New-York tribune., 1920-10-12
On the Screen
Fritz Leiber and Vivian Marlin
Act Splendidly in 'sThe
Song of the Soul'
By Harriette Underhill

If Fritz Leiber hadn't looked. SC
handsome as Jerry Wcndover in "The
Song of the Soul" the feature picture
at the Capitol Theater this week. il
would have been easier to understand
his reluctance to have his wife see
him. Vivian Martin is the blind wife
and 1T IS the best thing we ever have
seen her do.
Miss Martin is possessed of great
deal of beauty and q certain amount
of ability, but she has not sufficient
animation to carry off successfully the
parts for which she has been cast in
the past AS the blind girl she is per-
feet. "The Song of the Soul" il
adapted from William Locke's can Old
World Romance" Long ago we read
the story, but the only thing we re-
membered about it was the ending, so
1t was no surprise to us.
Mr.. Leiber gives performance
which is most convincing, in spite of
the fact that he plays entirely with
or, one side of his face toward the camera.
The other side is supposed to be so
badly SCARED that no one can look on
him without horror. When he meets
Barbara Seaforth, q beautiful blind
girl, he marries her, and when she is
about to regain her sight he lives in
dread of the moment when she shall
see him. 1t seems that in nearly all
pictures there are defects which could
be so easily remcdied, small things
which would not be overlooked on the
speaking stage. Usually the fault is
IN the titles, which are quite as i'm
portant to picture as is dialogue to
a play. In "Tbe Song of the Soul" a
woman WRITES to Jerry and says: with
tof,
ever could look on you without loath-
ing. could never be more than a
friend, and no woman ever could love
you," or words to that effect. Now
we do not believe there is woman
living who would write thus to man
who had received his scars in a fire
saving a little girl. 1t doesn't seem
reasonable.
John Noble directed the picture. and
it is we'll done. The scenes are laid
in Tampa, in the backwater region, and
there are some interesting pictures Of
alligator camps. There is some good
Messmore Kendall and Robert VI.
Chambers presented the picture.
What we liked best on the bill
IS Booth Harrington comedy.
",Edgar's Sunday Courtship" 1t is de-
llghttul, and any one who reels in
Tarkington's boys should surely see
Edgar. This is a Goldwyn picture.
The overture is "Southern Rhap-
sody." Then comes the Capitol News.
after which Mile. Gambarelli and
Alexander Oumansky are seen IN
"Stephanle Gavotte," with marvellous
setting. There is Prizma picture,
May Days" and selections from
"Maytime." The prologue, "Song of
the ,Soul,' is beautifully sung by Irene
Williams.
Cynthia Stockley once wrote story
and called it 'Rosanne Ozanne." Jesse
Lasky calls it "Sins of Rosanne" and
presents it on the screen at the Rialto
this. week with Ethel Clayton in the
title role. AS a picture it is neither
very good nor very bad. Mary O'Con-
stuck to the original theme pretty
closely, so if you liked The story YOU'RE
sure to like the picture. Ethel Clayton
makes Rosannc a very attractive per
son and we liked her better than N
anything we have seen her in before.
1t wouldn't be a bad idea for some Of
the screen people to study Miss Clay
tons makeup. 1t is so good-and it is
remarkable how a smeared lip or a too
blackened eyelid can detract from
ones enjoyment Of Il picture.
The story tells of a widow and her
two daughters, who are living in Kim
berly, South Africa Rosanne. the
younger, is under the spell of a MALAY
woman, who brought her back from
the brink Of the grave when she was
baby. She endowed her charge with
1.-The gift of bright stones" and "the