South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-11-21
GRIFFITHS GREATEST
PICTURE COMING
TO THE OLIVER
BY W. W. DUNKLE.

Hector Fuller, for a number OF
years a prominent writer OF theatri-
cal affairs in Indianapolis, and dur
Ing the world war one of the most
brilliant correspondents in Europe.
is in South Bend. For the past two
years Mr.. Fuller has been associated
with d. W. Griffith, the master dir
ector OF motion pictures. His latest
and greatest picture, Way Down
East" IS coming 10 the oliver for
one week. starting Sunday, Dec. 0,
and Mr. Fuller is paving the way for
the coming Of the big attraction.
The name Way Down East" is
familiar to theater-goers for many
years. 1t has been a standard sue
cess in the legitimate theater be-
cause of its human story. That ID.
" Griffith should buy the rights
of screen production was a surprise
To some. As a phOtOplay spectacle
it could not compare with The
Birth of a Nation" Intolerance"
and other masterpieces of this ar
tistic producer.
But Mr.. Griffith knew that the
story of Anna Moore was a human
document with a universal appeal.
He calls it "a simple story OF plain
people and also states that il is his
u
and the master technique are Law
lshed on this marvel Of the camera.
For more than, three months capa-
city audiences attended the showing
OF the picture in one of New York's
largest and best known legitimate
theaters After the South Bend en-
gagement the picture goes 10 the
Woods theater Chicago, for an in
definite run Pictures have never
been shown in this theater before.
Observe Regular Scale
The regular scale Of dramatic at
traction prices Will be charged. For
the opening performance, in Chi
cagO when Mr.. Griffith. himself.
viii be present. $40 a seat will be
charged The Boston Symphony or
chestra will accompany the picture
The same orchestra viii be heard
during the engagement .of the pic
ture al the Oliver. The performance
lasts three hours.
The cast includes such favorites
as Lillian Gish. who has been under
Mr.. Griffith's direction for the past
2 years and he has secured wonder
full results in winsOme. pathetic.
passionate acting from this will-o'-
the-wisp little actress The result
Is 100 percent in acting and direc-I
uOn. Richard BarthelmeSs who
played opposite Miss Gish in "Brok>
en- Blossoms las the part of David
and makes the best Of every oppor-
tunity. Burr Mcintosh. an old time
legitimate actor has the role of
Squire Bartlett. Kate Brice. Creigh-
ton Hale and others Of the support
ing cast are the best players for the
respective roles obtainable.
Has Big Thrill.
The big thrill in Way Down
East" is reserved Of necessity. for
the closing moments, when David
rescues Anna from death at the falls
in the ice-jammed river. The scene
Is said to be the most thrilling ever
depicted on screen or stage. At the
New York premiere this scene swept
an audience of hard boiled" motion
picture experts off their feet. Hun
dreds stood up and yelled, and other
hundreds remained riveted to their
seats, spellbound.
Mr.. Griffith and his wizards Of the
camera not only use the dreamy
fade out" and misty "close-ups. -
so effectively employed in Broken
Blossoms" but have introduced
various colors TO produce marvel
Ously effective work. In this pro-
duotion he has blended story, acting,
photography and music into some
thing nearer perfection than has
ever been dreamed or before.