New-York tribune., 1921-01-03

not soon forget it. How can director
have his players crash hundreds of
feet over precipices onto the rocks
and live to make another picture?
With the exception of the un-lndian-
like Indians, the cast is excellent. 1t
has Henry Woodward, James Gordon,
George Hacka thorne and other we'll
known players.
The overture is "Notoma" There is
a Przma called "Indian Summer" and
vocal prologue by Joseph Martell and
the Strand male quartet. Kitty Nc
Laughlin sings "The Bird Song" from
"Pagliacci." The comedy is Number,
Please" featuring Harold Lloyd.
Another Maurice Tourneur production
is at the Rialto. This is called "The
Bait" and is taken from Sidney Toler's
play, "The Tiger Lady" and, for once,
We consider the screen title much better
than the original one. Hope Hampton
is the star. 1t is principally because of
Miss Hampton that we liked the picture.
Her work is fresh and light and natural.
She made the rather preposterous hero
inc a real girl and not a wronged and
weeping maiden with good resolutions.
We do not think that "The Bait" is the
sort of story that Mr.. Tourneur is the
most successful with. He seems to re-
Quire vast numbers of people and noun
famous backgrounds to be quite at ease,
or big things like the Drury Lane melo-
dramas, calling for quick action and
hairbreadth escapes every minute. He
seems to be better at showing you how
people ride or shoot or swim or fight
or make love than what they think.
You never feel that you would care to
invite any Of his men to tea or to dis
cuss the latest styles with any of the
women.
In the present picture this is true of
nil the characters with the exception of
Miss Hampton and Rae Elderly, who
plays small part convincingy. Miss
Hampton believes implicitly in Joan
Granger, the bait; so much so, in fact,
that you begin to believe in her your
self.
Just how difficult this was you will
understand when we tell you that Joan
was good girl working in Il dry goods
emporium when some one put a stolen
purse in her drawer and she was con-
victed Of the crime. Then she was
stolen by the man who planted the
purse and taken to Paris to be used as
a bait to catch rich mems sons. She
met the hero when she was being
nearly eaten by a lion which escaped
from music nail act, ana was dragged
into all sorts of traps which included
being accused of murder. Now do you
think it is an easy matter to be sincere
and natural under such narrowing cir
cumstances?
We fancy that Miss Hampton could
do marvellous things with polite
comedy. She has undoubted talent and
charm and. best Of all, sincerity. Some
how we fancy that she would need very
little directing.
Harry Woodward is John Warren,
"the fish," who snatched so eagerly
at "the bait" He is the sort OF hero
who says: you are my dream girl.
Somewhere in tlse world | always
knew''- etc. Jack Gilbert made the
scenario. The titles are we'll done, but
q bit grandiloquent, at times.
The comedy is a Christie, "Going
Thru the Rye" Mary Fabian sings an
aria from "Joan of Arc" Joseph Alessi
plays "Imhammatus" from "Stabat Ma
ter" as a trumpet solo. The overture
is "Rienzi"
At the Rivoli the feature picture is
1.-The Passionate Pilgrim"
"Bunty Pulls the Strings" is at the
Capital These will be reviewed to-
morrow.