The Washington herald., 1921-04-18
NeiLan Film
Scores Hit
Bob Hampton of Placer"
ShoIcn at CrandaH
Theaters.

NOuiDiuiuk Win the most tuflilIub
incidents recorded in the history
Of the Western frontier during the
Indian uprisings of the late 7o's a
quality Of romantic fiction that sell
dom finds its way to the screen.
Bob Hampton Of Placer" Marshall
Neilan's remarkable perturbation Of
the novel Of the same name by Ran
dali Parrish. which was shown for
the FIRST time on any screen in the
world at crandalrs Metropolitan
Theater before capacity crowds yes
terday. will add immeasurably to
the fame and the prestige Of the
brilliant young director who has
achieved previous but not eompar-
able successes in Daddy Longlegs,"
The Rivers End" Go and Get it,"
and .'Dinty."
Bob Hampton Of Placer" embod-
les In more perfect proportions and
with infinitely more impressive con-
tinuity and logic a greater degree
of pathos than any Of the earlier
Neilan photodramas. With the tre-
mendous spectacle OF the gathering
Of the Sioux, Blackfoot and Chey-
enne warriors under Sitting Bull,
the exciting expedition of Gen. Ter
ry's U. S. Regulars. of which Gus
ter's> and Gen. Reno's commands
constituted important units, and the
trakic miscarriage Of plans that re-
suited in that heroic battle against
overwhelming odds at the Little Big
Horn, known as Clusters Last Stand,
this masterful production stands
without a peer.
The thread of romance that laces
together the wonderful scenes Of
life at the edge of civilization dur
ing the most picturesque period of
the country's growth, concerns
Capt. Nolan. court-martialed . and
thrown into prison for a garrison
murder he never committed. His
term served. he becomes a gambler.
Ineligible to reinstatement with his
old command. Bent on running
for placing the guilt on him, he
combs the Western country for
some clue to the identity of the
actual murderer.
On one of his lonely quests he
JOAhS a "eBou
its weary way farther into the land
the redskins deemed their own.
When the little band is all bua an
initiated, Nolan, masquerading now
under the name of Bob Hampton, of
Placer. succeeds in reaching a little
mining town with the rescued
daughter of "Old Daddy ellis"
Here ensue the strange events that
the ~ ho lyE1
| of Capt Brant, restore Nolan to a
place Of honor among his former
/ associates and lead to his heroic
participation in the debacIe of the
Little Big Horn, where with his
little pal he pays the supreme price
for fair name to be borne by his
daughter. engaged to marry the son
Of the man he was supposed to have
killed.
The cast assembled by Mr.. Neilan
is one Of Incompatible fitness for
| the tasks allotted them. James
kirkwood is perfect in the name
part, as is Marjorie Daw. his daugh-
ter; Noah Beery, as the renegade
gambler who perjured Nolan into
Jail, and Pat o'Malley. as the young
captain in love with MAZDA ''GilIis."
ih thc ihihniNobsc IOic VI DOO llNlle
pal. Wesley Barry, he with the
spsngled face and the fame of
'Dinty," is cast in a part that en-
ables him still further to demon
strate his right to be known as the
l3-year-old phenomenon of the
films. In this subject he is a hard
riding, sure-shooting little imp who
abhors women, always bobs up at
the wrong tine and dies game in
the hot of the tight. The ensemble
of fullblood Indians and Tenth L. s
Cavalry lends the picture an author-
ity that none like II has ever before
possessed.
The scenic investiture is of mar
! velous beauty. all Of the grandeur
of the Glacier National Park having
been utilized as background for the
spirited action Of the story by q
new Photographic process that
records clearly for a distance OF
Hfty miles The battle scenes pho
| tographed from the air by the aid
of Pony Blimp' used for the first
time by Mr.. Neilan in the production
strike a new note in majestic sweep
and realistic effect.
The extraordinary major feature
of the bill for the week is suitably
supplemented by a variety of short :