The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-25

When 1 see something wonderful, |
love to rave about it. I saw 1.-The
Romance of Happy Valley" at the
Iris last night. It's A picture. D. w.
Griffith no longer finds it necessary to
flash upon the screen the cost of his
productions. The public are already
familiar enough with Robert Heron,
the Gish girls, George Fawcett and
others. He is. however, justified in
still flashing the name of c. w. Bitter,
his ininitable camera man, than whom
there is no better, if indeed there is his
known equal. Bitzer's name is synon-
omous with Griffith. They evidently
understand each other. How one can
get along without the other cannot
easily be imagined. Bitter is es-
sential to Griffith as colors to a
painter. When you see a Griffith pic
ture announced you know at once you
are going to be RECALLED with some Bit
ger lighting effects. For instance, in
the one scene, where Kate Bruce, who
! plays Herron's mother, is praying for
her boy, he invests the features with
a sort of halo that gives it a celestial
eXpression-or at least what we NOR
! tails conceive to be celestial. "A Ro-
nance Of Happy Valley is a rare lit
| tie gem that cannot help but make a
sincere appeal throughout the Christ
ian world. where English is understood.
!
| when it takes a morbid, tragic twist,
! the curse of which is taken off by a
surprise climax; otherwise it is as
| simple and straight-away tale as, say,
Miss Mulock's John Halifax Gentle
| man." There are some delightful intro
/ auctions of familiar old hymns. and
| "backsliders.'' etc. The feature has
| bigness written all over it for faithful
portrayal of the simply honey eharac-
ters. Those the "masterhand' demon
| strates the greatness of simplicity. You
| delight in Lillian Gish's quaint inter-
home body who makes her own
clothes after queer patterns she picks
up here and there, being obliged to
| conform them to her fathers idea of
dress. which is something awful. Mr..
| Heron does very WELL but rather
spoils his appearance at the finish by
once more affecting palpably false
mustache and the short "sideburns'
worn by theatrical Wallets. Bobby
| evidently donned them to give the ap-
pearance of years, but they aren't be-
| coming. And the facial expressions
of George Fawcett in his mental strug-
gle to bring himself to commit a
| crime is as fine a piece of character
acting as one would want to see And
Kate Bruce-well, she smiles on wit
the perfect understanding as she reads
her bible for the boy she knows will
come back. Jennie Timberlake's'
quaint little frilly dress. made with
much love, in effort to enthrau her
beau and ward off the growing temp
tation of New York City. failed in its
mission and it's worldliness nearly
spoiled her fathers perfect Sabbath
day. In a becoming mushroom hat
and demure little dress she welcomed
home the prodigal in the sweetest
| most forgiving manner-that is dear
little Lillian Gish. An instance of
| small bit registering was Lydia Yea
mans Titus as "Auntie Smiles" an
iancient. but happy toll gate keeper.
| With his rare understanding of human
nature and what audiences demand.
Mr.. Griffith maintains suspense thru
out and delivers we'll directed and eff
fective punch in the final reel On the
| whole, however, recommend "a Ro-
nance of Happy Valley" as a refresh
ing and worthwhile picture And, O,
I nearly forgot to ask you which you
would rather be-a captain with a
splinter in your finger or a private
with an abscess in your ear? And I
guess that will be about all-N. S. A.