New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
Tom Meighan Makes
Bow as Screen Star
In ''The Prince Chap

No matteI now magnlncenC spec
tacle picture offers, or how gorgeous
are its scenic attributes, if the appeal
to the heart is missing it is so much
deadwood," declared William De Mile
the playwright who has such notable
stage successes as "Strongheart" and
"The Warrens of Virginia" to his
credit and who is the director of "The
Prince Chap" the Paramount photo
play in which Thomas Meighan is the
star.
After five years Of close contact with
photoplay producing De Mile has
come to the conclusion that the one
essential in the film drama is emo
tional appeal.
people go to the motion picture for
emotional enjoyment and if they do
not receive it. they feel their evening
has been wasted. A lecturer or an
evening with a book of science or
philosophy may satisfy the mental de-
slres, but it is the task of the photo
play to fulfill the demands Of the
human heart to be stirred" asserted
the brother of Cecil De Mile, also of
the Paramount author-director forces,
1.-THE girl who goes to the theater
unconsciously slips into the role played
by the heroine" he pointed out. "The
love affair is hers, the heartache is
hers and the denouement is her big
moment. IT play lacks these elements,
no matter how we'll done, it will never
be popular success"
In nr0ducinr q now, cor;oc 80 d..
mount pictures under his own name
De Mile has incorporated his matured
ideas on the screen. The first of the
new series is "The Prince Chap" a
perturbation of Edward Peple's play
of the same name. 1t will have it's pre-
release showing at Rivoli during this
week.
Not only will the picture be interest
ing because playwright has produced
fellow playwright's drama on the
screen, but because the producer, who
knows the power of the human emo
tons, has selected Thomas Meighan as
the pivotal figure in the film play.
Meighan, too, brings from the stage
edge of his art. He appeared with
Henrietta Crosman, Grace George and
William Collier before he deserted the
spoken stage for the screen.
In "The Prince Chap" Meighan has
the role of the sentimental artist who
adopted four-year-old child and upset
his love affair as result. 1t is role
which gives the star another oppor-
tunity to weave comedy with the
stronger emotions, a knack, which
Meighan has revealed before in such
notable films as George Loane fuckers
"The Miracle Man." and Cecil B. De
Miles "Male and Female" He senses
just that emotional appeal which Will
liam De Mile desires to strike in his
photoplays, and has, as a result, gained
a large following.
"The Prince Chap" is story about
artists in Soho, London. Peple has
been closely affiliated with the artist
colonies of America and abroad before
he wrote his play, and De Mile, who
produced the screen version, had SINH
lar experience, and the result is that
the film master ransacked the studios
Of his friends to recreate the atmos-
phere which is distinctly that of paint
ers and sculptors.
In such an atmosphere the famous
play is lived again. It has comedy and
emotion, "for real comedy" says De
Mile, Carries along with its laughter
few tears, a genuine tug at the heart
and an atmosphere of simple reality.
II portrays the sunny side of life, but
it gives a thought to the other side
also. The chief ingredients of comedy
are humor, health and heart appeal"