New-York tribune., 1919-08-18
On the Screen
Mabel Normand Has Pleasing
Role in "Upstairs" at The
Strand This Week

If you are as fond Of Mabel Nor
mand as we are. so to see "Upstairs"
at the Strand this week. If not, stay
away, for the picture is devoted almost
entireY " to the exploitation of her
peculiar and, to US, most fetching sort
of humor
There is Mabel hurrying to work in
pair of white kid shoes considerably
the worse for wear, and little Mabel
peeking through the ventilator and
little Mabel with her face against the
pane"
There may have been more of the
picture originally; we fancy it must
have been much cut, as Kate Lester,
who is scheduled on the programme to
play Mrs. Barrlson, does not appear
at all.
The plot is nil. AS nearly as we can
remember, it concerns a little girl
| named Elsie MacFarland, who worked
in hotel in a capacity not clearly de-
fined. Whenever we caught sight of
her in the kitchen she was juggling
grapefruit or playing pool with the
olives and a mop handle for cue.
But one day she was peeking through
the door to see the guests upstairs
dance, and one of the guests saw her
first and Immediately fell in love with
her. He was described as society
idler, or something of the sort, but. he
looked like one of the nice cub re.
porters who ever and anon como to The
Tribune from the Columbia School of
Journalism.
Anyway, he borrowed q gown and
hat for Elsie. She commandeered q
pair Of shoes, and the desire of her
heart was granted-she was upstairs.
a dangerous chauffeur who desired to
marry the milionaire's daughter and
thereby wins $4,000 reward.
Mabel Normand is delightful as Miss
/ MacFarland. Cullen Landis is ade-
quate if not startling as the woung
idler who looks like a cub reporter,
and Halem Cooley is the chauffeur.
There is first-class fight in the fifth
reel. Victor Shertzinger directed the
picture. The presentation is by Sam
Goldwyn.
On the picture programme are a
Haroldy Lloyd comedy, "Be My Wife"
an Outing Chester "Fiddlers and Ac-
robats," and the Strand Topical Re-
view. The overture is from "Caval
leria Rusticana"
Carlo Ferretti, baritone from the
Milan Opera House, sang the Spanish
serenade Lolita" Eldora Stanford
sand Kreisler's LULLABY" and Annie
Laurie" as an encore.
"a Society Exile at the Rivoli this
week, is one of the most beautiful
things Elsie Ferguson ever has done,
and she has able support from every
quarter.
In the first place she has director
who not only knows everything per-
tanning to directing. but who has
imagination as well-George Fitz
maurice.
Then she has a supporting cast
which might we'll be advertised as all
star, a good story to work with and
presentation such as few pictures ever
have had. To put one in proper
frame of mind beautiful scenic called
Venice" is shown first. Then Mary
Ball and Mary Newton appear in
gondola singing "The Tales of HoH-
mann," with stage setting by John
Wenger, and the picture fades directly
into this scene.
1t is one of the most artistic things
we ever have seen in a theatre, and
Hugo Riesenfeld deserves full credit
for his part in making the perform
ance notable one.
The story is not unusual. 1t tells
Of the young girl drawn into scandal,
through 10 fault Of her own, though
it is not quite the usual sort Of scandal
She goes to Venice to forget and there
she meets the one man in the world.
There are some bits of coincidence
which would be rather startling out
side the pictures, but Elsie Ferguson
could make any one believe anything
1t seems to US that she is more mar
vellous than ever to look at and she
brings to the part what she brings to
every part she plays-a something that
give. 1t is what Lionel Barrymore meant
when he said, "You can't learn it
you've got it, or you haven't" Elsie
Ferguson has it, and we never cease
TO be grateful
William Carlton is seen opposite
Miss Ferguson in the role of a British
soldier who also goes to Venice to for
get. 1t happens that they are trying to
forget the same thing, but they do no.
know it. Mr.. Carlton gives a delight
full performance. Warburton Gamble
was an excellent choice for Lord Bisser.
the trouble maker, and Julia Dean and
Henry Stephenson in the roles of Lady
and Lord FurnivA, add considerably
to the enjoyment of the occasion.
Zeffie Tilbury, Bijou Fernandez and
Alexander Kyle are seen in small parts.
Inc Photography ana the settings
are on par with the rest of the pro
duction. and We should say that "A
Society Exile" is at least e9.44 perfect
We make this reservation knowing
that, on this mudane sphere, nothing
perfect exists, and we have no wish to
prove that this picture does not exist.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carter de Haven are
seen in comedy, "Close to Nature
There are also the Rivoli Pictorial anc
q Mutt and Jeff" cartoon. Alberto
Bachman. violinist, played "Melody in
f sharp minor" and "Rondo des Lu-
tins" The overture is "Moskowskiana,'
a potpourri of the most popular works
of Moskowski.
At the Rialto Charles Ray will be
seen in "Bill Henry" This will be re-
viewed tomorrow. n. U.
WV ~