The Washington times., 1920-10-09

whose identity is shrouded I
establishes an entertainment
viture of the finished skill OF
''The Woman In His House" is IA
picture that combines an astonishing
variety OF moods. scenes, action and
emotions without at any time impair
ing the subjects wonderfully human
and wonderfully appealing central
theme. The theme OF the picture, In
cldentaIly. Is as old as the world. as
appealing as 1t was In the beginning
and as new as today-mother love.
This play has one important dis
tinction which will be OF particular
interest to those who have watched
the development Of tho so-called new
amusement art. The story ts an
original creation for the screen writ
ten by Irene Reels. well-known
author. by the way. who has selected
this motion picture nom de plume. 1t
Is not an adaptation for photoplay
use of any stage play. novel. Tor
short story.
When the photoplay was conceived
and IL wasn't SO long ago-the ap-
parent similarity OF dramatic action
with words and dramatic action with
out words quite easily led to the
practice Of merely picturizing ma
lerlal WHICH n1Q AiTcduy pIoN0o WV
ular with tho public.
The difficulties which wero en-
countered in getting the same re-
, action from an audience with the aid
of q gold picture sheet az opposed
10 a stage full OF people, each pose
sessed Of q distinctive personality
soon started a discussion as to
whether or not photoplay material
would not have to be originally
created, rather than "cribbed" from
Established sources. That discussion
IL still on.
Mr.. Mayer has been a disciple of
originality. holding that the proper
development of new art with only
such traditions as 1t had developed
within itself, required entirely new
treatment. Because of this conten-
tion Mr.. Mayer has not hesitated to
depend for the success of "The
Woman in His House." his most pre-
tentious Offering. upon an original
story originally treated.
Photoplay patrons have heard
great deal within the past year or
so of tho astounding prices which
have been paid for the right to
screen established Broadway sue
cesses What they haven't heard so
frequently is that more than fifty per
cent of the motion pictures made
from these expensive stories arc COM
mercial failures.
Mr.. Mayer is Of the opinion that
the day is not far Off when photoplay
stories conceived and written for the
motion picture screen and not adapted
from plays, novels, or short stories
will return to their authors the fancy
prices which are now being paid for
"rights" which he thinks are always
sf doubtful value.
The theme of Louis b. Mayors
super-special production c"The Woman
in His House." is so thoroughly hu-,
man that it is sure to strike home IN
the case of 30 per cent of the ordinary
audience. Age-old and time-worn, the
theme is ever new and really rorms
the foundation of all social life.
The story concerns intimately four
people whose counterpart may be
found in any gathering Of representa-
tive human beings--the materialistic
husband. the love-craving wife, the
philosophic friend. and the child.
The story opens on the rugged
coast of eastern Canada, where Philip,
fae materialist, and his friend, Peter.
the philosopher. were vacationing.
1t is there Hilda, who later becomes
TIE wife of Philip, is found kneeling
he fore the sarcophagus OF her mother.
4 hunchback. Sigurd, who bitterly
recognizes the fact that he is one OF
TIE worlds unfortunates, stands by
her side.
As If by premonition, the hunch-
beck takes a bitter dislike to Philip.
ills dog-like devotion causes him to
attempt the life of the young doctor;
later he attempts to drown the girl
he loves because he does not want
her to become the wife of the mate
Yialist.
Despite this opposition, Hilda be-
comes Philips wife and goes to New
York. where the husband soon estab-
lisbes himself as a famous physician
and surgeon. In his materialism, he
turns his thoughts to things material.
His love for Hilda, despite the warn
ings of Peter, Is put into the back
ground.
For days he works in his laboratory
with no one near save a beautiful
young woman who acts as his assist
ant. Unable to understand the make
mp of a man of her husbands type,
Hilda suspects a secret affair between
her husband and his assistant--an af-
fair which does not exist in fact, but
81 seemingly apparent.
, In time comes Philip. jr., but even
a mothers love for her child fails to
4 make happy lie nlied with material
neglect. And then comes the third
angle, Bob Livingston, a bomewreck-
err whose wiles add to the disconsola-
tions of Hilda's already miserable ex-
istence.
As Is often the case, Philip encour-
ages his false friend to entertain Hill
da. Peter, sensing danger. attempts
20 point out what may happen, but is
unsuccessful. At last, when Philip be-
gins to realize his place is with his
v-ife an epidemic of infantile parsJy-
yis sweeps over the poorer sections OF
toe city.
His mind rcverts to the material
End his good intentions toward Hilda
are wrecked in his. professional desire
10 stay the scourge. As he labors in
the tenement district his own child is
stricken with the dread disease.
Livingston tells Hilda that Philip II
more interested in his wealthy women
patients than he is in her, and that Ia