The New York herald., 1921-10-03
Elsie Ferguson
Shows Temperament
in "Footlights"
Indulges i'm Outbursts in Dual
Role Picture at the
RiyOli.

RiNOLI-EIsie Ferguson in "FUot.
Eghts.- Paramount picture based
on story by Rita Weiman and d.
rected by John $. Robertson. Seena-
rio BY Josephine Loyet;.
The engrossing if somewhat academic
question which Miss Rita Weiman has
raised here is one worthy Of the Franz
Molnar of "Liliom," for it asks whether
ones own identity is worth exchanging
about 1t, or whether ones own self Is
much TO be desired above that of an
angel. The person played by Miss Elsie
ferguson decides that her own soul is
preferable to that of fabricated one,
principally because a handsome young
man says. Lets get married." That's
lodging the Issue. but it seems that the
numbering freight Of metaphysics must
ever be switched in order to let swift
romance have clear track
Still, Lizzie Parsons wasn't surrender
ing so much after all in reverting to
her real character. for she started as a
New England miss. who clandestinely
studied acting at night in her Puritani-
cal home costumed principally in bed
quilt. and ultimately she shuffied off the
mortal coil Of a Russian actress who
was supposed to have Bolshevik blood
in her veins. A noted manager who
pluched her from an obscure variety
hall where she was giving limitations
decided she had talent. but that the
American public would accept her only
II she had protective coating OF Rus
sian mystery about her and the for
eign name of Lisa PdrSirovd.
He trained her to assume the Slavonic
personality. even to eating what was
described as ''the fragile and lovely her
ring" Finally this Broadway Pyg-
malion fell in love with this Muscovite
Galatea he had created. but she decided
to drop the exotic nask and revive her
former character with q regular New
England breakfast including mince pie,
which would probably kill the last
lingering trace of Russian In her.
In support Of her dual role as che
pretended foreign star, Miss Ferguson
has bursts of outlandish temperament.
though 1t was difficult to say whether
one didn't like fully as much in this con-
ncction the oolored maid VINO cOnniVed
at her outbreaks. Miss Ferguson has
always seemed to be most successful In
parts of quietly intense emotion rather
than when letting loose her ego with
such a bang that the crockery and n
mirror suffer. In her pseudo celebrated
actress phase there were moments OF
obvious stage trickery, and, indeed. II
would seem that the audience might
better have been left more in the dark at
the beginning as to her real nationality.
instead of guessing that, as usual. Amer.
lea would come out on top in the battle
for her personality.
But Miss Ferguson also has very ap-
pealing scenes. wears some truly effec-
tive gowns and demonstrates her versa
tility to the point Of fencing and saying
something In Russian which looks ter
ribIe. but probably isn't. Theatrical
folks as we'll as others will be highly in
terested in this picture and there seem to
be many of them now at leisure to in
spect II.
Their attention viii be held by the
composite picture of leading mana ger
presented by Marc MacDermott, for he
tugs at his ear like George NJ. Cohan
and David Belasco might be pleased r.
note that some one besides himself Is
ringing up his curtain with chimes.