The Washington times., 1921-04-18
MRTROPOLTAN-
Bob Hampton Of Placof."

@Ase.RSSs
Combining with tho most thrilling
incidents recorded in the history of
the Western frontier during the
Indian uprisings of the late 70s q
quality Of romantic fiction that sell
dom finds its way to the screen, Bob
Hampton of Placer" Marshall Neilan's
remarkable perturbation of the novel
OF the same name by Randall Parrish
which was shown for the hrst time on
any screen at Crandalfs Metropolitan
Theater before capacity crowds yes
terday. will add immeasurably to the
fame and the prestige of the brilliant
young director who has achieved
previous but not comparable successes
in Daddy Longlegs," "The Rivers
End" -'Go And Get 1t" and 'Dinty."
bob Hampton Of Placer" embodies
in more perfect proportions and with
Infinitely more impressive continuity
and logic a greater degree OF humor.
a more delicate element Of romance
and more exquisite pathos than any
OF the earlier Neilan photodramas.
With the tremendous spectacle Of
the gathering of the Sioux. Blackfoot
and Cheyenne warriors under Sitting
Bull, the exciting expenditicn Of Cen
eral Terry's u. s. regulars. of which
General Clusters and General Reno's
commands constituted important
units. and the tragic micarriage of
plans that resulted in that heroic bat
tie against overwhelming odds at the
Little Big Horn. Clusters last stand.
for q climax OF it's engrossinE develop
meuts and the capstone OF its drama
this masterful production stands with
out . peer.
The thread OF romance that iaces
together the wonderful scenes of life
at the edge of civilization during the
most picturesque period OF the coun-
try's growth. concerns Capt. Nolan.
court-ma rshalled and thrown into
prison for a garrison murder he never
comes a gambler ineligible to rein
statement with his old command.
Bent on running down the man. or
men responsible for placing the guilt
on him, he combs the Western country
for some clue to the actual identity
of the murderer. On one OF his
lonely quests he joins q little wagon
train, dragging its weary way further
into the land the redskins deemed
their own. When the little band is
all but anihilated, Nolan. masquerad-
Hampton. OF Placer, succeeds in
reaching a little mining town with
the rescued daughter of "Old Daddy
ellis"
Here ensue the strange events that
unravel the mystery of the killing OF
Captain Brant restore Nolan to
place of honor among his former as
sociates and lead to his heroic par
ticipation in the debacle of the Little
Big Horn. where with his little pal,
he pays the supreme price for a fair
name to be borne by his daughter.
engaged to marry the son of the man
he was 50 ,,osed to have killed.
The cas-, assembled by Mr.. Neilan
is one OF Incompatible fitness for the
tasks allotted them. James Kirk
wood II perfect In the name part, as
Is Marjorie Daw. a. his daughter.
Noah Beery. as the renegade gambler
who perjured Nolan into Jail. and
Pat o'Maliey. as the young captain
in love with Mazda "Gillis."
In the inimitable role OF Bob's lit
tie pal. Wesley Barry. he with the
spaneled face and the fame of
"Dinty." is cast in q part that enables
him still further to demonstrate his
right to be known as the thirteen
year-oId phenomenon OF the Ans. In
this subject he Is a hardri6iIs. sure
shooting little imp who abhors
women. always bobs up at the wrong
tine and dies game in the hot OF the
hght. The ensemble of fullblood
indians and Tenth U. S. Cavalry lend
the picture an authority that none
like II has ever before possessed.
The scenic investiture Is OF mar
velous beauty, all of the grandeur of
the Glacier National Park having been
utilized as background for the spirited
action of the story by a new photo
graphic process that records clearly
for a distance OF nifty miles. The bat
tie scenes photographed from the air
by the aid Of a PONY Blimp" used
for the first time by Mr.. Neilan in this
production strike a new note in
majestic sweep and realistic effect.
The extraordinary major feature Of
the bill for the week is suitably sup
plemented by 4 variety of short reel
masterpieces.