The New York herald., 1921-02-21
Adaptation of Anna Sewellfs
Famous Book Wins as a Pic
turc-Othcr Novelties.

Animal acts often are more interesting
on the screen than those pS men and
women. and persons who admire horses
will enjoy viewing BLACK Beauty" at
the Strand this week, even though they
have felt IN the past that actors appear
ing with trained dogs in the films ought
to cultivate the emotional repose OF the
CANNES. But in this Vitagraph screen
presentation of Anna Sewclls famous
book the human actors are more than a
necessary cvil-they perform as we'll as
the horses, which really iS Il high COM
pliment.
Foremost among the equines. OF
course, is Bidck Beauty, played by a
valuable horse christened with the same
name. which does glossy bit of char
acteri2ation. Then there Is Ginger, the
temperamcntal mare; Duchess. Back
Beauty's mother; Sir Ohrc1, tire old
hunter. and all the other quadrupeds
which made the book such delight for
childhood and which bob up as Black
Beauty pursues the checkercd career OF
backyard prima donna
The presence of the various stable
characters make this picture one of the
alluring novelties OF the season, and they
are so enjoyable one could even have
stood q triangle problem among them.
Perhaps a conventional movie plot Of 4
villain who seeks the pretty heroine. in
suits her with a kiss and Is finally
beaten out for her hand in a stirring
race by the handsome hero, was neces-
sary TO keep the story moving through
five reels, though this horse drawn We
hicle might very well have gone along
on it's own power. At any rate. Mr.. and
Mrs. George Randolph Chester have ex-
ercised discretion In interarding their
own humor and thrills in the original,
production which, in the immortal words
OF any clothing advertisement, Is fitted
10 customers OF all ages"
Miss Jean Paige is beguiling in the
chief human role, and James Morrison.
George Webb and Bobby Mack also do
good work ard wear attractively the
quaint period costumes az the leading
representatives on the scene of homo
sapiene.
"'The Concert. at the Capitol.
The Goldwyn version OF Herman
Bahr's delectablc stage success. THE
Concert" demonstrates at the Capitol
that music hath charms even on the
Silent screen. me QuddTHTgulIf STU
alton OF the famous maestro. the young
wife who becomes infatuated with him.
the husband whose duties as physi-
clan lead him to neglect her and the
devoted wife Of tho musician. is carried
along with the light and entertaining
touch requisite to keep the situation
from point where vulgar gun play
might be invoked.
The titles--perhaps they We're written
by the same person vino let In the
laughter for Scratch Ny Back'-are In
particular an element OF the picture
which one might willingly pay for with
a nose nlppcd BY the blizzard. Lewis 8.
Stone sterling character actor that he
is SO we'll plays the role shouldered by
Leo Ditrichstein OH the stage that he all
but suggests Ditrichsteins nasal brill
lance OF tone. Miss Myrtle Stedman. Miss
Mabel Julienne Scott and Raymond Hat
ton All in their parts with a harmoni-
Gus sense or team work. and perhaps
George VI. Cohan might discover from
this picture some reasons why his own
production on the same theme. Genius
and the Crowd" failed TO arouse a hue
and cry.
An attractive Kineto Review. Natures
fiandjsorG." shows caterpillars gradual
Ing !rio "t.hs and butterflies. Betting
a feat,n N musical life, the musical
prografnmc this week is very strong
with Alexander Oumansky and the Capi-
tol ballet CORPS presenting the etriking
partitions" ballet Of Schumann. "a rem
d,tlon on the piano OF Liszt's concerto
in Il Nat by George Halpern and a spe-
cial overture conceived nv s. y. Roth
afel lp honor OF Washington's Birthday
and called an Historical fantasy" :"
which sets the American Revolution to
music agrecahly.
"straigbt Is tho Way" sf RivoIi.
Those who are 5tlii buying oulja boards
ylll enjoy. nevertheless. tho satlrical
use 20 which they arc put IN Straight
IL tho Way" az the Rivolt this wcok
which. as tho Cusmopolil Paramount
adaptation of Miss Ethel Watts Mum
fords story. "Thc Manifestation of
Henry Ort." indicates that film pro-
ducers are beginning 10 take spiritual
Ism .ess seriously. too. Crooks are nat
urafly added-.pomer-ow every introduc-
tion OF the ouija board into flctlon seems
TO cry aloud for an association with
crooks--and these arc or The comic and
highly agreeable type not TO be found
I'm New York at present. An entertain
ing old lady o wlnsomc girl and n
haunted house on Long Island complete
tho ingredients Of n comedy that is n
comncndablo Control" for evokinv
laughter. Matt Moore ard Miss Gladys
Leslie are the chief lckers.
Another crook comedy Is shown at
tho Riaito IN "She Couldn't Ifclp IT.
which was "1n the bishops Carriage
in its orisnai Incarnation In this Real
art version OF Miriam Michelson's story
Bebe Daniels enjoys herself fiounc'ng
around "a m orphan trained by pick
pockets. who rops into n bishop'e car.
riagc and out of that into various com
plications but one wonders II the tito