Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-08
|RY GARDENS THAT'S
! REVEALED in FILMS
cratic Diva Pictorially Eff
I.ctive in Screen Version of
4 Anatole Frances Tale
tnRY,S SPIRIT ELUSIVE

n'ch na,urally a notable feature of
W, ,ho nhotoplay which marks her
The diva's regal beauty is
1r.'ngIv displayed in the scenes of
'randrian revelry, while her command
N.siri,,,al values, heretofore revealed
- tho footlights in "Pelleas ct
.,,.,rde" and ale Jongleur," Is touch
n, emphasiZed in the unnery epi-
~ ste has sterling support in Ham
~ peyelle. whose carefully conceived
.s,raIt of the infatuated monk, Paph-
,,ius is a close second in appeal to the
- drama characterization Of the
'perb Maurice Renaud.
ahs abilities Of both Miss Garden and
Revelle are. however, fe cred in
oresent instance by the choice Of ma
E-,sl Anatole France. polished mister
q logic. dialetiCs, wit. irony and sly
I<,,re Is weak as dramatist. rambling
M discursive Uhough charmingl.' SOD
- novelist lie Is concerned not with
sna,ions. but the ideas. The province
The screen is objective. For the con-
,yance of philosophy 1t is an unsuitable
sdum. 1t was inevitable, therefore.
M the contcmptuOus pity, the subtle
kockery of the original "Thais" should
lost in the films. The essential
Rama Is actually very slight.
| Aiassenet's perfumed music partly
|toned for this difficulty in opera. Paul
E1stach's stage version. IN which con-
kance Collier appeared some seasons
.xo. suffered from many of the same de-
Pcfs as tie perturbation. Passages in
bsputably tresomc. frankly SLOW"
karked this footight Arrangement, as
here are similarly dreary stretches in
ke celuloid tire ltment The scenario
extremely long. Much of its intro
hctory portions. which, by the way.
Fe BY no means faithful to NJ. Frances
he, could be profitably cut. But Miss
|arden's fitness to be a screen star can
bt really be demonstrated until she has
. vehicle more CCmpactly dramatic, less
3onotonous and better suited TO film
kqurements than is philosophical
eattse. however brilliant, hung on IL
hin strand of narrative
In presenting the spiritual crisis of
be converted Courtesan and her prose-
tizing lover. whose passionate nature
Ientually revolted against the very
tcetic doctrines which Paphnutius
reached, the great French writer dipped
IS pen in irony. But this attribute is
ecessarily dissipated in the fortnight
ethods of pictures. Sentimentality and
perversion of the original purpose re-
ace it. And this was probably true of
le censored version. which Pennsyl-
hnians are not privileged to behold.
The Goldwyn staging is elaborate.
bd In presenting the dissolute Alexah-
ia Of the world empires decadence and
hristianity's ascension. considerable at
ntion to historical accuracy has been
bid. Occasionally. however. too much
|ggestion of the later Arab civiliza-
On Is given In the street scenes and
le true Hellenic charm is rather weakly
bnveyed in interiors. which are almost
too dark and overcrowded Lam
orous loNeliness is not hinted at all
Thais's grotto boudoir, which seems
ncomfortably clayey -tsRd damp, and
flavor Of Egypt is impaired in the
esert scenes. where the lighting is with
ht the requisite subtropical glow. The
tile spring, where That's. en- route to
pr clustered home. is refreshed, lacks
due girdle of waving date palms.
Characteristic Of the Nile Delta country.
le "back-lot" atmosphere is some
hat disconcerting, Notwithstanding the
port that special trip to Florida was
lde to obtain the proper environment.
II. r. c.
-"Troublemakers." with Jane and
gathering Lee. Written and directed by
kenesn Buel. Fox production.
AZ last these dimunitive actresses.
ed fve and seven years. have been
zen a chance to star in their own
Sht. They have been the means of
king many pictures successful when
announced star failed. Their rise
Pm supporting players to luminaries
quite justified. A big factor in the
Gor of the little players in this pro-
ction is the fact that the director is
70 the author of the story and he has
as been enabled to develop the best
ssibihties of the Lee children's art.
The press 'agentry" which named
se Lee children the FOX Baby
Rnds' selected an appropriate title,
they are both dainty and their act
mas fineness and charm. Lillian
pcorn, Francis Miller. Richard Tur-
Robert Vivian, William T. Hayes
Stuart Sage make up the supporting
PRACTICAL jokes are freely employed I'm
motivation OF this picture, based
children's pranks. Plenty of COM
is thus injected: church scenes and
pig in the courtroom were rewarded
peals OF laughter yesterday.
ne Lee children will appear I'm per-
at the matinee and evening per.
nances this week
ADlA-"Rose OF the World" with Elsie |
rom suspn' sba ro Scenario by Charles MsIgne
sstle. Directed by Maurice Tourueur
rtcraft production.
ne first Aircraft Offering, for 1918
tainly is excellent, and If those Of |
lngs scheduled to follow 1t come up |
tnis standard Of motion picture dew |
% nave much pleasure in store for |
n' Elsie Ferguson has been n screen |
cess from the start. and with this, |
rhlrd effort, there need be no further |
pt as to her ability in her new field. |
Rose OF the World" is a good adapta- |
OF the Castles story. 1t Is COM |
seq into five reels. which is a novelty |
the Aircraft program. This Is a wise |
cedure, for the story is unfolded with
one foot of padding and, therefore,
is the spectators interest throughout
showing.
Pisie Ferguson is seen as the wife of |
oidier who is supposedly killed In
eoellion. She marries again, but
n the British war department asks
70 collaborate with an officer in
ing out memoir book about her
husband. she gives vent to pent-
memories of her first love and under
great strain of mental energy her
weakens. She thinks she is again
Wife OF her first lover and her hair
white over night. The denouement
dmirably handled.
nere Is a new side to the versatility
MISS Ferguson's act which Director
rneur has brought out in this wifely
scter' Her portrayal is capital.
idham Standing has the part of the
lover. while Clarence Handysides
tne small role Of the second husband.
70 who contribute interesting char