New-York tribune., 1921-04-18
On the Screen
''Dcccption," at the RivoIi. a
Masterpiece; ''Madc i'm
Heaven" at Capitol
BY Harriette Undcrhill

"Deccption," the feature picture at
the Rivoli this week, is the story of
King Henry VIII and Anne Bolcyn. We
have no idea why it is called "Decep-
tiop.' 1t seems rather foolish title
for great picture, md right in the
beginning we wish to state that we
shall review this only as picture.
When Passion" was reviewed people
wrote to us and accused us of not know
ing anything about history. They also
accused of us of not being 100 per cent
American. They said the picture was
propaganda, and perhaps it was. Per-
haps Deception" is also; only we do
not perceive it. We also wish to state
that if we were buying pictures we
never should buy one made by the hated
about it. But some one who knows
great deal more about such things than
we do said that if we refused to buy
could pay her debts. So now we shall
proceed.
The picture was directed by Ernest
Lubitsch. The role of Anne Boleyn is
played by Henny Porten and King
Henry is done by Emil Jannings. 1t is
fascinating picture, superbly acted
and directed. We find it difficult to
believe that the Teuton mind can pro-
duce anything so filled with subtle
humor and fine feeling. We consider
1t masterpiece. Nothing better has
ever been seen on the screen than the
performance of Jannngs as the brutal
l. rc nd ,c t~c~ ,@alr
convincing as the unfortunate Anne
who was sinned against but not sim
ming.
Our history is little vague and the
niche in our brain which should con-
tain it is nearly empty; however,
Anne's only faults seemed to be that
she was, first, too beautiful, and later
she had a daughter when she should
have had son. And how easy it was
to get divorces in those days! 1t
hardly seemed worth while killing q
spouse when one could but say, II am
free and 10, one was free! "Put not
your trust in princes"
The picture has perfectly harrow
ing ending, and now we insist on the
sequel, showing the time when Henry
tires of Lady Jane and she gets her
just deserts. Of course, it would take
a serial instead of a feature picture to
show all of Henry's affairs. He was a
regular Mr.. Andrews. There is only
one thing to which we object in the
musical setting. The Ave Maria, sung
during the scenes showing Anne's
agony of mind and her execution, did
not fit in with our mood at all. 1t
came as a distinct shock. We should
have preferred absolute quiet during
these scenes.
m in, No
theater was all alone, but he was COM
pletely carried away with the picture
He kept making extremely pertinent
criticisms in q loud voice, such as:
"He sure has an eye for the ladies'
and, Gee, she's peach; I don't blame
him. Every one around scowled at us,
thinking he was our escort, but we
wish to be eXonerated; we never saw
him before.
The picture is so long that it is the
only thing on the program-that and
Up song written for King Henry
VIII, and 80 Death, Rock Me to
Sleep Anne Boleyn's death song, are
used in the prologue.
When we left the theater we had to
fight our way through a crowd which
extended over the entire block. 1t
looks as though deception" will have
the popularity 1t deserves.
Percy Granger, he of the golden
locks and the golden touch, is at the
Capitol Theater. Mr.. Granger seems
to be demonstrating that a mechanical
piano can play as sweetly as he can. or
vice versa, for Tschaikowsky's First
Movement is played by Mr.. Granger
and the piano alternately. They keep
interrupting each other, if you know
what we mean, and it is very wonder
full, only if we had to take our choice
we should choose the live pianist.
There are many reasons why.
The feature is called "Made in
Heaven" Tom Moore is the star, and
it is amusing, but in no degree as
amusing as Hold Your Horses" his
previous picture. We are inclined to
believe that good comedies are made in
heaven, too. The story is by William
Hurlbut, and isn't he the man who