The New York herald., 1921-04-18
Mother Eternal
Is MeLOdrana of
Many Condolences
Miss Vivian Martin in New
Role i'm Picture at
Casino.

night at the Casino Theatre Ivan Abram-
more picture TO the list of those which do
their best to make one realize that fathers
aren't everything. The title does not
signify much, unless 1t means that Miss
Vivian Martin can easily be mother
from the first reel to the very last. This
she does very well. for Miss Martin dis
plays unexpectedly sincere emotional
power for one VINO has hitherto been
cast In polite comedy roles. in which she
depended on curls. dlmples. a smile and
nice chin for dramatic effect
Following the death OF her husband
in strike at piano factory, her second
baby. boy. is given In the hospital TO
the wife of the piano manufacturer in
place OF her own stillborn infant, and
the youngster grows up as the son OF the
man who indirectly caused his real
fathers death. by one OF those cotnci-
dences that are hard to explain-except
that II is a movie. Twenty years later
the story, written by Abramson himself,
relates how the son falls In love with an
ex-convict's daughter, and when his real
mother. driven from home by her un-
grateful married daughter. jumps into
the river, he rescues her. again by one
OF those condolences that have even
been known to happen in real life. The
doctor. who has preserved the sons iden-
tity as secret. then reveals him to his
mother, and there is happy but damp
ending on both sides Of the screen.
n
Miss Martin as young mother and
later as an old woman does that feat
OF duplicating her identity which has
such O. current fascination for film ac-
tresses and captures the interest by un-
affected. legitimate means. rising above
the fact that she Is pretty even when
selling newspapers on the street. Earle
Metcalfe as the doctor. Thurston Hall
as the piano maker and ]. w. Johnston
as a striker give the masculine side OF
the family adequate representation and
show the same versatility in becoming
old men. Though inc production shows
the Horatio Alger Influence Abramson
has kept 1t from becoming smeary and
teary. There is a pleasant stage pro
Iogue and DR. Anselm GoetZl has under
scored the picture with judiciously
chosen music. Now that "Over the Hilr'
has moved to the Park Mother Eter-
nal' Is fitting representative OF ma
ternity down town. Many persons are
likely 70 consider II a fiial duty to see
1t.
Starting with one OF the best rough
and umble fights done on the screen.
The Sky Pilot" at the Strand proceeds
briskly with forays against cattle rust
lers until 1t has a lapse into religion.
The tenderfoot minister who sets out 10
convert cowboys without the aid of a
x-shooter generally finds II hard going
on the screen, and N this adaptation BY
the Catharine Curtis Pictures Corpora
ton OF Ralph ConnCr's novel the parson
has a tougher time OF IT than usual.
He has to beat up ranch foreman.
fall down a chasm and into stream on
horseback save a girl from under the
hoofs OF a cattle stampede and just miss
being burned alive in his own church
before the Canadian piainsmen will stop
annoying him. King Vidor. the director,
has skilfully blended the thrilling Incl
dents 80 that the picture sweeps along
like that realistic ltampede. but he
should have cured that pious outbreak
Of the minister over the crippled girl
with pair or shears. But the picture
does rise TO daring heights at the end,
for the hero doesn't marry the heroine.
This is almost incredible. but refreshing.
An Agreeable spitfire.
John Bowers reveals himself as a
good two fisted clergyman. and pos
sessed considerable nerve 70 stand up TO
that stampede. but II must have re-
qured even greater strength OF char
acter when the heroine turned her big
orbs on him and said Tell me some
al a. EaaIItffal - Col
leen Moore was an agreeable spitfire a.
the girl. and has decided talent for
falling off things.
David Butler was In character as the
ranch foreman. showing disbelief ~
mira cles which the audience yesterday
echoed for the one on the screen. The
mountain background Is inspiring but
that doesn't excuse Kathleen kirkhan
tor wearing high heeled slippers In the
midst OF II.
The "Pique Dame" overture and a
pleasant scenic OF Stratford on Avon
commemorative Of Shakespeare's birth
day are other numbers. while Larry
Semon does stunts ia The Hick" that
are az startling as In the feature and
funnier
Tom Moore appears nj the Capitol IN
a Goldwyn picture, Made In Heaven
and as II is Irish and genial II means
that Toms himself again. For d green.
horn who becomes a fireman he shows
a remarkably quick rise 10 affluence
and power. but then look at some city
officials. The picture, plus Moore. j.
engaging. and Helen Chadwick and
Rene Adoree. who isn't stopped from
playing Moore's sister by the fsct that
she's his new bride. put the feminine
charm where Il belongs.
Lyman Howes ride or a Runaway
Train" - an exciting novelty and Mack
Sennett's comedy. Officer cupid" keeps
the laughs hustiing
The event OF Music Week at the Cap
itoi Is Percy Graingec in a characteristic
piano programme, signelizing the advent
OF talented fingers before the cinema
screen. Goldmarks Queen Of Sheba'
overture. a potpourri OF Irish melodies
sung by Erik Bye and Elizabeth Ayres
colorful dances by the ballet corps and
the bird song from "Pagliacci" rendered
by Maria Samson, new diva from Blu.
dspest. are also ready to serve.
"sacred and Profane Love"
Heading the elaborate and capita lly
diversified bill for the fifth anniversary
OF the Rialto is Elsie Ferguson In sac.
red and Profane Love-" and with hey
mastery of screen technique she has M
trouble IN being a repeater on the screen
with her stage success. William h
Taylor has admirably directed THU
Paramount adaptation OF Arnold Ben
netts play Of the mid-vlctorian cir
who has had a passing affair with q
pianist. and years later revives II wher
she comes upon him as an alcohol ad
dict and finds that absinthe makes tn,
heart grow fonder.
Hurd cartoon. solo by EdosrdS
Albano. an Ampico piano performance.
II ~ Io.