New-York tribune., 1921-03-14
On the Screen
Faith Healer," at Criterion.
Has Ideal Settings, but
Touches of Unreality

"The Faith Healer" William Vaughn
Moody's play of the supernatural. has
undergone film transplanting, and Is
at the Criterion this week.
Mrs. Moody herself assisted in writ
ing the photoplay, so any question of
its faithfulness to the original must
be considered settled at the outset.
In another part Of the bill some
shadowgraph pictures are shown, de-
picting old styles, and one feels that
certain elements of "The Faith Healer
belong with those sketches which show
The long skirts and puff sleeves Of
about 1901. The erring girl. who creeps
from the mad life of the city to her
sheltering country home, only to come
precious near wrecking the future of
the. wandering faith healer who falls
in love with her, calls up almost the
same sort of smile that the puff sleeves
get: She used to be an effective dra-
matte figure, but styles change
1t is question, in fact, if the play
would have been dragged out Of obliv-
ION had it not been for the suddenly
active market in things mystic.
Even mystic play can be blessed
With O touch of humor, as in the case
OF The Miracle Man." and this touch
The Faith Healer" does not have. Nor
IS the authors purpose apparent in it.
Michaelis, the faith healer, who is por-
trayed by Milton Sells in the screen
version, is another Schlatter who is not
made an enigma by death, as in Schlat-
ter's case. The final picture leaves the
impression that Michaelis is going to
go right on performing miracles of
fealing--not in mere individual cases,
tut among multitudes. This allows
3or happy ending, but gives the play
lts hnal and fatal touch of unreality.
The photographers have done their
duty nohly in the play, and ideal set
t'ngs have been chosen for the jaunts
of the faith healer. Also it is noticed
that the play has been brought down
tc date sufficiently TO include a cabaret
scene. The company is large. the pro
cuction is costly and the fetal result
is interesting, though anyone expecting
10 hnd 1t convincing propaganda for
something or other is going to be dis
eppointed.
Reform. accompanied by the sort Of
romance that may be imposs;ble bvt Vt
is always interesting, holds forth at
the Strand Theater this week. The
play is My Lady's Latchkey," adapted
from novel by the Williamsons. the
,eadins role being played by Katherine
Macdonald. The heroine is not the
subject OF the reform in this case. but
is the inspiration of that admirable
urge.
As Annesley Grayle, she finds her lot
strangely cast among crooks who spe-
cla5ize IN robbing people of rare gems
ana hclrloomS. She is married to the
leader OF the gang, without suspectng
the sort OF occupation in which he is
engaged. The influence of her inno-
cence is such that her husband, who is
played by Edmund Lowe reforms and
"chucks the gang" much to the dis
comfiture of those unregenerate indi-
viduals who are all lugged off to prison.
Not more improbable and lot more
hilarious is Mack Sennett's latest
super comedy entitled Love, Honor
end Behave" for some portions Of
whicr the builders seem to have zone
to The Magistrate" A young woman
applies to judge for divorce. on
evidence which reminds the magistrate
OF an affair of his own, in which he
was innocent, though circumstantial
evidence was against him. His story
IS illustrated with more comic detail
than the average film comedy affords.
and Charles Murray and Ford Sterling
distinguish themselves by acting which
is broadly humorous and at the same
time approaches higher comedy stand
ards than usual.
The Strand Topical Review and svm
phony orchestra, and Redferne Hol-
llnshead, tenor, complete the bill.
Justine Johnstone, heretofore known
as dancer, is now motion picture
star and very pretty one Her first
play is being shown 'at the Rialto
under the, title OF "The Plaything of
Broadway"
1t is all about q beautiful dancer
named Lola, who appears at dinner
given, by the Thirty Club, composed Of
men high in finance who like spice in
thelr entertainment. Two of these
male butterflies bet that the fair Lola
can 'vamp" one DR.. Jennings, whose
mind is always intent upon the
troubles of the poverty stricken among
ms PATIENTS. Not being able to catch
the doctor by ordinary vampirish
means. Lola becomes a nurse in the
slums, and falls in love with the doc
tor and resolves to reform. But the
doctor needs $4,000 for an "Emergen-
cy House"-the time of the plav
plainly enough being before buildine
materials went up-and Lola agrees to
dance once more before the Th;rtv
Club for that sum. ~
The doctor attends, and Lola COL
lapses in her daLce, but the phvsic;an
is sufficiently broad minded as m ;n-