The New York herald., 1921-05-02
birth of a Nation,"
Repiped; Continues
to Thrill Crowds
War Movie Of Six Years Ago
Again Seen Here at the
Capitol.

The movies have attained to the dig
nlty hitherto accorded primarily to
Shakespeare-they are being revived.
Not only have the New York public had
frequent revivals of late OF Charlie
Chaplin's earlier comedy epics. with
Hugo Riesenfeld as the ministering an
gel. but yesterday at the Capitol s. l..
Rothafel tried the interesting expert
ment OF applying an invigorator to "'rhe
Birth of Nation"
Crowds flocked TO the house composed
not only OF those who had wept and
laughed enthusiastically over this pic
ture at its inception. six years ago. but
OF others new to d. w. Griffth's mas
terpiece who had evidently been fore
warned and went armed with plentiful
supply of handkerchlefs. This picture OF
cisil war days seemed as potent as ever
10 shackle the attention as in the days
when IL first made going TO the film
houses necessity
Once again the fnaternal dssensionS
engendered by the South's secession
aroused the sympathy of the audience,
and the vivid and swiftly moving epi-
sodes OF Sherman's march to the sea,
the siege OF Appomattox and the as
sassination OF President Lincoln in
Ford's Theatre evoked as fresh curl
! osity as though they were part OF this
weeks news digest Once again the
picturesque wild ride of the Klu Klux
Klan had the crowd with them, hurrying
them on with applause 10 the rescue.
This elimination proved anew that IL
Is the best finishing sprint in the pic
lures. Griffith may have developed
subtler touch IN the domestic Incidents
he has portrayed since then, but no one
has vet done anything TO surpass this
picture I'm its cumulative power 10 make
the masses get up on their hind legs and
root Moreover. there was an added
fascination yesterday. absent six years
ago, IN watching Henry y. Walthall
Miriam Cooper. Mae Marsh. Lillian Gish.
Joseph Henabery. Wallace Reid Donald
Crisp and Raoul Walsh. for since then
they have become stars or directors In
their own right and entitled to extra
space In the newspapers.
The picture dominated the programme
t. the exclusion OF everything but it's
musical support. consisting of excerpts
from Hosmer's Southern Rhapsody" and
original melodies. with an interlude typi-
flying the re-birth Of the nation after the
Griffith picture finished with II.
BOY stnr mt the strand.
Managing Director Joseph PlunkeT of
the Strand seems intent on driving home
the fact that this is the era OF infant
prodigies. Following Jackie Coogan last
week. he has this week his offer
ing Marshall Neilan's production. Bob
Hampton OF Placer" starring young
Wesley Barry, the lad who was already
starred some years ago by nature with
freckles.
This is Nelan's most elaborate pro-
duction to date. using up hundreds OF
Indians and white men In portrayal
of the stirring uprising of the Indians
after the civil war. wiz le the amount of
scenery contributed Ia the spectators
edification seems practically inexhaust-
ible. There is whirlwind. enthraling
glimpse of Clusters last stand. and the
whole picture virtually gallops. for Neilan
has lost none OF his skin in making
movie zip. Movie devotees should do
some shopping at the Strand this week.
Young Barry seems 20 ne growing a
bit conscious OF the camera, but his
naivete and his interest In his work
are attractive. and lis good naturcd grin
covers multitude Of sins--and frcckles.
A story of comradeship and romance
drops the heart throbs amid the rush Of
adventures and James Kirkwo0d and
Marjorie keep the love light burning
assiduousiy. Noah Beery Is as usual
the crack villain OF the screen but the
prize for sincerity In acting goes 10 the
Indians. who charged on the white men
as though their heart was In their work
Johnny Hines IN an agreeable COM
edy, "Torchy's Lead" and selections BY
the Strand male quartet and the orches-
ira are other features. tribe Of real
Indians brought from Glacier National
Park perform the speciality Of real In
dians. 10 wit, looking the unspoken
query: When do we eat9''
'.Home stretch" for RinIto.
! Douglas MacLean In '"The Home
| Stretch at the Rialto this week de-
parts from custom in shredding his COM
edy with dramatic moments. In the se-
4 quence of events provided FOR him by
/ Charles Belmont Davis he spoils the
! chance of his thoroughbred to win his
| hrst race by saving the life OF a child on
\ the track fees because he believes he
/ has killed man in quarrel. and en-
/ ters his horse under a disguise In a race
to defeat a rival and furnish an exciting
/ last reel.
1 The ethics Of such q procedure might
| cause his suspension by any Jockey club
\ In actual practice. but Il wins the final
crush with the young lady for him. so
who cares? Mclean Is nonchalantly
/ buoyant and entertaining. and this
sporting life picture, supervised By
/ Thomas IL. Ince. is one of the best Ia
which the young comedian has paraded
his smile.
a comedy. the overture from Adolphe
AJar,fv XN.ra .....t