The Washington times., 1921-12-19
METROPOLITAN
Vendetta"

metropolitan Theater Is dfstinguiSn6< q
by one Of the most varied and mos
thoroughly interesting photoplay bilii
OF the season. Vendetta" the en-
crossing love drama Of Corsica and
the Riviera, in which Pola Negri u
seen for the first time before Amert
can audiences In the role of beauti
tul young woman Of the present day
adds another to the growing list OF trt
umphs Of the most brilliant actress In
silent drama; AL st. Johns two-reel
Fox comedy, Fast and Furious" af
lords more than one unique means OF
achieving genuinely laughabie effects,
and Prizma's natural color study OF
Gardens of Normandy" including the
private estate of Baron Henri Roth
schtld and the gorgeous play places
OF Deauville, unfolds series of mag.
hificent vistas that strike the last note
In camera artistry.
Augmenting this generous appeal
are the new issues of the Pathe News
and the Literary Digest's sprightly
Topics Of the Day" and the IN
Guarany" overture by Gomez. which
was received by yesterdays capacity
crowds as the finest offering the Met
ropolitan symphony has made under
the scholarly conductorship OF N.
Mirskey.
In Vendetta" Pola Negri Is not
called upon to interpret the character
OF famous figure in history, but 10
given free rein to be herself-a mod
ern young woman plunged suddenly
Into battle of emotions vivid In Its
progress and replete with tragic pos
sibiltties. To the enactment of this
exacting part she brings the same
glorious endowments that have made
her one of the most popular stars the
silver sheet has known, both in this
country and in Europe.
Something Of the climacteric power
OF the drama may be gathered from
the circumstance that Marianne Paoli,
who has vowed to avenge the death of
her brother at the hand Of an unknown
officer of the British navy, subsc-
quently falls desperately in love with
the object Of her enmity when he Is
stricken with the fever during an epi-
demic In Alexandria. Egypt, and she is
serving in the emergency as q He'd
Cross nurse.
His Identity carefully guarded from
her by Baron Danelli, her guardian,
whose jealousy also prompts ven-
geance, she returns to Corsica and
weds the man against whose life she
has sworn the blood oath of her coun-
try. 1t Is then that the fact of her
husbands responsibility for the death
OF her brother Is made known to her
and the picture reaches its surprising
climax.
The story is of sufficient substance
and sufficient breadth to enlist the
services of a distinguished cast of
principals In Negri's support. Fore
most among these gifted players are
Harry Liedtke and Emil Jannings. the
Armand and Louis XIV of Passion"
and Margaret Kupfer. the hag in 'One
Arabian Night" who In this subject
Is cast as a fashionable English dow
ager. The direction and photography.
as In previous vehicles for Pola Neg,i,
embrace scenes of vast extent and the
Judicious utilization of ensembles of
proportions.
Fast and Furious" begins in a
freight train. where some keen trav-
esty Is provided, and ends on the floor
Of the ocean. where Al st. John be-
comes the enthusiastic admirer of
mermaid whose inclinations are
strangely suggestive of Broadway, nj
4 man-eating shark plays more than
4 casual part in the furtherance of hts
owe affair. 1t is very original
throughout its length and very laugh.
able.
The excellent bill is completed by
richly melodious accompaniment of
he major feature by the Metropolitan
symphony. under the leadership of
Mr.. Mirskey. during which Mr.. Podnor,
and Mr.. Ia Calzi, cornetist,
effective solos.