The New York herald., 1921-06-27
Carnival Movie
of British Origin,
InpadeS Mem York
Picture at Capitol Is Saturated
With the Irresistible Power
Of Imagination.

The German invasion OF films was ef-
fectively halted yesterday al the Capitol
b. the showing of a picture of British
thoughts OF the fans at once to the pos
sibilities OF Importation from the tight
little island. Three years ago on dark
Gnd tcmpestuous night-on the last night
OF the year. to be exact--a small and
hardy band OF first nishters ventured
INTO the storm to welcome Godfrey Tearle
at the Forty-fourth Street Theatre. So
few persons followed their coura geous
example that within short time the
London actor wrapped up his play and
took it home. 1t was Carnival and
Matthison Lang. a popular London actor.
played the drama, which came from the
Italian. in his own country.
Yesterday he acted It here on the
ever its deficiencies may have been as
spoken drama, makes an engrossing and
picturesque cinema. II has many OF
the qualities which have drawn tempo
many It's scenes are saturated with the
irresistible power of imagination. The
story of the jealous actor who in playing
OtheHo almost kills in his frenzy the
wife who is DeSdemond in the per-
formance Is attractively and ingenously
told 1t is undeniabiy "triclled." The
sudden changes from the view of the
cnraptured audience, applauding and
listening, to the views 81 the actors, talk
ing together behind the scenes or bow
Ing to their admiring public-these are
most effective. although they may not
suggest any new technique or any devel-
opment of the conventional cinema
ideas. Yet like the views of the actor
at his dressing table watching the other
characters in his mirror, they are uh-
denial bly, effective
OF course the scene of the story is OF
advantage. Think of the good fortune OF
the scenario writer who is able TO have
his hero order a gondola instead OF a
l. A. r. O. taxi. The sight of the heroine
floating down the Grand Canal with her
too impetuous lover. the homeward trip
of the united husband and wife by the
Piazza, San Marco in the moonlight and
the view of Santa Maria della Salute
ale decorative details that contribute 10
the success of Carnival" Mr.. Lang is
a graphic actor before the screen and all
the qualities that have made him en-
inent In his own country contribute 10
his success in this part. "Carnivar is
one of the cinemas that ought to be seen.
Why in the world did S. l.. Rothapfel,
who makes such specially OF appro-
pirate music have 20 Sole Mo instead
of Santa Lucia" to add the Venetian
spirit to the final? There were musical
numbers by Massenet and the Capitol
Mixed Quartet sang. Topical pictures
and Alexander Oumansky's ballet corps
completed the programme.
The PeriIs of Wealth.
The feature picture" of the week at
the Rialto is designed to point out all the
dangers and inconveniences that may
follow in the track of wealth. 1t is In
deed called Wealth" by its author.
cosmo Hamilton There is a purse proud
mother, a too easily persuaded SON and
a poor wife. 1t may readily be seen who
In that trinity gets the worst OF IT, Hut
the wife Is only temporarily unhappy.
Her husband returns TO renounce wealth
and all its works and they start out In
life poor. but elapsed in one each other
arms.
done I'm the past to carry her TO such
eminence as she now possesses in the
celluloid theatre, she was certainly a
vague silhouette among the dolls that
told the tale Of what n terrible thing
wealth is Herbert Rawllnson was the
temporarily distrait hero who came home
after while Mr.. Rawlinson has n
waist measure which enables him 10 dis
play the movie wardrobe at its best.
One confection did more TO emphasize
the perils OF too much money than any
thing else. A tight belt buttoned In
front, panels that might have almost
served for a frock coat In the past and
V shaped neck cut low In front. were
distinguishing marks of this outing suit.
Everything pointed TO the presence OF
pleat In the back. although the dramatic
exigencies OF the story prevented the
actor from turning In order mat the
audience might be certain.
Future students of the noble art OF the
cinema will never be able to assign
The Fireman" a revival OF picture
by Charles Chaplin, to the custard pic
period, although there In unmistakable
evidence to put II In the pastry epoch.
IL was at the Rialto yesterday as an adj
dltion TO the rich programme. In one
scene Charles, who had given frequent
and amusing evidence OF MS pantoinlnc
training. poured the liquid dough ov ,r
the heads OF the other firemen. II
should be kept In mind however. that
the dough had not yet been transformed
into crust. which will have its bearing
on future Investigations.
The orchestra. Martin Brefel. tenor
Mary Fabian. soprano. and sport and
topical pictures completed the ria Ito
programme.
"saIyntion NeII'' ut strand.
Edward Sheldon's play ''SalS@tior
Nell" was seen through the camera at
the Strand yesterday. IL Is by no means
certain that the play lends itself 10 pic
torial Interpretation. At alt events. ITS
varied scenes passing In the old FASH
ioncd saloon with its free lunch times.
other ndjuncts of pre-prohibition times.
make some of the pictures to-day .eern
almost mediaeval In sheir detacnrt ~.
from everyday life.
Then the suffering heroine. posel by
Pauline Stark, is not OF the type to win
sympathy when she has no words to 'x-
plain herself She IL discharged from
her work as n seamstress. loses n jon
In what is described as n hash house"
and goes into the street from the saloon
she was laboriously cleaning up" As
one OF the titles puts it--they keep IN
the spirit OF the barroom--she does all
this for the sake OF booze sJakci
bum" SO nobody cares what happens
10 her II IL not possible TO tell rom
the pictures whether he deserves this
criticism. But II is as plain a. the
camera can make II that he has not ptcn