New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-22
On the Screen
Geo. Arl;ss in "Disraeli" Mt the
Strand; Wallace Reid in S'The
He'll Diggers' at the Rivoli
By Harriette Underhill


feature picture ut the Strand this week,
George Arliss seems to US the screens
greatest artist, and if in two or three
months rumors reach our ears that
"Disraeli' is losing money on the road
then we will throw up our hands and
agree with the producers who tell us
that making good pictures is a thank
less job. Henry Kolker has done n
great piece of work in the direction
and the star, Mr.. Arliss, possesses
more magnetism than most of the
handsome heroes Of the screen COM
bined. The story fascinates one from
start to finish and yet there is very
little love interest in it, and what
there Is might be deleted without leav-
ing the interest diluted.
But, in other hands. we shudder TO
think Of the dreary thing this story
pick as movie plot the story Of q
prime minister who was maneuvering
to get money to prevent Russia from
getting control of the Suez Canal. And
that is all there is to it. Never, pre-
vious to this, has the Suez Canal in
terested US in the least, and yet, if
Disraeli hadn't succeeded in soaring
Sir Michael Probert into opening the
doors of the Bank Of England for the
payment Of the canal we were all pre-
pared to throw ourself down in the
aisle and beat our head on the floor.
or all the plays which have been
transferred to the screen, it seems
that none have been more successfully
done than this one Of Louis N. Park
er's. Mr.. Arliss's previous picture,
The, Devil" was only good in spots,
for tho director, James Young, we be-
lieve 1t was, did some awful things,
and it is difficult for any picture to be
any better than its director, even with
star like Mr.. Arliss. He is one Of
the few stage stars whom you do not
wish would talk when you first see him
on the screen. 1t isn't that you obiec.
to his speech, only it isn't necessary.
tie is able to convey everything with
out vocal aid. In spite of the excellent
supporting cast, the interest drops a
little when the star leaves the scene.
Margaret Dale is excellent as Mrs.
Noel Travers, the role which she ere
ated on the stage. Mrs. George Arliss
Is seen again as the wife of Disraeli.
and she gives a splendid performance
Reginald Denny, grown out Of his al
~ ing sllmness into too, too solid
Charles, is still an adequate lover. and
Louise Huff does nothing at all as the
corresponding lover, but does it pref
tily, Others in the cast who do good
work are Frank Losec, Edward Rat
cllffe and Noel Teare.
Elcner mr.. ArIlss was especially de-
signed by Providence to PLAY Disracli
or else he puts on remarkable make.
up. for he Is like him to the life or.
rather, to the portrait for we never
saw this clever Jew who knew so we'll.
nearly half a century ago, how to win
in the game Of put and take.
The titles, evidently taken from the
play, leave nothing to be desired, and
the photography, settings and costumes
make Disreal at least 90 14-1OO per
feet. 1t is United Artists production.
There is scenic prologue to the
feature. with Judson House singing
something appropriate. Lillian Poll
sings "Giannin Mia" from "The Fire
n.y." Marta de la Tore is heard this
week playing "Praeluoium Una Ale
gro" The comedy is a Pathe called
Name the Day" with Snub Pollard.
1.-THE He'll Diggers," at the Rivoli, is
distinct disappointment to Us, for we
like Wallace Reid only in light comedy,
and we do not like Lois Wilson in any
thing: She seems to us to lack all of
the screen should have. Perhaps she
may have a pleasant voice, and if 80
why does she not join the band of
motion picture stars who are coming
east to be heard as we'll as seen? This
IS only :. suggestion, put in because we
do not like to receive those scathing
letters which tell us that our criticisms
ere not constructive. Could anything
be more constructive than that?
go about with dredges digging up Cali
fornia and looking for gold Dora
Wade miss Wilson, is the daughter
of o farmer who strenuously objects
to having the landscape thus mutt
lated, and as Dora is engaged to the
chief offender, Teddy Darman-in fact,
the very man who invented the dredg-
ing machine-the course of true love
does not run smooth. But Dora sug-
gests to him that he invent dredgc
that will restore the landscape after it
has finished with it, instead of leaving
it all messed up; and so Teddy does.
1t was not an easy job. but the gift Of
Doras hand was, one infcrs, big
incentive.
1t is distinctly not a Wallace Reid
part. He should be happy-go-lucky
and debonaire, but never efficient He
gives good performance, but he has
little chance to do the thing he does
best. Most of the people overact and
perhaps Lucien Littlefleld Is guilty,
too, but at any rate he Is the most
amusing member Of the cast. The
story and scenario are by Byron Nor
gan and the direction by Frank
Urson.
Instead Of the overture there arc
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AMERICAS FOREMOST 7