The Washington times., 1921-02-06
"WayDown East'' Today Enters
It's Second Week of 7riunph

| picture spectacle which ID. w. Grif-
fith has developed in new art form
distinctly of his own creation en-
ters the second week Of it's limited
engagement at Polls Theater with
today's matinee, at 3 o'clock. this
perturbation of the beautiful New
England love story having estab-
lished itself as the biggest drawing
| card Of decade.
Matinees will be given daily at
2:15 with the exception Of the Tues
day matinee, February 8, which will
begin promptly at l o'clock to en-
able Sir Philip Gibbs, who had been
previously booked for this date, to
deliver his timely lecture, What
Amerca Means to the World" at
1880. The night presentations start
at 8:15.
The picture spectacle is an evolu-
tion of the familiar play of the
same title by Lottie Blair Parker,
which toured America with unvarying
success for many years. This state
ment is Inadequate to convey the
wonders that Griffith has worked
out of this simple theme of plain
people in a typical New England
community.
BY his inimitable device of con-
trasts this master of the screen re-
| freshes the eye, delights with humors
| of the soil, reflects the four seasons
Of the year in country Of pastoral
charm. showing the freshness of
| spring, the waving meadows of sum-
mer the colors of a New England
autumn and the rigors of winter In
that storm center relieved by sleigh
| ing parties, barn dances and bucolic
diversions that carry one back in
tender memories TO the days that are
| ineffaceable.
Its all so human and yet thrillingly
dramatic or eXquisitely illustrative
and running through it is holding
story of love and lovers kept tossed
| in doubt by the realities Of those stern
conventions which saw things in only
one light and made little allowances
| for fallible humans whose fate car
ries the stirring events to the great
est dramatic climax ever seen in q
| theater
This scene where David follows
Anna through the binding storm and
1 finally rescues her from the ice foe
just as ii is about to plunge over the
| falls is, in the matter Of sheer effect
of tenseness and thrill, indeed a
triumph.
| The backbone of February was
| broken. But the winter of New Eng
| land was still with us. February is
| a treacherous month and so IL was
| toward the end of last February that
Lillian Gish was turned out into that
| New England snow storm from the
house of Squire Bartlett. And the
greatest of all stage climaxes had
begun with this frail yet strong
| heroine of Way Down East" as she
| was literally swept out into nights
| highway by Gods elements
That directing, low commanding
voice Of Griffith could scarce be heard
above the howl of wintry blasts and
the binding snow clogged the air
| like the veriest London fog. But
out and on went Lillian Gish inspired
| with the staunch soul Of Anna Moore
within her.
so great was the upheaval OF the
elements that signals had to be used
between Griffiith and his brave lit
tie star. That magic word from the
| lips and voice of ID. w. Grifith of
Cameras" pierced the howl of the
winds and with an uplifted hand
through the binding SHOWS came Lii
liam Gish staggering in her thin
raiment OF black.
Little Anna was weak She was
homeless, deserted. In the walk one
sees at the theater daily there is
registered in every tissue OF that body
and face what misery and cruelty can
be wrought upon the human being in
this world.
She struggles against the wind, but
the gales swirl her from her feet
and she falls only TO rise to try TO
move on to some undiscovered place
where there might be surcease OF
et ri 70 from soul and body
What you soc upon the scren of the
cinema art at Polls of Lillian Gish
as Anna Moore was no make believe
suffering. 1t had to be done and Lii
lian did IL that we might all realize