The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-17

/" GORGEOUS and gripping indeed IS U 1 the photoplay entitled "The Red
 M Lantern," in which Nazimova, the great Russian actress and one of the most popular "stars' in filmland, is ap bearing at "The Strand" which is all ways packed and damned to it's utmost capacity when this celebrated artist ap- pears.
 With the exotic Chinese air which permeates the picture with it's beauti- ftl and fascinating eastern coloring and Oriental environment, Nazimova has an- other superb opportunity to display her wonderful art, and in the dual role ot Mahiee and Blanche Sackville, she throws all the complete dramatic understanding which she possesses into the interpreta- tion
 In "The Red Lantern" Nazimova is at her best-equally as good as she was in An Eye for An Eye" and Out of the Fog" two of the best things she has ever done, for as 'Mahlee" the half caste and Mahlee's half-sister. Blanche Ssckvlle tan English girl this latter role being quite incidental, but necessary for the conflict of the passion which provides the dramatic structure), she shows her complete versatility and ac- quaintance with emotionalism
 NaZimova is particularly suited to the excite role, of the ha1f-caste Chinese girl; she possesses naturally the Oriental temperament, being Russian herself and her coloring, her features, her eyes all suggest the Mongol; a native as she is xrh inh ha ruiI poured in oden times, it would not be surprising if Nazimova has in her veins touch of the Tartar or Mant hu blood :; the peculiar slant of her eyes (without the aid of the makeup" of the screen or tho stage), that air of mystery, and irsccutabiity which baffes. while 1t ascinates the occidental-is all hers to a marked degree
 Altogether. Nazimova is at her best as I said before in exotic roles-the Ibsen plays on the legitimate stage "Bella Donna" and others of that Sort-juSt as she is on the screen-and so "The Red Lantern furnishes her a magnificent vehicle for her talents.
 The scenes of "The Red Lantern" are laid in Pekin before and during the fa- nous and bloody Boxer uprising. The Feast of the Red Lantern marks the beginning of the New Year in China, and for the purpose of this plot, Mahlee, the heroine-of a Chinese mother by an Eng fish father-impersona the Goddess or the Red Lantern during this feast to call upon the people to support the Box CTS and kill all foreigners or drive them from the land
 The idea behind the action is the old one so effectively put by Kiping in his l celebrated line, East is East and West 1 is West and never a twain shall meet. v
 This is popular theme just now the
 most successful drama of the New York season, East Is Vest being based up- l on it.
 The play tells the dramatic story of 1 the daughter of two races-a girl who,
 though born in coffin shop in the slums | of Pekin is educated among the Flu
 ropean surroundings and ideals of the | Christian Mission, where she adopts the
 faith of her father
 l How she feels the perpetual conflict oi
 her mixed blood-the seething passions | and desires of both races which are for ever at war in her soul-is dramatically | shown by this unusual actress. She lm- bues the. character with all the inscrut- able mystery and passionate fire Of the l glowing east and at the same time con- veys to the beholders the vast racial gulf which separates the two girls, who 1 though they possess the same father
 are as remote as the poles.
 | How jealousy leads her to forsake the l people of her fathers race-casting aside | their religion and beliefs, and assuming | the historic and sinister title of the War Maiden of China-the Goddress of the l Red Lantern--is graphically shown, as I Is also her poignant remorse and fran | tic efforts to save those she has grown