New-York tribune., 1921-05-01
Lost Romance,
First of New
Film Series
It's Success Is Promoted
by Close Cooperation
of Author and Producer

William De Miles motion picture
stock company. organized for his spe-
ciai productions for Paramount. will
be seen In "The Lost Romance" which
opens at the Criterion Theater on Sun
day. May 8. This photoplay has two
features to commend It to public at
tention: hrst, It Is the initial produc-
tion In which the author. Edward
Knoblock. wrote the story directly for
screen production and Joined director
and scenarist in its preparation: and
second, the relationship between the
new production and its two predeces-
sors at the Observation-Disclosures
Madness and What Every Woman
Knows"
Last summer the Famous Players-
Lasky Corporation announced q series
Of pictures to be known as "Famous
Authors-Famous Directors" produc-
tions and in which the author was to
give expression TO his story directly
through the screen. Edward Knoblock.
after studying his medium. wrote "The
Lost Romance" for screen production
and worked in close cooperation with
Mr.. De Mile and Olga Printzlau. the
scenarist- In the past it has been GUS
tomary to have the sceparist and di-
rector work out q film production from
novel or play, stressing certain parts
and subduing others according to the
demands OF the screen. Inasmuch as
the art forms of the novelist and the
playwright were different from that Of
the motion picture, the product was
often very different from the original.
With the development of the cinema
art and the desire to make the photo
play pure art expression in it's own
field. there came the realization of
the need for original drama couched
in the terms Of the film. Famous
Players-Lasky added some Of the
worlds greatest writer's, novelists and
playwrights to its staff with the sole
purpose Of having them learn the new
form OF expression and write original
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Lost Romance" is the first Of this new
series.
"The Lost Romance" Is the third
study Of domestic problems produced
recently by Mr.. De Mile. midsummer
Madness" the first, was adapted by
Miss Printzlau from the story by
Cosmo Hamilton entitled "His Friend
and His Wife," It was presented by
Hugo Riesenfeid at the Criterion The
ater for an extended engagement and
created a wide discussion. In fact,
so keen was the difference Of opinion
en- the climax of the film play that
Hugo Riesenfeld offered $500 in prizes
for the best letters, a contest which
brought replies from all parts of the
United States.
Sir James M. Barrie's "what Every
Woman Knows" came second, playing
at the Rivoli Theater.. Now comes the
third-not an adaptation but an origi-
nal story by Edward Knoblock.
It is interesting to trace the i'm
portance Of Mr.. De Miles "stock COM
pany' in the development Of the three
film plays. There is relationship be-
tween the three which makes each
more interesting because Of it. In
Midsummer Madness" there were four
important roles-Jack Holt appearing
as a busy lawyer whose work kept him
from being sufficiently attentive to his
wife; Lois Wilson as the wife; Conrad
Nagel as a philanderer who carries
away the lawyers wife with his PES
sionats lovemaking. and Lila Lee as
the other wife. After dangerous bit
Ct midsummer madness" che lawyer
forgives his wife, convinced that the
blame lies upon his own shoulders.
In Barrie's "What Every Woman
Knows" the leading roles were played
by Lois Wilson and Conrad Nagel, the
particular interest Of the piece lying
In the wife's great aid to her hus-
bands progress, an aid which he never
realized until hc fed with another
woman.
"The Lost Romance" will have Jack
Holt, Lois Wilson and Conrad Nagel
In the principal parts. In the Knob
lock-De Mile production Nagel plays
the husband, physician who is pre-
vented by his work and studies from
keeping the romance Of his marriage
alive. His wife. played by Miss Will
son. cannot even find consolation in
the love of their little son. An ex-
plorer, Hollis role, enters her life FIVE
years after she had refused his offer
Of marriage, and she believes that IN
him she will find her cost romance" !"
The sudden disappearance Of her son
makes both the physician and his wife
realize that romance lies within their
family circle, within themselves and
their SON..
In each Of the three plays the dra-
matte conflict lies between married folk
who threaten their future by, closing
their eyes to the facts before them.
Shakespeare ON the Screen
Romeo and Juliet" with Grace In
Rue and Hale Hamilton in the parts OF
tho lovers, will be done in motion pic
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