New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-17
Emil Jannings, Leading
Picture Star of Europe,
Is Star of SsDeception''

America has heard much of Kenny
Porten, the most charming figure in
the motion picture field of Europe. II
has seen Pola Negri, an actress OF
power, regarded abroad as second only
to Miss Porten, if not her superior in
some roles. But America has heard
little If anything of the one actor who
has raised the standard of motion
picture acting so far out Of the reach
of his European rivals that there is no
comparison. Yet America has seen him.
AS is usual in the cinema field, the
charm of the woman star, her adapta-
bility for Observation-Disclosures edi-
tors don't like to print pictures of men
put the skill and art of the man in
the background. He became part of
the picture. For that part of the audi
ence that understood acting, he was
the picture. The picture was Passion"
and the actor was Emil Jannings, who
played the role of Louis XIV
Jannings is an American. Not only
an American, but native New Yorker
who went to Europe before the war to
study and work with Max Reinhardt
Like many other Americans, he was
caught in Germany at the outbreak of
war with the United States and was
interned. Since the armistice he has
continued to work with Reinhardt as
stage director and to take leading
roles in dramatic productions and mo-
ton pictures.
Jannings was regarded as great
stage director abroad long before he
ever went into the film field. He was
known as an actor of power, one of
the stars of the speaking stage. But
in pictures he has found his true work.
His Henry VIII in Deception" which
opens at the Rivoli to-day, is a revela-
ton in motion picture acting, accord
ing to British critics who saw the
play. Said one:
"a broad face, with little eyes, with
a round chin and comfortable nose
this is Falstaff in his cups Then
there is a sudden trembling in the
corners of the mouth, the eyes grow
moist and shining, the forehead seems
to dome itself, tragic mask appears.
And yet another--the hair falls,
greasy with romade. over the fore
head, wrinkled cheeks fall in folds,
teeth are clenched, the little eyes
twinkle servilely-this is Wedekind's
Athlete bowling at the footlights, greedy
for applause. And it is all Emil JAN
nings.
''If it were possible to distill the
live, artistic energy from these figures
we should have shadow-lke carica-
lures, wild splotches of color like the
portraits of Japanese actors drawn by
Sharaku. But it is just this one i'm
portant thing that we are talking of
here-this artistic energy which melts
word and gesture together in higher
temperature than our normal blood
creates human figures out of new ma
terial, the artists own material; it is
this which gives his kings in'Mme.
DIT Barry (Passion) and Anne Boleyn'
(Deception) a strange, supernatural,
srarklngly faceted existence, a glori-
Gus and-yes, we must say it--a ma
jestic glamour
This lustful, vice laden fgurehead
of decaying Paris, this commanding
steam engine of the English court, are
not merely outlined with every last
vestge of humanity: there is some
thing in them besides which is hard to
express in words-something like the
glamour of a distant world-the dream
o. the superman, ina word, grandeur.
When this wine-sodden, massive man
raises himself suddenly the armed
hirelngs jump; there is quiet in the
hall for the word of command, the ST.
lence of humility.
"Jannings's appearance brings him
parts in which he could easily satisfy
the average audience with mere brutal
ty. He would still be successful. But
it is worth watching to see how he re-
fines all this in the fire of his spiritua
participation. His Henry VIII in DE
ception' is a dynamo of eating anc
drinking, a broad breasted brute.
crude laughing scum of humanity
against which Kenny Porten, as Ann,
Boleyn, is profiled in sweet tragedy
But all this melts in very human ane
very royal bearing when human sorrow
comes to him. 1t comes seldom, o.
course. But wonderful indeed is hi:
break down at his wife's bedside wher
he realizes that, instead of the desired
heir to the throne, a daughter has beer
born to him. 1t is the collapse of s
mammoth, a primeval animal, to whose
heart the spear has struck. And we
are thankful indeed to Ernest Lubitsch
whose genius pointed the way for these
effects"