New-York tribune., 1921-03-27
Scotch Atmosphere
For Sentimental
Tommy" Is Thick


thatched roofs, little gardens, which
seemed to show the loving care Of
generations, with sanded walks and
rough-rock bridges over little streams,
was erected for John S. Robertson as
Abe background for his screen crea-
tion OF sentimental Tommy" the Para
mount production of Sir James NJ.
Barrie's stories Of Tommy and Grizel.
Il was a bit of fairyland to delight
the passersby-to fill them with envy
at the thought that when the last
"shot" had been taken the village
was to be demolished and be no more.
Like dream it came into the life of
Long Island and Ike dream it passed
away again. The residents of Elm
hurst, near where the Scotch village
was erected, were proud Of the lovable
old buildings and made pilgrimages on
bright days to drink in the spirit of
heather and Bonnie Scotland. They
watched the smoke rise from quaint
chimneys and saw bright linens on
the washlines and made themselves
believe that Tommy and Grizel and
the painted LADY, lived within the
confines of the studio property
So real, in fact, were the buildings,
and so true the spirit of the archi-
lecture that the news of it reached
Scotland. The newspaper in Kirrie-
muir, Scotland. printed a picture Of
the village of Thrums, which was con-
structed on Long Island, and commented
on the excellent reproduction of the
village. Thrums is the fictitious name
Barrie adopted for his native town of
Kirriemuir.
In every department in the creation
OF Sentimental Tommy there was
revealed q deep love for the original
stories. Robertson read the stories
when he was boy and never forgot
them. That love for the many char
acters of the Tommy stories is re-
fected everywhere in the screen pro-
duction.
One Of the notable features of the
film is the work of May McAvoy in
the role Of Grizel. According to Mr..
Robertson Miss McAvoy does not seem
to play Grizel; she is Grizel In every
olrdllke motion, in the serious depths
OF her eyes and the sensitive facial
expressions she is personifcation of
the little girl who made a hero of
tlons of love when he was merely per-
m:tting his virile imagination to play
Economically. Whether in tho lightest
expressions of elish humor or in the
tragic moments when she realizes that
tommy did not love her but made her
the foil of his irresponsible dreams,
Miss McAvoy reaches the heights of
dramatic art.
Gareth Hughes, as Tommy, is an
other screen inspiration. Tommy, as
young Hughes plays him. is himself
the victim of his villainous weakness
Tor fairy stories. From the first mo-
m.ents when he peers through the win
COW and tells his sister, Elspeth. a bit
OF original myth. to the end when
he nurses the insane Grizel back to
health and happiness, Hughes is al
ways Barriesque.
Mabel Taliaferro makes "the painted
lady," Grizels mother, another strik-
ing creatlon--a dream person, almost.
who waits till the day Of her death for
the return of her lover. George Faw-
cett' the veteran screen and stage
actor, as DR.. Mcqueen, is a memorable |
figure in the production; figure of
rough exterior hiding tender person
ailty Malcolm Bradley, the old Shake
spearean actor, makes his screen
debut at the age of sixty-nine in the
role of Dominic Cathro. Other i'm
portant players in the production are
Harry l.. Coleman, as Corp, the bully
who was trounced by Tommy for oues-
tloning Grizels parentage; Leila Frost
as Tommy's sister, ,Elspeth; Kempton
ginia Valli, as the imperous Lady
Alice Pippinworth; Kate Davenport, as
Corps wife, and Alfred Kap-
peier, as the little minister. Josephine
Lovett wrote the scenario, condensing
the stories of Sentimental Tommy
and Tommy and Grizel into one and
drawing upon Barrie's dialogue for
most of the titles.
In his presentation of the new pic
ture at the Criterion, beginning to-day,
Hugo Riesenfeld has framed it in
number of pictorial and music nun
bers Of Scotch atmosphere. Urban
views of Scotland, Prizma color study
OF butterflies and Hurd cartoon com
coy are on the picture program The |
music program, in addition to the in
cidental music to the feature film play,
IN which Victor Wagner and Dragc |
Jovanovich conduct the orchestra, is |
divided into prologue and epilogue.
tenor, and Betty Anderson, soprano
two charming voices, and a double
quartet and the orchestra. Old Scotch
favorites are sung, including My Las
sie," Bonnie Doom" and "Charlie Is
Ny Darling" In the epilogue Paul
Oscard and Vera Myers, dancers, have
the center of the stage and are as
sisted by the Criterion chorus and or
chestra with such compositions as
blue Bells of Scotland" "Robin
Adair," GLOW Gently, Sweet Alton" and
"Whall Be King But Charlie" woven
into the number.