The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-11
CR|FFITH'S "WAY DOWN EAST" OPENS
WEEKS STAY WITH CAPACITY HOUSE

WAY Down East" tho sensational
phoIoplay which has added appreCiably
to d. W. Grlriths great reputation as
producer Uf extraordinary screen
dramas. began n weeks stay last night
ut the Court theatre to Il capacity audi
cucS whcr, il was ushcrcd into instant
favor. with indications pointing to hun
drrdS being turned away before the en-
grEcmrnt closes. In this production
Mr. Griffith has seized upon the oppor-
tuuity 10 reflect life in all lts moods.
II" has taken this simple story OF
wumnu'S struggles and the surrounding
pastoral element t. bring forth all
shades Of love and life, contrasting the
rural SuuuNciti"s with the cream or
rlty luxury Then natures whims and
moods are brought out In Undesirable
manner. This all gives wide rance TO
the yhnrograph"r's art. and these chang
inr iandscapr yl$taS are in keeping with
the shifting modes Of life us brought
forth in tn, incidents Of the drama.
Griffith can lie termed the modern
miracle man." cunjur!nG with scenes
and ever improving the original. For
example. h" has increased IN" SOD
ability of WAY Down East many,
many fold. The stage play did not draw
tear, from all. only Il very limited por-
lion Of the audience. As the pillow Is
. @rt on the screen we can all weep
who.c-hHartcdly. unrcServcdly. AZ way
DuW'. East" we can all join III the great
democracy Of thcatr" grief. fScn the
hardened sinner IS not denied. lie can
cast his tear with the best Of us. Grif-
i'm has made half hundred tears
flow wh"rr one flowed before. If Way
Down East" had done nothing else 1t
would have been worth while as rerc-
!ation oC the capabilities OF Lillian
CASH. In the role of Anna Moore she
comes vaIiantly through the various
TRY ms: rhaScs She is a charming little
country girl in tn" earliest scenes OF
the play. simplicity and inEcnuousneSs
are - difficult to credit in these days
that II is u real triumph successfully
u Visualize them. Probably the finest
single moment in her playing is that
when SanIrrSun COntCSSrS To the trick
Ci IN" mock marriage. Step 10y step she
builds ny 10 her climax with trcmen'
douS effect. We see all the FIRST results
IL tn" nCwS--the reaction of Wild re-
fUSal L. believe. the pathetic attempt
- pretend that il is all Il bit Of Ill
timed humor. and TO prove II with the
the dreadful calm OF first accept
an,". and finally the agon@ed Mysteries,
wE,rc Griffith and the little GiSh her
SELF excel.
Way Down East" is full Of thrills,
moments of excitement. The ice scene
n the final moments, something never
Nvrur" seen in a motion picture COM
ul"trly sets the audience aSiir, an dthc
uraur$t IS 50 noticeable that this fca-
are alone iUSurcS the real worth or
ih., extraordinary contribution ana
makes it the uncXamplcd wonder OF the
twrutirh century.
II TACT. there are So many trying IN
v;G,aN;~. moments Of love. moments OF
ihr.ll and scenes 81 astounding. that
"Wry Down last truly IS a thing thar
~ hcyOnd description. The Birth OF
\aiiou' was considered q the time
GrnI'h's masterpiece. but this latest
pic Irritation has taken its place an dig
the ranking screen production Of the
day.
Lillian Gish in the title role has in
hoy support Richard Earth"lm"ss, Mary
Hay. EErr Mcintosh. Lowell sherman,
Earr Er;:r,. Vivian Ogden. Creighton
lIl},. Flrr"n,c Short. GeorE" Neville.
Mrs. Morgan Belmont and others. Mr..
Grirltih has also surrounded the screen
unfolding of the tale with an orchestral
accompaniment played by an augment
ed orchestral
"Way Down East" Is shown twice
daily. ":lI ard Sis. at the Court for
IN, balance of tn" week. and tho seat
y.,l.. is going nj a tremendous clip. in
dIclt!ug capacity at every performance