The Washington herald., 1921-08-29
POLI'S.
.'The -Four HorsemeR Of the APec-
nlypse."

.The -Four HorsemeR Of the APec-
alypse."
II one ratifies the Judgment OF
Yale University the major credit
for the remarkable picturized YER
sion of Vicente Blasco Ibanez'
-Four Horsent n of the Apocalypse"
must be accorded TO Rex Ingraham,
whose skillful direction of the film
players at once places him with
the screen masters and justifes
the first degree awarded for such
effort by great institution of
learning.
On the other hand the literary
world which acclaimed the great
Spanish author may cavil at the
prominence of the director in the
light of the finished adaptation
which June Mathis has made Of
the ponderous volume.
The ordinary lover of screen en-
tertainment will be satisfied to call
it a great volume and let it go at
that Perhaps that description fits
II best since il leaves the credit to
the individual taste.
A capacity audience at Polls last
night viewed the film with genuine
enthusiasm and at times noisy ap-
probation.
The story opens on the Argentine
ranch Of old Madariaga. whose ter
ritories are as extensive as those
of the great independent barons OF
feudal times. Filled with Castilian
pride, he yearns for male chlld 10
carry on his traditions. His Two
daughters have married ranch en-
ployes, one French and the other
German. Madariaga's Latin anti
pathy to the German son-in-law
brings with it a dislike of his half
German grandchildren. But when
son is born to the Frenchman. the
old man finds his dream realized.
Madariaga's death brings divi-
sion of his great wealth between
the two daughters. The Germans
return TO their fatherland and the
Desnoyers settle in Paris. 1t Is
here that Julio Desnoyers meets a
fascinating society woman, Mar
gurite Laurier, and the two are
swept into a reckless love affair
that takes no count of Marguerite's
elderly husband.
1t is just about this time that
the great war breaks out. Mar
gurite, to atone for her great pas
sion for Julio. joins the French
nursing force and sacrifices her love
for Julio in order to be the con-
slant companion of her husband.
who has been blinded in battle.
T,,Is - la -
frivolous attractions, hears the call
of duty and enlists in the F.ench
army, where he meets death at the
hands of his German cousin. when
the two face each other in a trench
raid
Through it all are galloping the
four horsemen of st. John in the
book Of the Apocalypse-the grim
figures of Conquest. War. Famine
| and Death.
Outstanding in the screen inter-
pretations Is the performance of Ru-
| dolph Valentino as Julio Desnoy-
ers," the tango-loving romanticist,
an unappealing character through
the greater part of the picture
and the more difficult to reg
lister accordingly. Joseph Swickard,
in the exacting role of "Marccllo
Desnoyers" plays with fine under
standing and an exacting knowl-
edge of the art of facial ex-
preston. Others in an exceptionally
well cast group of film actors are
Alice Terry, Pomeroy Cannon. Alan
Hale, Brinsley Shaw and John Sain-
polls.
Not the least enjoyable part OF
the presentation is the musical in
terpolation provided by an aug
mented orchestra under the direction
of Thomas Joseph Cannon and vocal
selections at appropriate moments.
Those who have read the Ibanez
novel will assuredly want to wit
\ ness this screen version and those
who have not perused the volume
will find a new Interest in this re-
markable, work of fiction after wit
Messing the gripping and life-like
story which this picture tells so
graphically.