The Washington times., 1921-04-25
CRANDALHS METROPOLITAN
OThe Passion Flower

Never since her attainment of star
dom before the camera has Norma
Talmadge been privileged to appear
in . role so grippingly expository OF
LIES ecstasies and life's bitterest
sorrows as that OF the girl Acacia in
First Nationals superb screen ver-
sion of Jacinto Benavente's powerful
play, 1.-THE Passion Flower pre-
sented yesterday for the nrst time
tremendous crowds at Crandalfs
Metropolitan Thcater. where 1t will
remain the foremost feature of the
excellent bill throughout the current
week.
"Ths Passion F1owerS is not q
drama of the superncialities or the
fiippancies of life, but a tragic recital
OF the domestic problems of q family
Of PEASANTS in a little village In one
Of the most picturesque provinces of
Spain. Raimunda, mother of the
beautiful and much-sought Acacia,
marries a becond time to evade the
peculiar restrictions that widowhood
imposed under the Spanish custom.
Her second husband. Esteban, in
spires only the emotion of intense
hatred in the breast of his step
daughter. His overtures are without
exception repulscd and .his gifts
spurned. Vindictive and resentful. he
takes \ hand in the matchmaking
that 10 supposed to have NJ culmina-
ton in the betrothal of Acacia and
her mothers kinsman. Norbert, and
plots a murder to implicate his pros
pective son-in-law in a crime that
will free Acacia of his attentions.
From this point the plot which is
familiar to those who viewed the
articulate version of the play with
Nance O'Neil as the star, discloses
incidents and utilizes episodes that
lend 1t an element OF mystery and
sustained suspense that is little less
than enthralling. The denouement of
the drama is one Of great daring and
distinct originality that is sound in
It's Psychology. but narrowing in
detail.
Miss Talmadse's performance IN
the role of Acacia is fiawless, as may
with equal truth be said of the re-
markedly hne impersonations offered
by Eulalie Jensen. as Raimunda;
Courtenay Foote, Esteban; Harrison
Ford, Norbert. and Walter Wilson. as
Rubio. the drunken and viliainous
servant.
While perhaps a major portion OF
the uneQuivocal success scored by
this splendid subject is due to the
strength of the plot and the fault
less character Of the acting, Herbert
Brenon 10 entitled to no small need
of praise for the distinguished direc-
ton and wonderfully artistic and
complete settings for which the pro-
duction is notable. The atmosphere
OF a Spain that Is little known to the
average American is created and
maintained with consummate skill,
and the photography and lighting are
on 4 plane considerably above that
of the feature photoplay to which the
public Is accustomed.
Another appreciable aid to the ef-
fectiveness of an unusual picture is
found in the appropriateness and
melodic richness of an especially we'll
chosen score played with musicianly
effect by the Metropolitan Symphony
under the direction Of Amedeo Vioni.
The Spanish atmosphere Is accentu-
ated throughout by the colorful selec-
tions which Mr.. Vioni has chosen to
point the pivotal scenes.
AuEumenting the bill for the week
are shown q new group of the Liter
airy Digest's Topics of the Day" an
interesting and particularly we'll
photographed new release of the
PAthe News and another beautiful
prisma natural color study, Poor
Butterfly"