The Washington herald., 1921-02-28
CrandalI's Metrepelitan-viel
Dana and Larry Semen.

Viola Dana has in recent months
appeared upon the screen in several
splendid photodramatic romances.
but it remained for The offshore
Pirate" the latest OF Metros
Screen-Clsssic series of special pro-
ductions which was presented for
the FIRST time locally as chief fes-
ture OF a double bill at Crandall's
Metropolitan Theater yesterday, to
supply Miss Dana her most delight
full vehicle and her most engaging
role. Larry Semon's new Vitagrsph
comedy. The Sportsman" furnishes
a companion feature for the week
that bids fair to make the Metro
politan's bill for the Inauguration
period memorable.
The Onshore Pirate" is a film
adaptation Of the story of the same
name. written for the Saturday
Evening Post by F. Scott Fitzgerald
which is SO wholesome in Its ro-
mantle comedy, so direct and so
brisk in its action and so admirable
! in it's casting and material investi-
ture that il furnishes a perfect ex-
: ample of the high level TO which
; photoplsy production has attained
and makes a mockery OF the i'll
| Judged cries for censorship now
prevalent. 1t provides excellent en-
tertainment for all ages by virtue
OF the substance and charm Of the
narrative upon which IL is based
J and is extremely well done in its
every aspect.
: The story is OF poor little
orphan girl left alone in the worlc
! with only $1,000. 600 and an aversion
to all men except those with so-
venturous and famboyant pasts
| She finally meets some such soeial
parasite and falls rspturously IN
love. despite the fact that an earn
est uncle endeavors to enlist hef
interest in the eligibility OF Toby
Moreland. a liksable young fellow
I who, unfortunately, has always
/ been eminently respectable. Aroits
Farnam will have none OF this un-
colored mediocrity and centers hei
attention upon the fascinating
wickedness OF Ivan Nevkova. unti
one day her yacht is boarded by
genial young pirate. who takes un'
heard OF liberties with everything
and everybody on board. PIRACY
in fact, runs wild aboard the PAL
atial craft, cossting about within
edrSnOt OF lne hOAtts anu Ne1N.. :
resorts ashore, until through a Sc
ries Of delightfully."- amusing cpl
sodes Identities are made clear anc
true love AFFAIR is seen to have
had its inception. A more minute
analysis of the plot would be un
fair to future. audiences. who's
pleasure would be materially I'm
paired by the deliberate destruction
Of the element OF suspense.
Miss Dana. as Ardita, and Jscs
Aulhall. as Toby. lend the subject
the spontsneity of actual youth and
carr the story in spirited fashioI
to its absorbing denouement
band Of dusky cabaret performer
transformed into a daring pirate
horde iu0ect much humor into the
successive situations aboard ship b!
repeated surrender 10 the Africai
penchant for Mississippi Marbles,
sometimes referred to as the leap
ing dominoes.
"Thr Sportsman" is TYPICAL,
: gymnastic Semon farce with Ia
; scenes laid in Turkey, for thu
greater part in the palace OF tn
+. Sultan. A new issue Of the Path
I News. Topics of the Day and tune
full accompaniment and overtur
= number. under the direction o.
> Amedeo vioni. conductor Of ta'
a symphony. complete a program tina
takes rank with the best OF tn
: year.