The Washington herald., 1918-12-16
Loew's Palnce-s'The Gresfest
Thing In Life.-

producers.
Loew's Pslnee-aThe Gresfest
Thing In Life.-
Possibly Mr.. Griffith was very tired /;
perhaps he had a great many feet OF
French pastoral and war film that
he disliked to junk: perhaps he even
wished to demonstrate his alleged i'm
patience with the making of short
length pictures, but whatever the rea-
son. Mr.. Griffith has turned loose a
real disappointment in The Greatest
Thing in Life"
at the Palace this week. is hardly a
story at all. 1t runs along. a mere
semblance of plot, for four-fifths Of
its length, and then quite completely
collapses. Frankly. II reclines on the
generous arm of coincidence; Save for
minor touches here and there, II ut
terly lacks in novelty and freshness OF
theme. The mystery of its title-the
Greatest Thing in Life-is vaguely
spcifed here and there. as brother
hood. though il might as well be
love. without changing the story at
all. One really wonders after il is
over whether Griffith did this pic
ture at all Were IL not for that
strange Griffith depth or perspec-
tive. that infinite. but tangible grip
in even the lightest scenes which
hallmark his staff, we might really
imag that the great director had
turned Bobby Harron and Lillian
Gish loose on a lot. with Billy Bit
ger. the cameraman, and a flock of
extra people, and told them to go to
it
Now the strangest thing about
this picture-and the same is true
of other Griffith productions-is the
way in which it runs ahead of rival
film efforts. Judged by the movie
standard. The Greatest Thing in
Life" is a fine picture; judged by
Griffith standards. it is a mess.
A French girl, Lillian Gish. assists
her father in tending a little New
York cigar store. The old man is
troubled with nostaigia-God save
France. Enter a young bachelor,
Bobby Harron. selfish, snobbish and
the like. who falls in love-with the
girl. learns of papa's trouble. sends
her $1,000 anonymously. and she and
papa blow for that dear France.
Dejectedly the young bachelor fol-
lows, skaters the girls ideals by
his selfish attitude toward the world
and loses out-pro tempore.
He returns to New York, the war
breaks out and he-Lord bless us.
here's rank shameless coincidence
finds himself in the American
trenches fighting Germans right
outside her village. Then follows a
few thousand feet of some fine ac-
tion stun, the hero rescues the girl
from the Boche in the most brazeu
melodramatic manner. and then,
well. there's nothing left but to
fade 'em out under the mulberry
bush, which detail is hurried over in
perfunctory fashion.
In Justice to the Palace manage
ment it must be said that it has
billed a picture that everyone had
right to appraise as high class
film merchandise.
The fact that this film fails to
measure up to the Grifith standard.
is Mr.. Grifith's fault. In places, the
projection is a little too rapid for
the synchronized orchestration, but
that's not the real trouble. Mr..
Griffith, it seems. was very, very
weary of war-stuff or else he has
weightier things on his mind.
The Palace, to be strictly just.
has got a whale of a good Mutt and
JEFF comedy and some pictures of
the German fleet surrendering that
are also fine. If you cherish no pet
illusions about Griffith that might
be shattered, by all means see The
Greatest Thing in Life"
Loew's Coiumbis-.stiII Alarm
Proving that great story will never
die the film production of 1.-The Still
Alarm" which was shown for the
first time to a Washington audience
Sunday at Loew's Columbia Theater
commands ones sincere admiration
from every viewpoint The gripping
story intermingles love, tragedy, and
human interest in the most unusual
sort of action and scenic effect. To
build a story around a fireman's per-
sonality and brave determination to
discover the real truth about a black
guarding william who stoops to MUIR
der, deceit and treachery of the worst
type to wiring money from an inno-
cent man, required the genius of Jo-
seph Arthur. noted dramatist who
produced The Still Alarm" on the
legitimate stage in the early eighties
Thomas Saptschi, as Jack Manly,
the fireman, displays a splendid abil-
ity IN lhe feature scenes, putting such
realism in his portrayal that at once
claimed the sympathies and enthus.
asnl of the entire audience, Bessie
Eyton as Eleanor Fordham, Jack
Manly's sweetheart, took up a very
important part with complete success
The real value of the film production
of The Still Alarm" exists in the
spectacular fire scenes which are en-
tirely real having been filmed at the
occasions when large fires were sc-
tually raging before the camera. The
motor and horse-drawn fire depart
ment apparatus display is indeed in
teresting and the realistic re.cues ex-
cite genuine wonder at their serious
ness.
Taken as whole The Stin Alarm"
presents in graphic contrast the ex-
citing thrills of melodrama and the
delightful and engaging story of true
romance in its most pleasing form.
starring a hero worthy of the name
In every sense of the word.
Mopre's Strand-1vanity PooI.-
x,,u ~