The New York herald., 1921-08-29
Douglas Fairbanks
Fast and Furious in
Three MusketeerS
Picture Version of Dumas's
Masterpiece Arouses Specta-
tors to High Pitch.

LYRIC-Douglns Fairbanks. In "The
Three Musketeers," United Artists pic-
ture adapted 81 Edward knoblock from
the romance oy Alexandra Dumas and
directed by Fred Niblo. Scenario by
Lolita Wood.
The Dempsey Carpenter pictures arc
still running in this city. but the real
fight Of the ages" opened last night at
the Lyric Theatre with Douglas Fair
banks's production OF "The Three Mus
lleteers" He hurled Alexandra Dumas's
masterpiece on the film so fast, particu-
larly in the numerous combat scenes,
that the camera seemed hardly able to
keep up with him. and mere typewriter
falters After this picture Douglas can
surely sheathe his sword for he has
made his bid for screen Immortality with
the greatest hit and run photoplay on
record.
Other adaptations have been made OF
the Dumas work on stage and screen be-
sides this film, which consumed six
months in the fabricating, but none has
ever approached 1t In vim and action.
which braced the overflowing audience
10 the point OF bucSing the crowds lined
uo outside afterward with zest.
II Is kind of combination of Dumas,
Douglas and dclirium. One moment It
polls with action and the next it snaps
and sparlles with humor like D'Artag-
mans own rapier. The spectators alter
nately whistled with glee at Fairbanks's
prowess and the next shrieked with
laughter at his comedy-even the seri-
Gus faced Charlie Chaplin laughed in
the PlclSford- d-Fairbanks box. 1t in
I md ftfr,
gressed, until but one word fits "trip
I roaring. Fairbanks ripped and the
audience roared.
Does Some Serious Acting.
While he does some serious acting in
tin fact, the first real characterza-
ton since Griffith directed him in THE
Lamb" his initial picture--for the most
Fart Fairbanks waves a sword and runs
amuck. He fights against overwhelm-
ing odds, climbs around on roofs with
fair damsel In his arms, leaps over
chairs and tables. throws himself like
q catapult through the air. jumps down
from great heights, dives from the win
I dow of a Ships cabin into the water
and rides horse like a whirlwind-in-
I deed he makes D'Artagran a kind OF
\ French cowboy.
4 y notable feature or the picture was
that all the slashing duellng. when he
/ IS lined up with the Three Musketeers
against the Cardinals Guards. when he
I holds them at bay TO save his Constance,
seemed very real and inspiriting cut
throat business. and diners who have
seen il are liable to find themselves
\ fencing In restaurants with the cutlery
1 Even when he fights with Be19ajour,
H Cardinal RichetieU's best swordsrnan
4 Fairbanks seems spurred on by nothing
but q frantic joy Of life. Always, even
when thrusting the Count dc Rochetort
/ up winding staircase, he carries the
tight to the enemy. and Jack Dempsey,
who was in the audience, approved this
style Of scrapping enthusiastically.
n The new grown n1ustache moves like
q streak across the screen, and the dark
locks Of his curly wig and his velvet
brceches make him look more more like
2 new kind of Little Lord Fauntleroy on
a rampage. He gives more than q hint
of the hotheaded and yet willy character
Of the touchy. brave and hgh strung
Gascon. he makes love for once in the
grand manner. without once lecring at
himself. and that wide smile Is there
only when II really FITS his countenance.
His comedy touches are always deft and
swift, and he turned on the laughter al
most from the first when he pushed aside
horse and apologized TO Lady dc Winter
Pardon me. madame. / must Kill your
friend"
Sure, Succinct Dialogue.
Knoblock in his adaptation had
handled these incidents well with sure,
succinct dialogue. showing able crafts
manship in concentrating his version
about the familiar incident OF the French
f aff 1fr txrtgh fSf3 RAJ ny
Bnokinotdnf and D'ArtdGadn's wild
pilgrimage to recover the diamond brooch
! she had given 10 the Duke so that the
scandal would not be revealed and de-
liver her into the hands of Rioheliei1,
which were tender only with kittens.
Mary McLaren, 70 be sure, made the
Queen hardly seem worthy OF all this
headlong scrambling and indiscriminate
sword play. especially for a jewel, and
as one OF the feminine onlookers said /;
1T was really too bad Mary Pickford
didn't play the Q,Geenw Marguerite de
Ia Motto as Constance and Barbara la
Marr as MiiGdy were much more de-
serving OF stares. while Nigel dc Bruier
did Cardinal RicheLeN TO turn.
hdolphe Menjou as Louis NIL. and
Thomas Holding az Buckingham also
meritcd their bejewelled costumes.
Leon Barry. George Seigmann AM
Eugene Palette stood respectively az
Athos. Porfhos and Arainis. but i was
Fairbanks who swarmed all over the
picture. seeming TO be ell three musAet-
ecrs himself. The picture offers the
rare treat OF showing Fairbanks in his
nightgown. and even the tall OF this
garment hung out over his trousers
he carried off with swagger Along
with the escapades OF this Gascony
cadet he has introduced scenes Of Ole
Parts, OF the royal palace. OF Calais
of the shipping there and Of the coun-
tryside that charm the eye az the same
time that he bewilders Il.
The final ride OF D'Artu0rdp 70 save
tho Queen At the ball stirs the l.lood
IKE the ride OF the clansmcn in The
Birth of a Nation" and altogether the
nlm is likely 10 run as long as Dumas
IL read. II offers the old chance 70
renew their youth and tho young an
opportunitv to work off steam.
NOTES or THE THEATRES.
80 fwI,4