Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-12
TOM MEIGHAN STAR
IN 1.-THE EASY ROAD"
"The Witohing Hour in a
Superior Film Version.
Other Photoplays

Stanley-'The Easy Road docs not
Tie ahead Of Thomas Mcighnn ita star.
Hc must he given good plays to back NJ
his stellar position and this vehicle IS
certain to retard his advancement. BIalr
Hall wrote the piece. but It - not very
heavy material even though bruInh
Marie Dix has tried to give It a good
scenario. In it's direction Tom f"rman
has kept the story moving at ns RAPID
pace as it's weak plot would permit.
Marriage TO wealthy woman seems
to have retarded the novel writing Of
the hero Of this story His wife gives
him everything and the fact that he II"
longer has to struggle for money makes
il easy for him to neglect his writing in
stipcts, When a friend Of the VIII" tells
her this she leaves him to take up her
abode in foreign lands but before sail.
ing leaves an account upon which the
novelist may draw. lie does not touch
the money and becomes dcspondcnt.
Wandering To the wharf he is in time {"
save n little girl from suicide, because
her eyesight has failed. II" takes her to
his studio and there is regeneration
Of himself and tho girl The longing of
the wife to sec her husband Is 50 great
that she returns to explanations bring
ing n happy ending.
Lila Lee is the real hit Of this piece,
n fnCt which proves what was said In
these columns some time ago, that this
little actress i better fitted at present
for appropriate roles than for her Stcl.
lar honorS. Gladys George is th" other
woman.
Gertrude Rcnnyson sang some mum.
bers in pleasing style whilc the special
orchestral music was well received. Bus
ter Kcaton in "Ncighbors' is Il comedy
attraction
Stanton-"The WitChing Hour" was
done in the films some wears ago but
this new version Of Augustus Thomas
play is far superior in every wny. This
author puts the psychological into his
stories. William D. Taylor has given
the play rather lengthy production
but every foot of film is used 10 OK.
cellent advantage. The "mystcriouS'
In photoplays is II good thing because 1t
creates interest. While the d"mOnstra.
tion Of a man : being made to put down
revolver that has been pointed at
victim may not appeal 70 every spcCta
tor as plausible it does give the movie
patron something 10 think about in the
control Of matter by mind.
A Catscvp jewel is the cause of the
trouble and prenatal Influence is shown
In it's relation to the third generation.
u
puts such q jewel before him and the
youth become temporarily insane, the
tormPntOr is killed. How his essential
lack of culOahlity l. demonstrated
makes gripping movie.
Love interest is slowly developed bur
il Is not allowed TO oyrrhalanrc the
place Of showing how important is pro-
natal influence and how easily fear may
be mastered through psychology.
Elliott Dexter is fin" in his slow
moving studious way while Winter Hall
as the judge is excellent. Mary Alden.
Ruth RcniCk and others are in support.
Arcadia Straight Is the Way" is
a story by Ethel Watts Mumford which
appeared under IN" canton Of The
Manifestation of Henry Ort" Robert G..
Vignola directed this pi""" and III" re.
suit is good production with only Il
few places whore the action is allowed
to slow up. Fans will like this story,
for il j. unusual in many ways.
There j. n human side in nearly al
crooks. and in this instance tho force Of
good eX"rts itslef 70 the fullest. The
introduction of the uso Of III" ouija
board adds to III" fun and give, those
supernatural n chance to soc soug man
fcstations. Tho ntmoSph"rr "f the
scanre is not strict in it. sons" Of being
''spooky.' but is rather funny
A mortgage is about to b" closed on
home owned by an elderly woman.
There Is n young girl who lives with
the aunt. To III" town come two crooks.
who decide to "work" it, THOR abode
is in wing Of the HON" Of the old
Iady. When III" nuija board j. asked 70
locate the hidden treasure IN" crook,
ola IN ,,s.vtt l,,. -