New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-12
On the Screen

has at no time expected it to surpass
either "The Birth of Nation" or
Hearts of the World"
we can we'll understand after seq
ing THE Great Love" at the Strand
yesterday that Mr.. Griffith would not
care to have it referred to as his mas
terplece,. although happy the director
who might have one such picture to his
credit.
However. "The Great Love" is not so
great as either Of Mr. Grffith's pre-
vlous pictures. 1t is delightful and is,
OF course. filled with those human
touches which no other director has
been able to initiate, but it would have
pleased US better if it had ended about
the time Robbie Harron stopped the
machine bearing Henry Walthall and
Rosemary Theby. We should like to
nave seen bomb from one of the Yep
pellns which Walthall was guiding drop
on HIM and exterminate him.
what. we were principally concerned
with was whether Susie eventually
found the great love" She did
AS always, the love scenes between
Lillian Gish and Young Harron are the
most charming and refreshing that can
De imagined. AS Susie Broadplains
Lillian Gish gives performance which
equals that of her sister Dorothy in
Hearts Of the World" We had no
idea that she had such wonderful
comedy sense, but then person be-
comes all things to all men when the
great Griffith gets after him. More
and more we are realizing what it
means to be "a Griffith girl"
This is the first time we ever have
seen Henry Walthal on the screen,
and it seems to us that he is always
conscious of his spectators. Never for
q moment did he forget or allow us to
forget that he was an actor-a good
one, we grant you-but an actor
we liked young Harron much better
IN his entire simplicity and freedom
from effort. Both he and Miss Gish
may be pointed to as shining ex-
amples Of what screen lovers should
be. There is nothing left for them to
learn.
And the titles--what a relief were
they from the usual labored explana-
tons which are SO superf1uous in a pic
ture which boasts of any sort of con-
tinulty. Not since we were four years
old 40 we need to have our subjects
picked out for us and labelled as we
dld IN the old primer "ohsee- the-cow"
days.
For instance, in a most precarious
situation, where Sir Roger is about to
lose his young wife, Walthall and Miss
Gish are seen talking together for a
moment. and then comes the title
Susie accepts her husbands explana-
ton" How simple.
The story is war story, of course.
Mr.. Harron is young American who
has enlisted in the British service be-
fore America entered the war. In a
quaint little town he meets Susie. a
minister's daughter. and they love each
other right away. There are spies and
other things to prevent the course Of
their love from running smoothly. But
all ends we'll.
In some of the scenes the Queen and
ladies' of the British nobility are seen
taking part in the picture, and the
great Griffith works as an extra in one
street scene. He was Immediately rec
ognized and applauded
When we left the Strand the line
which forms to the left had stretched
down as far as Forty-fifth Street, but
we intend to get up bright and early
some morning soon and go to see "The
Great Love" again. Every one should
see it once for the story and once for
the acting and the accompanying
music.
Just before the picture is shown
there is an address on "The Star
Spangled Banner" by Lieutenant Tel
fair NJ. Minton and Community sing
ing" led by Miss Cora Tracy. If that Is
community singing, then, please, what
is solo?
If "Bill" Hart wants to retain his
hold on the hearts of his admirers he
must get new leading woman.
No one could love "Rill" more than
we do, and there are times when we
even have thought him handsome, but
his manly beauty fades into nothing
ness when compared with the dazzling
radiance Of Katherine Mcdonald, his
leading woman She is the only per-
son we ever have seen whom we con-
sidered beautiful enough to be the
queen in a fairy tale as described by
Hans Christian Andersen. All these
years we have searched for this ideal
and now we have found her. If any
there be VINO doubt-well, go and see
riddle Gawne" at the Rivoli.
The new Hart picture does not differ
greatly from his previous pictures,
which means that it is a good one.
riddle Gawne" was adapted from
story by Charles Alden Settler and was
directed by Mr.. Hart himself. So it
seems as though he must have been a
very busy person.
Of course, it never would do to have
Bill" Hart happy, though he does
laugh heartily once during the picture.
But "Riddle Gawne" was described as
"saturnine." en- adjective which is al
ways applied to a Hart characterize
ton.
But love, that thing which makes the
world go round, found its way to
BILLS" heart, and he stopped saying
vengeance is mine" long enough to
say "She shall be mine"
Two players from the Universal
made their appearance in this picture
They are Lou CLANCY and Gretchen
Lederer. Both do good work.
The comedy is called Judge Rum
BY an ingenious projection device
Mr. Rothapfel enables the spirit of
Joan of Arc to ride through the streets
of the city of Rheims at the head Of
mounted host. The animated pictorial
includes the official War Review
american Troops on Furlough" also
are shown.
The overture is civilian Tell" Mr..
Rothapfel conducted the orchestra
through the mazes of this himself.
Gladys Rice sang 81 Hear You Calling
Me" and Desere La Sale gave "Dio
Possente," from Faust"
At the Broadway Crashing Through
to Berlin" opened "Green Eyes," with
Dorothy Dalton, is at the Rialto These
will be reviewed tomorrow. H. U.