New-York tribune., 1920-03-01
On the Screen
Fine Musical Programs Redeem
Mediocre Picture Bills at
Strand and Rialto
By Edwin H. Blanchard

by Edwin II. Blanchard
Music hath charms to sooth the saw
age breast OF even reviewer Of mo-
ton pictures; it has sufficient charm
in the case Of the two bills in question
to mako him overlook the dement's of
two rather mediocre feature pictures,
The charm of the musical programs at
both tho Strand and the Rialto this
week is, unless we are greatly mis-
taken, the very thing to emphasize.
At the Strand theoretical graft in
the New York City Police Department
supplies the theme for partners of
the Night" the feature picture. This
film tells story of collusion between
police ring and ring of crooks
which is all brought to an end by the
efforts Of reform commissioner and
the virtue of detective. There are
confidence men and frame-ups and
raids and intrigue mixed up in the
story, but, all in all, it is not more
than mediocre picture.
Diverting bit, to show our reason
Tor this opinion, it seems to US that
WV oiu aodSc ABOUT aCtlOnS speaking
louder than words has been applied so
strenuously in the silent drama that
everything shouts. Few producers and
lew motion picture actors show con-
slderaton for the fundamental law of
restraint, and the result is that when
they want to tell US anything particu-
larly important they have no louder
tones left, and we are nearly deaf, any
way. 1t is the old method of the ten
twcnty-thirty show, but it is almost
strictly confined to the silent drama
now.
Thus, when Matthew Bradley, the
grating chief of detectives in this
illm, is emphatically vicious in the
least roll of an eyeball or the turn OF
has cigar in his mouth and when Rob
ert Clifford, the honest detective, who
helps save the day, is just as en-
phatically virtuous in his most infor.
NAL handshakc, there is no more en-
phasis left for the big moments, ano
the big moments never arrive Ever
Plnna Nesbit, who appears in this film
as Mary Regan, to be saved from the
career of a crook, succumbcd to the
prevalent fault and allowed her Lin
to culver with emotion on the slight
est provocation.
But the music at the Strand Is an
other story. First and foremost there
IS the "1Sl2' overture Of Tschaikowsk,
rich and exotic and pulsing with life
1T reminded the reviewer Of Georgt
Moore's praise of De Hercda's verses
Like the clangor of great coppe.
pans" There is in this great over
ture the same release Of elementa
spirit and barbaric color.
A. Smirnoff, tenor, formerly Will
the Petrograd Grand Opera Company
sang "M'Appari,' from Flotow'
martha" with great charm. "Vcne
tan Boat Songs" which never fail will
an American audience, were sung b,
the Brahms Quartet, and Sibeliusi
"Flnlanda' was played as an organ
In addition to these very fine mn
steal features there is a scenic Of in
terest and the usual topical review
The absence of slapstick comedy is on,
of the best features of this weeks hi
at the Strand.
At the Rialto the reviewer found thai
another feature picture must be pas.
sively endured in order to find the
meat Of the bill in its supposed,
miner features. In Judy Of Rogues
Harbor' girl of such unquestionablt
personal charm as Mary Miles Mintel
IS forced, fguTativcly speaking, tc
scream through many thousand feet o-
film. 1t is not a pleasant thing for :
sweet young girl to do, and it has dam.
aging results in the picture, which i,
the worst sort Of melodrama.
Judy Of Rogues' Harho," s 6,e.