New-York tribune., 1920-05-17
On the Screen
''The Sea Wolf' at the Rivoli
and Ethel Clayton at
the Rialto

The adaptation Of Jack London's
"The Sea Wolf" to the screen creates
the unpleasant necessity for compar-
ing, in ones mind, the effectiveness of
this great human masterpiece as be-
tween its different ediums--the writ
ten page, the stage and the motion pic
ture. In the gripping new version of
the book, shown for the first time yes
terday at the Rivoli Theater, "Wolf"
Larsen, his monstrous frame and his
peculiar philosophy predominating
throughout, sets hearts a-tingle and
brings home in perhaps more force
ful fashion than ever has been done
before the story which Mr.. London
wished to convey. Many, no doubt, will
concede that the broad scenic possi-
bllities, the wide range of ever-chang-
ing localities necessary in THE Sea
Wolf" and the dramatic clashes of hu-
man nature against human nature are
more capably done in this latest pro-
ductlon of the popular old story than
ever before. Certainly gasping, hand
clasping, admiring audience yesterday
gave it the smile and nod Of approval
which are SO necessary these days in
Broadway picture houses if success is
to crown the week.
Every man and woman who has read
The Sea Wolf"-and who, pray, has
not ?-agrees that in reading it for the
first time there was an unquenchable
desire to stop from chapter to chapter
and draw into his or her own mind the
picture Of "Wolf" Larsen there on the
open sea, ruling with an iron hand,
hard, yet kind; boastful, yet modest;
mean, yet tender hearted When small
productions of the book appeared on
the vaudeville stage comparatively re-
Gently with, may it be said, most COM
petent casts, there WAS just a half
dream realized. The subject, too broad
and too tense and too rich in its hand
ling of the human makeup Of man and
woman for proper care in so short
period of time as vaudeville acts will
allow, was not adequately handled.
But in this great picture by Para
mIount-Artcraft, with such persons as
Noah Beery taking the part of "Wo.f"
Larsen, Mabel Julienne Scott as Maud
Brewster, Tom Forman as Humphrey
Van Weyden, and Raymond Hatton as
the cook, the story has been admirably
pic.urized in every detail and shown in
a.. it's reality, until the dashng waves
that slap the sides of the old vessel
commanded by "Wolf" seem actually to
strike one between the eyes. The ami
NAL like nature OF the principal stands
out from the screen like thing alive.
The ship collision in San Francisco
Harbor, the battle in his bunk room Of
wolf" Larsen against his entire crew,
IN which he wins; a barroom fight be-
tween wolf" Larsen and his brother
and deadly enemy, Death" Larsen, and
scores OF other scenes indicate the ex-
haustlve effort that must have been de-.
voted to the production of the piece!e
1t Is more than we'll worth the seeing.
Young woman, either take advice
from your elders and "look before you
leap" or, better still, see the Difficult
ties young convent girl encountered
when she eloped and married a man
depicted this week at the Rialto Thea
ter, with Miss Ethel Clayton playing
the leading part.
Really, it isn't scolding you'll re-
csive for your impetuousity; rather a
warning. Miss Clayton plays the part
OF the Suddenly awakened" young
thlng with all her prettiness and ahil-
ity, and Harrison Ford works opposite
her
1t is the story of the elopement, with
the breaking of the bubble when the
girl realizes the man with whom she
has flown already is married. He has
a child. Strange to say, or, inasmuch
as it is motion picture scenario, per-
haps not so strange after ali. another
young man comes into her life, Who is
honor and fidelity and goodness per
sonifed, and with whom ahe imme-
diateiy falls. in love. Then begin her
attempts to free herself from the grasp
of her first love. This Is done with
some trouble and little crying, but
finally she is released.
Miss Clayton always is an interest
ing being in the Aims, because Of her
sweetness and her sincerity One al
most feels she is weeping real tears.
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