The New York herald., 1921-03-15
Twain's Yankee Is
Put Into Pictures
a la Mack Sennett
All the Accessories but a Gus.
tard Pie Employed in Film
ing Famous story.

"a Connecticut Yankee in King Ar
thurs Court" which william Fox pre-
sented last night for an indefinite en-
gagement at the Selwyn Theatre. is
Mark Twain la Mack Sennett. IL the
spectator can forget his recollections Of
this unforgettable satire on royalty ana
the age of chivalry, and otherwise do
violence 10 his natural feelings. he can
enjoy this production as hilarious
picture, taking II for what il Is, a slap
stick burlesque with all the usual ac-
cessories except a custard pie which
apparently hadn't been thought Of in the
sixth century.
II the spectator cannot loosen up In
this respect-well, he'd better stny
home and read the novel. There were
perhaps two actual quotations from
Twain's work-alI the rest. outside OF
the original Idea. was Bernard McCon-
Vile. the scenario writer, who hitherto
has not been known as one of America s
greatest humorists. The titles we're
vastly entertaining as examples Of mod
ern slang, but that's all they were. and
Mark Twains name for this picture
was made nothing but g trademark by
such captions az, Say, what are you
trying 10 do-kid rne?' After this. one
may expect to see Shakespeare livsned
up with altogether new lines In which
jazz lends him some greatly needed pep.
The Fox production has coiled itself
about some Of the major Incidents in
Twain's story, such as the Connecticut
Yankees saving OF himself from the
stake by the eclipse, his tournament
joust with Sir Sagramor and the rescue
of King Arthur and the Boss from
hanging by armed knights on bicycles.
though the latter denouement isn't
sprung quite as the surprise Twain
made It, being worked up as a sort of
comedy version OF the clansrnen IN THE
Birth Of a Nation" The introduction OF
the story Is d fferent from the modus
operandi used by the humorist to get his
hero back 10 52S A. D.. the knights rode
motorcycles instead Of bicycles and a
tin lizzie was introduced, but these were
all minor innovations Twain might him.
self have used if he had waited until the
movies developed.
But the essential spirit Of this film
version Is fantastically different from
that of the original, succeeding in enter
.aining without ruftline any ones brow
Queen Morgan le Fay has been made to
fall In love with the Boss and to varnp
him in approved movie fashion at every
opportunity. In addition to handling
very much more slang than might be
expected from a wealthy, aristocratic
young maG-as he was here--Harry
Myers played the Yankee like a Broad
way comedian. Moreover. all point Of
satire was lost by making King Arthur
an outstanding man instead of the nice
sort of curate that Twain made him.
Miss Pauline Starke played Sandy de-
murely and sweetly. but the acting
honors went TO Miss Rosemary The5dy
as Queen Morgan.
Fox has produced the picture with the
utmost lavishness and Emmett J. Flynn,
the directors, has handled great masses
of men striklngly amid picturesque
settings. The audience howied FIRE.
quently over scenes, and II seems des-
tined to be a popular success but II
should be renamed Eddie Cantor in
King Arthur's Court"