New-York tribune., 1920-04-26
On the Screen
Constance Talmadge Plays
Well in S'The Love Expert
at the Strand

at the Strand
"The Love Expert" in which Con-
stance Talmadge is to be seen at the
Strand this week, allows this star a
wide field for the exercise of her
whimsy and temperament. AS Babs, a
boarding school girl, she decides, in
this age for specialists, to become a
Glove expert" Her specialization re-
suits, however, in getting her expelled
from boarding school and sent to the
unsympathetic care Of her father.
Eventually Babs is intrusted to the
care C, of her Aunt Emily, Of Boston.
There the various tests for true love
that Babs has invented show clearly
that Jim Winthrop, who has been en-
gagged to Aunt Emily for over six years,
is the mate of Babs.
But Winthrop has two sisters and a
maiden aunt to care for; the sisters
and the aunt must be married off and
Aunt Emily must be persuaded to fall
out of love with Winthrop before Babs
can carry her plan to success. 1t is In
her Napoleonic campaign, with no re-
treat from Moscow or Waterloo at
the end, that all the fun Of the film de-
velops. 1t is packed with humorous
situations and both the acting of Miss
Talmadge and the titling of John Emer-
son and Anita Loos are up to the stand
ard set by this capable team.
Ernest Truck, in comedy called
"Stlck Around" provides some more
laughs for the audience. There is the
"Maytime," sung by Eldora Stanford
and Walter Pontius, and there is Carlo
Ferretti, the barytone, a welcome new
conner at the Strand, who sings the
Valentine song from Gounod's "Faust."
-, At the Broadway this week "A Man
There Was" screen adaptation Of a
poem by Henrik Ibsen, with Victor
Seastrom in the stellar role, occupies
chief place on the bill. 1t is concerned,
as its source might suggest, with a
theme, but it is told on the screen in a
story that might be very moving but
for the titles. Briefly, it is the story
OF the old struggle in mans heart be-
tween the avenging morality aof the
Old Testament and the more humane
morality Of the New Testament.
1t is laid in q little fishing village
gives many fine seascapes. Victor Sea-
strom, an American actor practically
unknown in this country, plays effec-
lively the central role of the man who
was cruelty wronged and who, when
ms opportunity came to take "an eye
Tor an eye, tooth for TOOTH" for
gave his former enemy. The titles arc
taken from a doggerel translation of
lbsen's poem, and lessen the power of
the film.
Mack Sennett's latest comedy, "Down
on the Farm" completes the main part
OF the bill. 1t is an amusing picture.
IN which clever animals contribute
greatly to the fun; there is also bit
OF siapstick, but Jerry, the dog, easily
carries Off histrionic honors.
- "The Amateur Wife," in which Irene
castle was presented yesterday at the
remembered for long, like "Intole-1
ance," "Thc Birth of Nation" and
other screen classics, but its acting is
"eii above the average. The scenario
written by Jane Murfn from Nalbro
Bartiey's magazine story, gives Miss
castle excellent opportunities to dis
play her beauty and her ability as an
actress. She is called upon for much
acting-frst, as the simple
girl who has spent long years in a
french convent, second, as the young
wife who has not vet learned how to
mold man, and third, as a well-dressed
woman who believes in the theory that
J our slave.' There is little doubt that
Irene Castle is a capable actress, vet
one associates her name with dancing
and there seems to be something lack
ing when she is seen on the screen and
has not the slightest opportunity to
dance.
William P. Carleton, who plavs
Cosmo Spotiswood. the bachelor who
marrles Justine Spencer (Miss Castle)
out of pity, not because he loves her,
's the outstanding figure in the cast
which supports Miss Castle. His ex-
per;ences, which, of course. come out
all right in the end, should be warn
ing to men who, finding the right
are blind and cast her aside
and only discover that they have made
A mistake when it is almost too late.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carter de Haven in
What Could Be Sweetcr?" and the
Rivoli Pictorial complete the film pro
gram at the thcater. Musical features
include the "Marche Slav" overture, a
soprano solo by Gladys Rice, ooh.
Dry Those Tears" and an organ solo.
The process of experimen entation
with grand opera in conjunction with
motion pictures at the Capitol Theater
seems to have reached it's final stages,
Judging from the performance of the
irst act of "Lohengrin," which took
place at the big playhouse yesterday.
Even a biased observer would admit
that the first attempt at grand opera
'a
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