The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-27
"Je st AS ltWz
Attic heaytef''
BY III.

AT THE GRAND, an epochal master
piece in film that outranks in artistry
The Birth of a Nation" and for intensity
of dramatic appeal outranks Way Down
East" is shown in THE -Four Horsemen
of the Apocalypse" The wonderful novel
by Ibanez has been transferred to the
screen in its entirity and intensified into
twelve reels of masterfun acting, setting
and imagery that, one seeing, can never
forget.
The -Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
is living almost breathing answer to
those who refuse to take the screen seri-
ously. 1t is an epic piece of the great war
which should be handed down to history
along with the great novel from which it
came It's greatness lies chiefly in the
attention to detail and the conception of
its scenes, which lift this silent drama
to an artistic plane to which no other film
has ever attained.
Rex Ingraham has in this production
blended all the best in screen art into one
great whole. There have been stories in
which the acting was supreme, stories in
which the dramatic action was far above
par, stories that were mediocre in them
selves but because of the settings became
good productions, but Ingraham has in
this masterpiece, an intense story, wonder
be surpassed and far and above all, an
idealism running thru the piece that ce-
ments these perfect REQUESTS of good
picture into one big resounding cry
against the horrors of war that must ring
down thru the after ages.
The story of itself is slow in starting,
in fact it takes about three reels to get the
ground work laid for what is to come. but
the bigness of the succeeding scenes are en-
crossed in the unfolding of the epic story
that he refuses to believe the end has
come when it does. The music for this
picture is wonderfully arranged but its
greatest beauty is in the fact that 1t
blends with the action of the piece and
no Earring. note is noticeable This also
can be said of every foot Of the film
If due credit was given for all the excel
lent things shown at the Grand Yesterday
for columns but no review of THE Four
Horsemen' would be correct or true to
itself and art if some mention was not
carries the leading feminine role. She is of
the emotional type but her performance
is perfect without the least bit of over
acting.
AT THE ORPHEUM another big picture
is being shown this week in THE Affairs
of Anatole, the biggest and best of the
typical De Mile productions thus far pro-
duced-and it will be a long time before
another like 1t is shown here.
De Mile and his scenario department
took the idea of the play from that novel
by DIR. Arthur Schnitzier, but if the famous
Australian should this film he would
recognize nothing but the title. It has been
each almost complete in itself, thus giving
De Mile a chance to use the greatest ag-
gregation of film stars all in one picture
without starting any trouble for himself,
seeing that in each episode he has starred
each star in a setting and story suited to
Waffle Reid and Gloria Swanson have
what might be called the chief roles, where
in Wallie is far surpassed by Gloria, he be
ing cast somewhat out of his particular
sphere and not showing to his best advan-
tage. Bebe Daniels as the stage vampire
cOncealing breaking heart under cover
ing of outer gaiety, surpasses all her
previous efforts.
The production is typically "De Mile
In settings costumes and gorgeous scenes
this Paramount director has outdone him
self. He has not bothered whole lot with
the story It was not not the he story IN Which he he
achieving n picture wherein the fans can
for the price of one admission see all their
favorites in one evening. That it will prove
popular in Topeka is one af the safest pre-
dictions one can make.
There is only one jarring note noticeable
and that is the so-cal.ed art" titles They
are gingerbread and at times are more than
tiresOme See 1.-THE Affairs of Anatole.'
star cast can be and what director can
do If all the limits are raised.
AT THE NOVELTY it has happened
shge aet is Ee eaGFe of
bill. The single act is done by Maureen
Englen. All she does is to sing some
sonality and knows how to get across the
footlights with it, and not only does she
have some mighty fine clothes. but she
knows how to wear them and does.
Garland and Smith start the bill, but as
I got there late last night did not get to
see more than that the grille Of the team is
Bailey have something out of the ordinary
in a line of fast clatter. They are not
particularly heavy on the vocal end but
they get by big with their comedy. The
Riverside trio have well planned act but
would not have had the hand they did If
they had not had the able assistance of the
whole orchestra force.
The bill closes with tight wire act that
is good one from several standpoints-
The trio actually dance in perfect grace
and rhythm, they are all good looking and
have set their act much better than the
usual wire act is set.
AT THE ISIS. comedy, improbable COM
edy but comedy one can laugh at, is pre-
seiIted in Scratch Ny Back" rather old
picture TO be brought TO this house that
has been featuring recent releases OF big
features
1t is a good program picture with Val
Romney doing his best in the lead role.
He gets everything out Of his part there is
in it and the audience gets some good
laughs tho most of these are IN the sub
titles rather than in the action Of the pic
ture itself.
AT THE CRYSTAL a skillful blending
of the lives of the scions of wealth and
of the opium dens of the underworld pro-
duces an interesting story in Worlds
Apart" Eugene O'Brien, playing the lead.
is everything that his part should be and
he is well supported by the other members
of the cast. The play is exceptionally well
A tvxo-reel comedy, Dynamite" has a
fat chap comedian who may some day out
shine Fatty Arbuckle, tho at present his
methods show considerable effort of fmi-
tation of the star
England is suffering from epidemic
of smallpox. 1t is noteworthy that only
fxxo IF Datfaufs in the hoSDifal have