The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-06
Jest As ItWuz
Attic TlesyterI
ByKi andhark.

AT THE GRAND this week one Of the
masterpieces of the screen is being shown
life as it is lived in the American family.
The story is taken from the two poems by
VIII Carlton, over the Hill to the Poor
house" and lover the Hill From the Poor
house" and is distinctly American in its
Mrs, Mary Carr creates a character never
to be forgotten in Ma Benton" the mother
who works her life away for her brood of
children only to find that in her old age
owe her and allow her to go to the poor
house where she lives on charity until the
BLACK sheep of the family, whom everyone
has despised, returns and shares them all
by his loyalty to his mother
One can never describe "Over the Hill" in
words. 1t is 4 story that must be pic
tured. No one who sees this photoplay
will forget it and no one but viii wish he
had the ability to tell his neighbor about
tense emotion. 1t thrills him with remem-
branee of his own life episodes. He re
members with chuckle just such humor-
GUS incidents in the past and over and
above. all he will be stricken to the heart
with lesson he cannot gainsay, 4 lesson
that is taught and not preached.
As a story that is complete, picture
in which no detail is forgotten "Over the
Hill" has set a precedent, a mark for fu-
ture producers to aim at. 1t is not just
the superior acting by Mary Carr; it is
not the excellent photography nor the liy-
ing story, nor vet the human intimacy of
its well constructed scenes, but all of them
combined that make "Oyer the Hill" what
it is.
There have been other mother pictures
on the screen. All of them have been good
but one after seeing this one will forget
the rest and remember Mary Carr and her
endures. And speaking fof the brood of
children mothered by Mrs. Carr in the
picture it is small wonder that the screen
family is SO natural. -Four of the children
in the pictured "reel-life" are actually Mrs.
Cars children in "Real-life." Wonder
how many Topekans can pick them out
ha ST IF Onf
like winner but finishes mighty tamely.
Starting off there are the Lewis sisters in
good lockers and get by almost entirely
on their winsome personalities. 1t must be
confessed and maybe they will also con
fess it-they cannot sing.
Two old Topeka favorites are here in the
little comedy skit that is honOred by third
place. TheNare Howard and jean Chase,
who with one other took the greater share
of the applause yesterday afternoon. Many
Topekans will remember Mr.. Chase the
leading man who played opposite" Gene
We've Russell in the Sport North company
at the Majestic several years ago.
A pair of exceedingly clever blackface
comedians appeared on second base"
when Austin and Delaney did their bit OF
song and eccentric dancing Bert Howard
did some tricks with the Grand piano. ana
the program was finished by the Hennings
who worked rather slowly with some jug
Cling stunts
AT THE ORPHEUM the master mind of
Dumas and the cleverness of Douglas Fair
banks combine to make a good play. The
Three Musketeers" has been filmed before,
but there is no question but what this is
the most successful attempt ever made to
put Dumas on the screen. As D'Artagnan
Douglas puts in a few quips which proba
bly, never occurred to the novelist; but
Athos, Porthos and AraInis are there in
all their glory, well as Louis NH,
Queen Anne, Cardinal Richelieu and Buck
ingham. Someway the Fairbanks smile
looks a trifle out of place in a setting OF
this kind, but withal he makes a good
Frenchman.
There is nothing cheap about the nroduc-
ton. The scenes in Paris, the royal palaces
and courts and the French country are
faithfully depicted. OF course, a large
number of the scenes those who have read
the book will remember do not appear. But
nevertheless the picture follows the story
pretty accurately. And it has been purged
of the undesirable and the most gruesome
of the occurrences which are related in the
book. As the film takes more than two
hours to show, only two shows are given
daily.
Ar THE CRYSTAL in Ills Greatest
Sacrifice" a Vim. Fox production. William
Farnum iives up to his reputation as a
superb actor. The story lends itself adj
mirably to actor of Farnum's ability.
1t gives him the opportunity to demon
strate his rare ability in handling charac-
ter roles. His Greatest Sacrifice is a
drama of life that is well worth seeing.
The comedy has some real humor. not the
kind that is so overdone as to be silly or
foolish, but the kind of humor that one in
Stiurtiyply likes