week. the first performance .ak-
Ing place Tuesday matinee with daily
matinees and evening performances
to follow.
Those who have seen the production
have declared the picture to be so big
that one Is completely overwhelmed.
Spectacularly, Electrically and dra-
matically, ii is by far the most inn
portant OF the famous screen dramas
that have held attention during the
last few years. The pageantry liz said
to be inspiring, the crowd scenes be-
ing handled with rare skill. and there
is a thrilling reproduction of the
worlds first naval battle at Actiun,
where eighty ships are engaged and
burn to the waters edge.
Doubtless greater interest will come
with the display of womanly beauty.
the fascination of a vampires smile.
the allurements of a siren to win the
love OF her intended victims In the
part that Cleopatra plays She con-
quers the susceptibility OF both Gaze
sar and Marc Antony. likewise that
Of Pharon, the hereditary king of
the Egyptian throne. who has sworn
to kill her, and like the other two.
becomes bewitched by her charms.
It is in the role of Cleopatra that
Theda Bara is said to have fastened
her powers to hold and sway the plb-
lie as she has never done before.
Costumed in fifty different garments,
such as only a queen of the Egyptians
would wear, scant of attire In filmy
extremes and again gorgeously man
tied as becomes the dignity OF her
station. Miss Bara Is said to fascinate
the beholder and realize the power
that Cleopatra swayed over all whom
she designed to reach.
Nothing so far done for stage pre-
sentation lis said to compare with the
magnificance of Cleopatra's palace at
Alexandria, her arrival in her barge
of state at Tarsus, to meet Antony
by his command: the feast OF Isis;
the thrills that come with the ad-
vance on the run of Octavius' army
across the desert toward Alexandria,
or the running chariots on the desert.
while the staging OF the first and only
naval battle in history is In itself an
achievement.
The production opens when Cleo
patra has been expelled from Egypt
and with her followers 10 encamped
on the desert. Then come those
scenes OF history where she goes TO
meet Caesar, conquering him by her
beauty and by her inspiration he re-
turns to Rome to demand of the SEN
ate that he be proclaimed emperor,
but meeting his death at the hands
of Brutus Marc Antony's Grafton
over his body before the populace Ia
a dramatic picture of great intensity
How she contrives to lure Antony. by
her sirenic spell, 10 forsake his duties
and accompany her to Alexandria ia
feast and love. is like the dream OF
| n romancer. Then comes the fgh'
between Antony's army with those OF
/ Cleopatra, against the forces of Octa-
vius. eliminating in his defeat at the
/ battle of Actium. The meeting be-
tween Octavius and Cleopatra and th1
death of Antony. with the end of Cleo
patra herself. after she has placed the
asp TO her breast. the reptiles bite
poisoning her. are scenes that are al
most compelling and realistic.
! Altogether Cleopatra" from all &C
counts, is an unusual. extremely hold
ing and intensely interesting produc
ton.