The Washington times., 1919-10-27
tContinued from Page 12.)

and his handling of Soldiers of For
tune" confirms that opinion.
One of the best characters is that
OF Mendoza, the would-be dictator, as
portrayed by Wallace Beery. His in
science and braggadocio were blended
with just enough suavity to make him
most acceptable villain, and proved
an excellent foil for the action of
Norman Kerry as Robert Clay. the in
trepid engineer who saves the day and
wins the girl.
The girl in this case is not the
beautiful Anna Q. Neilsson. whom the
producers announcement features, but
the fragile Pauline Stark. who plays
ner debutante sister. In the brief Wis
its to the Millionaire Langham's
household, the globe-roving Clay
takes no notice of the adoring girl
but in the thick of the revolution she
proves dauntless little character to
the detriment of her frivolous sister,
and Clay chooses her long before the
final fade-out Melbourne Mcdowell
gives an impressive performance as
the millionaire Langham. and wiifred
Lucas. Warde Crane, Fred Kohler and
Frank wally are but few Of the char
acters who play their respective roles
with all the zest intended by Richard
Harding Davis.
The production gains impetus from
the very start, and moves along at a
good pace, gathering thrills and emo
tional touches on the way. The at
tack by Mendoza's rebels, the storm
Ing of the American mine and the
nnai rescue OF the pretty Yankee
girls by shipload of husky gobs
bring the picture to a smashing cli-
max. q.
Claude v. Burrows. director of the
Garden orchestra, has provided q
noteworthy musical setting for the
production. A new march by Arthur
Pryor, entitled "SoIdiers of Fortune"
is rendered as overture.
CRITERION,
One of the most entertaining film
melodramas Of the season is the
Ralph Ince production, '"virtuous
Men," which had its first Washington
presentations yesterday at the Criter-
ion Theater, Ninth and d streets
northwest. 1t will remain the attrac-
tion there during the current week.
Produced in Ince's best style, "yir-
tuous Men" tells the story of young
socigty man, who under stress of cir
cumttances, is forced to battle his
way against well-nigh insurmount-
able odds to success in his chosen
line of endeavor. The story is one in
which the spectators interest is grip
ped at the very beginning, and held
until the final fadeout. 1t is one of
the truly noteworthy pictures of the
year. and during its action. gives op-
portunity for innumerable scenes of
sensationally thrilling nature.
The hero, in one case, fights one Of
| the most realistic battles ever
screened, while in another scene = is
ehnu o~f, -
hideous, yet fascinating beauty.
e. X. Lincoln, star of many big sue
cesses. does his best work in "Vir-
tuous Men," He is ably supported by
an unusual cast numbering such
stars as Grace Darling and Clara Joel
who. incidentally. is being stared in
Washington on the legitimate stage
at the Shubert-Garrick this week.
PALACE.
The problem play may thrive and
prosper, the bedroom farce may still
hold its exotic sway, but nothing
cheers the heart of man-and woman
like a good old-fashioned. blood
tingling melodrama when it's done
right. And thsy's done 1T right in In
Mizzoura." the flm adaptation of Au-
gustus Thomas great stage hit, which
brought Robert Warwick to the screen
of Loew's Palace Theater yesterday
for full week
The story itself is powerful, logical,
and its climax carries the kick of
howitzer. Robert Warwick, the star.
always best in roles that call for
! red -blooded, yirile action, scores
tremendous hit as the hero of the
story, which concerns the blighting
of a Missouri love affair by the ad-
vent of villainous stranger which
almost parts the girl and her rustic
lover. In the end, though, there en-
sues a period of danger and stress in
which the sturdy, honest courage and
simplicity OF the rustic lover are
clearly revealed and the polished
stranger stands forth a villain re-
i'pudiated.
AS an extra added attraction the
Palace has offered Mack Sennetts
andoah." The Palace Symphony Or
chestra offers a Hungarian novelty
called "Rakoczy," and minor fea-
lures conclude the bill.
METROPOLITAN.
Jerome X. Jerome's delightful
satire on English social usages,
Fanny and the Servant Problem"
yesterday was presented for the first
| time in photoplay form at Crandall's
Metropolitan Theater. with Madge
Kennedy pictured in the stellar role.
and scored the comedy hit of the
season.
Goldwyn has supplied a production
| that represents the high point of
artistic attainment
Miss Kennedy, always a vivacious
and diverting figure on the screen, as
she was also on the articulate stage
| has never had role so completely
eypository of the versatility and