The Washington times., 1921-02-28
METROPOLITAN
"Tbe OHshOre Pirate"

Viola Dana has In recent months
appeared upon the screen In several
splendid photodramtic romances.
"Blackmail" and "Cinderells's Twin"
possessed traits that made them i'm
mediately popular with those who
look TO the silver sheet for genuinely
worthy entertainment. but II has re-
mained for Tho Ofshore Pirate" the
latest of Metros Screen Classic se-
ries OF special productions which
was presented for the first time local
ly as chief feature of a double bill at
Crandalrs Metropolitan Theater yes
terdsy. to supply Miss Dana her most
delightful vehicle and her most en-
gaging role.
Larry Semon's new Vitagraph COM
edy. The Sportsman" furnishes a
companion feature for tho week that
bids fair to make the Metropolitan's
bill for the inauguration period mem
orabIe.
'"The Offshore Pirate" In a film adap-
tstion OF the story OF the same
name, written for the Saturday Even
ing Post by i. Scott Fitzgerald. which
liz so wholesome in it's romantic com
edy. so direct and so brisk in it's ac-
tion and so admirable in it's casting
and material inyestiture that II fur
nishes a perfect example of the high
leNel TO WHICH photOpiaF pfoouctiOn
has attained and makes a mockery of
the ill-judged cries for censorship
now prevalent.
The story is OF a poor little orphan
girl left alone in the world with only
a million dollars and an aversion 10
all men except those with adventur-
Gus and fambuoyant pasts. She
finally meets some such social para
site and falls raptusously in love,
despite the fact that an earnest uncle
endeavors to enlist her interest in
tho eligibility Of Toby Moreland. a
lik cable young fellow who, unfor-
tunstely has always been emiDcntly
respectable.
Ardita Fsrnsm will have none OF
this uncolored mcdiocrity and centers
her attention upon the fascinating
wick edness of Ivan Nevkova. until
one day her yacht is boarded by a
genial young pirate who takes un-
heard OF liberties with everything and
everybody on board. Piracy. in fact.
runs wild aboard the palatisl craft
cUasting about within earshot of the
hotels and dancing resorts ashore. un-
iii through series OF delightfully."-
amusing episodes identities are made
clear and true love affair is seen
to have had it's inception.
a more minute analysis of the plot
would be unfair to future audiences
whose pleasure would be materially
impaired by the deliberate destruc-
ton of the element OF suspense.
Miss Dana, as Ardta, and Jack
Mulhall. as Toby, lend the subject the
spontaneity of actual youth and
carry the story in spirited fashion to
it's absorbing denoument. A band of
dusky cabaret performers trans
formed into a daring pirate horde in
ject much humor into the successive
situations aboard ship by repeated
surrender to the African penchant for
Mississippi Marbles" sometimes re-
ferred to as the leaping dominoes.
'"The Sportsman" Is typically
gymnastic Semon farce with its
scenes laid in Turkey, for the great
er part in the palace of the Sultan. A
new issue of the Pathe News. Topics
of the Day and tuneful accompani-
ment and overture number under the
direction OF Amedeo Nioni, conductor
Of the symphony, complete a program
that takes rank with the best of the
wear.