The New York herald., 1921-04-11
Queen of Sheba'
Is Realistic Film
Filled With Action
Exciting Chariot Race One Fea-
ture Of Picture at Lyric :
Theatre.

William Fox's latest picture, THE
Queen OF Sheba," may be said to out
her. that classic Ben Hur." For this
spectacular, progressively interesting,
highly coiored and highly powered
screen story OF the days OF Orienral
splendor has a keenly stirring chariot
race in which the winning team draws
real her" whicii some people seem
to think exists I'm the title Of Gen. Lew
Wallace.s famous story.
The feminine note might be said TO
be sounded with trampets all through
this gorgeous and vivid picture. espe-
cially with those horns that announce
tho race before King Solomon between
the Princess Vashti. who aspires to his
favor. and the Queen OF Sheta. who
doesn't have to aspire--she has it. This
represents the first chariot race between
women In history. and the ladies' cer-
tainly go 1t around the imposing cs,n-
course regardless of traffic regulations.
Driving automobiles seems to have made
our modern movie actressce absolutely
fearless In such brush.
1t ls the most exciting race ever put
on the screen, and had the young women
in the audience last night bobbing about
In their seats in fever TO have the
Queen win. OF course she did, driving
Solonlons own stations, but that didn't
settle her troubles---not by several reels.
In addition there were other chariot
races--strihing views Of a dozen or more
Of these vehicles careevins rinadly around
the course with drivers falling--nnd
Roman races" with an occasional tuin-
Bile to keep the interest up.
Pictorially 1t is magnificent achieve
nent for J. Cor don Edwards. the diree-
tor for there are impressive vistas OF
caravans vending their way across the
desert regal and splendid entry OF the
Queen into Solomon's court, and mounted
troops and foot soldiers charging across
the sands to rescue Solomon with the
headlong rush Of Bedouins or American
cowboys. There is nothing slow about
this picture--every one dashes OIL In q
chariot or on a horse, or rushes on foot
as though after worlds record. Ohe
wnders after seeing i, where the idea
developed that the Orient was leisurely.
Assassinations are featured and fiery
battles reminiscent OF the fall of Baby
Ion in Intolerance" with even more
red fire. The settings, designed by X.
E. Sibley, are colossal and imposing.
giving fascinating giimpses of Soiomons
palace, OF the Temple at Jerusalem. OF
the Tower Of David and other monu-
mental structures that constitute a
lively, and exciting course In archanol-
ogy. BY and large, II Is a pulse quick
ening production that combines the
circus with a Wild West show, with a
few good wrestling matches, not all of
them inspired by hatred.
Though numerous authorities are
listed for the story. Miss Virginia Tracy
seems to have relied mostly on that SUI
preme authority, the fancy. The tale
relates how the Queen of Sheba went TO
Solomon's court to learn wisdom, fell In
love with him, left him to avoid war
with Egypt, and later sought to recover
her son when Soiomon's brother. Adoni-
jah. plotted to do away with him in the
customary Oriental style. The picture
cacasionally sounded modern note.
such as the ironic phase that Solomon.
noted for having 80 many wives, couldn't
marry the real woman he wanted
though one ina gines the real Solomon
would have done otherwise.
None OF the principals made them
selves up facially to suggest the East
they weren't even sunburned. Miss
Bet.r s'ythe played the Queen with a
s.rong sense of the regal. and was some-
times tragic In the Dorothy Dalton man.
ner. But she didn't have to worry much
about her costumes. striking as they
were. Fritz Leiber played the King In
a fine. stately fashion that made one
forget lie wasn't always living up to his
reputation for wisdom. The remainder
OF the company was excellently cast and
Ifrarfa1