New-York tribune., 1921-05-22
BY riarsiette Underhill


mind after we had seen the Molnar
play che opening night at the Garrick
a. to Liiiom's destination; others, how
ever, disagreed with us; so to set at
rest all doubts we went back stage last
night and asked Liliom himself. The
handsome, fascinating and courtly Jo-
seph Schildkraut viewed us with amaze
mens as we rushed up to him as he
came on the stage and put our question
without waiting for &n introduction.
It seemed the proper time, as Liliosn
had just faded from the view of the
sudience and was supposed TO be on
his>way either TO the realms of light or
of darkness. There is no line in the
play TO tell which way he is headed,
and that is the reason no two people
agree on it. Some say he proved his
love for his little daughter and was
entitled TO seat and 3 harp in
heaven; others say he destroyed his
chances when he struck her and would
surely be relegated TO the realms of
heat. Others believe that he would
so back to No Mans Land and be al
lowed another chance. However, when
Liliom leaves the stage, so far as we
could tell, he goes neither to heaven
nor hell. but to his dressing room.
IL has star on the door, if that means
anything, and we followed the star and
found ourself in the presence of "the
roughneck." So realistic is his per
formance that we should not have been
bit surprised + he had seized US by
the hair and slammed US into chair
by way of making us welcome. In
stead, he looked at US with eyes that
resemble two deep. black pools and
said softly "Be seated l am your
most obedient servant. Command me-"
Before we go any further we may as
we'll say that We intend to go in rap
lures over this Liliom, so, if any one
doesn't agree with US he must say so
now or forever hold his peace.
Joseph Schildkraut was born in Ru-
mania. He is Rumanian, Spanish, Hun
garian and Turkish, and instead of
playing the tough you would fancy him
singing "Bedouin Love Song" under
some damsels or damsels' windows,
and you are sure he would not sue in
vain. No less an authority than D. W.
Griffith agrees with US in our opinion
of Schildkraut, and that makes a con-
sensus. After the opening night of
nTilioxpD %n VA
begged him to see the play and put it
and MIR. Schildkraut on the screen. Last
night Mr.. Schildkraut showed US
three-year contract which he had just
signed with Mr.. Griffith. He told US
that his first picture will be "The Two
Orphans" with Dorothy and Lillian
Gish as the sisters. If Mr.. Schildkraut
can act as we'll in front of the camera
as he can behind the footlights he
should be n wonderful success; there
is no doubt about the way he will
screen. He has fine, straight nose,
large black eyes, thick black hair and
dazzling white teeth. "Of course
Liliom goes to heaven" he said, after
we had ceased to exclaim over the
contract with Griffith. e"How could
you doubt it. He is given fifteen years
to repent and then is allowed to visit
the earth plane and do some kind deed
for his little daughter. He shows her
the tricks he can do and he brings out
the star which he has stolen for her,
and when he hits her it is only because
of his love for her which makes him
fear that she is about to leave him.
AS Mr. Schildkraut f,as played Liiiom
in three languages it is pretty certain
that he knows what he is talking
about; especially as he agrees with US.
That being settled, we asked Mr..
sSchiIdkraut to talk about himself.
"The play is Snuch more interesting"
be said. at was nos s-ritten as play,
but as story, and some one per-
suaded Franz Molnar to put it in stage
form. I first played it in Vienna"
SIN what language 2" we asked. "In
German" he answered, though I do
not speak it as well as speak French
and English" He certainly does speak
English perfectly and without the
truce of an accent, though he learned
IL only nine years ago, when he came
over here to play in "Pomander Walk"
He was then sixteen years old. Oh,
those "furriners"! They add a new
language to their repertory as easily
as we read new book. We said some
thing of this to Mr.. Schildkraut and
ne said, consclingly, "oh, yes, but re-
member, you speak your native tongue
and | cannot even do that. Not one
word of Rumanian do / understand.
Only Spanish, German, French, English,
Portuguese and little of few other
languages" AS he talked Mr.. Schild-
kraut started to remove some of his
decorations. He wore one earring and
fancy cord about his neck with some
carved baubles on it,
Why do yeu wear only one earring
ana why are those Turkish tronhies
hung around your neck?" we asked.
Inose are not Turkish, they are Hun
gsrian, but cannot tell you what they
mean; my costume is the same ora
wore when I played the part in
hungary and it is copied from the
costumes worn by Hungarian youths
OF this type. 1t is a strange custom.
hsgf ~ Hnao