New-York tribune., 1920-10-25
On the Screen
Prodigal Sons Pictured in "The
DEVILS Garden" and ''The
Great, Redeesner"
By Harriette Underhill


The Rivoi and the Strand were the
two theaters which we visited yestcr-
day and in each we found a picture
which tells the story Of the prodigal
son. But in only one of the stories
was he rewarded by being allowed to
partake Of the fatted calf.
While each tells story OF the peni-
tent sinner. how different ale tho
<orics! At the Strand Lionel Barry
more is seen as William Dale in w. B.
Maxwell's THE Devils Garden" and
at the Rivoli house Peters piavs Dan
Mallory in "The Great Redeemer."
This picture is real melodrama, full of
sure-hro stuff, yet we liked it better
than the other, which breaks every rule
known to movie fans and is an ar
tlstic triumph. AS we were leaving
the Rivoli Theater, Alison Smith was
some of the picture, but l don't care
for the ending"
Don't you like happy endings?" we
asked.
Yes, when they're logical" she re-
piled.
Well" argued DR.. Riesenfeld, "isn't
marriage logical"
"Anyway,' she replied, ~ wish they
had finished the picture where he was
hanged"
SO perhaps Miss Smith was satisfied
when she saw "Thc DEVILS Garden"
The hero isn't exactly hanged, but
he offers himself as burnt sacrifice
in atonement for his sins. "The DEVILS
thought that when we read it, again
when it was produced on the stage and
now on the screen, though this version
is the best of all, because of the splen-
did way in which it is handled.
In the first place, the praises should
be sung aloud of the scenario writer.
who allowed the characters to remain
as they were and did not seek to fit
them into the conventional inches
marked "hero," "heroine," "villain,"
"ingenue,' etc, and still greater credit
belongs to the director and the actors
for leaving them as they were-of the
earth earthly, with nothing suggestive
OF celluloid finish.
Lionel Barrymores portrayal Of the
chief character, William Dale, is su-
perb. Not once does ne yield to the
temptation to win sympathy nor to look
artistic. And we shuddered as we
realized what would have happened to
that part if it had fallen into the hands
Of one Of those actors who do Western
characters by opening wide the neck
of his sport shirt and Eastern char
acters by donning a Tuxedo.
Then Doris Rankin is Mavis, and
she is perfect as the fond, plump, not
too beautiful nor too clever wife.
Neve! on the stage or the screen have
we seen her do anything SO good. H.
Cooper Clifc is at his best as Lord
Barradne, and Mae McAvoy does ex-
ccllont things with the part Of Norah,
a bad part at the best
When you go to the Strand be pre-
pared to have all traditions upset.
The villain isn't any worse than the
hero, the heroine has all of the vir-
tues save the one usually designated
by that name, and the adopted orphan
proves a viper. Because William Dale
kills his wife's betrayer he is filled
with remorse, and finally gives up his
life in atoncment. There is no at
in the unwritten law. What sympathy
there is goes to the erring wife.
"The Devils Garden" is such a
splendid picture that we wish we had
enjoyed it more. 1t was directed by
Kenneth Webb.
The comedy is cone Week." in which
Joseph Schenk presents Buster Keaton
The overture is Dance of the
Horns" from LA Gioconda.' extreme
" we'll rendered by tho Strand SYM
phony orchestra. Catherine Stang
played the Channjnade- Kreisler "Span-
ish Sercnade" and Kreisler's "Viennese
Song" as an encore. Redferne Hollins-
head WAS heard in Lieutenant Gitz
Rice's "By Your Side"
The vox populi Will no doubt be loud
in praise Of the Rivoli bill this week.
The picture, THE Great Redeemer," >"
is one of those Western stories in
which the bad Man becomes good when
he looks into the pure eyes Of girl,
after the manner of William S. Hart.
Only Maurice Tourneur and House
Tcters are Il reliable combination, and
neither of them is liable to do any
thing mediocre. The former we are
better acquainted with than the latter,
though we wisf that Mr.. Peters would
visit the big theaters often.
He is quite free from all of the
things which are so annoying in a
screen hero, with enough good looks
to make YOU put yourself il the hero
ines place, but not enough to make
you suspect that he will be difficult
TO live with after the happy ending.
Whether you believe in miracles or
not, it is probable that you will enjoy
THE Great Redeemer" Lack Of fa;th