New-York tribune., 1921-09-26
On the Screen
''11c Great Impcrsonation"
Shown AT Rialto; Charlie
Chaplin at the Strand
By Harrictte Undcrhill

"Thc Great lmpersonation" at the
Tor the screen, though probably f.
Phillips Oppcnhcim had no such thing
in mind when he wrote the story. 1t is
an intricate though fascinating stu.s
complications, and James Kirkwood as
the Englisl, lord and the German spy,
himself gives great imrersonation.
The only fault you have 10 find with it
is that sometimes you feel that the
two men do not look enough alike ~
fool any one. We are quite sure that
if we had not known that the two roles
were played by one man that this
would have been our own criticism.
Which only means, of course, that Mr..
Kirkwood is an artist. Without the aid
of facial makeup he managed to give
the German quite different air from
;hc Englishman, so that even his own
people commented on it. But here
We are preparing to disclose the plot,
a thing which we had vowed not to do.
The most persistent movie fan will not
foresee the ending. The picture keeps
you wondering whether woman, even q
demented one, would not recognize her
own husband and whether dyed-in-
the-wool German spy could reform and
marry the heroine.
The director, George Mulford. dis
plays the latest thing in double ex-
posures. Mr.. Kirkwood shakes hands
with himself, passes himself letters
>lz4 ~, TO oy,I a
of the things which are possible to do
on the screen when one is playing two
characters.
AS matter of fact, Mr.. Kirkwood
plays three men, for in the early part
of the story they are all at Oxford, and
the man who is later known as Leopold
Won Ragostein is simple John Devl-
ter, young German who has not yet
developed any Hunnish traits. After
leaving Oxford the two men, who look
so much alike, do not see one another
for years, and then they meet in
Africa. Devinter has become Won
Ragostein and is teaching the natives
the goose step. In his mind's eye he
already sees them lined up against
chose British dogs" Then comes Sir
the plan is hatched in the German
mind. Each has his family troubles
which have driven him from his native
land. In 4 heart to-hcart talk over a
tall, dark drink they exchange conf
dences, so it is not difficult for one to
impersonate the other. The only thing
that the audience does not know is
which is impersonating which.
Ragostein has left the country to
escape the consequences Of a duel over
frail body named Princess Elder
strom. Sir Everard left England be-
cause his wife went raving mad when
he was accused of murder, and the
doctors said there was no hope of re-
covery so long as he remained with
her. There WAS also another maniac
who frightened people to death by
howling in the trees at night like a
wild cat, but these mad people did not
interest us very much. We wished
some one had had the presence of mind
to say to the foolish wife, "Get thee
to a nunnery," and then see that she
got there.
The cast supporting Mr.. Kirkwood ia
large and imposing. 1t includes Ann
Forrest as the wife, Winter Hall, Truly
Fontane La Rue and number Of
others. The scenario was made by
Monte Katterjohn.
turc is called The Four Seasons; a
reel is devoted to each season. Be
sides being especially designed to de-
light the eye, "The Four Seasons" CON
tains as much information about the
more or less dumb animals as a series
of Bedtime Stories" A dance is in
troduced by Vera Myers, Grace East
man and Lalita Armand. The over
ture is "Marche Slav." Carlo Enciso
sings "Just You"
On the way to the Strand we stopped
at the Central Theater and offered to
write a nice review Of Miss Dupont's
,"Thc Rage Of Paris" But they would
have none of US. They said the re-
views were to be written by people VINO
doa't know anything about it. "To
most managers that means the critics, .
we answered afTably, but the manager
was firm though courteous
So we went UP. to the Strand. We
put that off till later in the day be-
cause we wanted to avoid the rush. as
though that wer possible wheY
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