The New York herald., 1921-05-15

lGdTJ Oh grace anu are lhcWlSe
ing TO the front with pictures which
they are ready TO throw on the mercy
of American audiences. Like the Ger
man trust they are united in a gem
eral combination. the UCI, which is
the Unione Cinematogratica 1taliana
when you have time and speak Italian.
They are heavily subsidized by The
Government, rs are most OF the film
companies in Europe, and arc reported
TO have working under standing with
the German combine, the UFA. which
would make 1t appear that the Triple
Alliance is likely to be revived on cell
luloid II not on paper.
Not only is Samuel Goldwyn bring
ing here from the Latin peninsula two
spectacular films. Theodore" based
on Victorien Sardous drama, and The
Ship" founded on Gabrielle d'Annua-
zio's novel. La Nave" but the Ital-
ians are sending after 1t other pic
lures 10 show that they are distin-
guished at other arts besides eating
spaghetti. one pretentious picture
which Is already represented here by
a print is "The Life of the Borgias."
and this may break out in public at
any moment.
II WIS cANlDlISu IN pIN ID
reported to have been less stimula ling
to Engiishmen than their "'erf and
arr" 1t Is lavish!y staged. but the
problem Of religious feeling enters into
IL. for two OF its best scenes, one pur-
porting to show Pope Alexander VI.
(Rodrigo Borgia) procuring his eleva-
tion to the papacy by the College OF
Cardinals through the offer OF bribes.
and the other exhibiting n wild party
that isn't exactly a stag affair when the
French King visits ham. are not likely
TO be preferred on Sunday as a substi
tute for church. for they are said to be
much more pronounced than the usual
clerical errors seen on the screen.
The Italians are preparing to take the
bull by the horns and revive Quo
Vadis." their big Roman spectacle. and
1t is also reported that "Cabiria" may
come back and keep DAnnunzio's name
before the public still. now that the
Fiume advertisement is over. 1t is in
teresting to note that Marie Doro, Amer
lean actress. appeared before the
camera in Italy in four pictures. with
Herbert Brenon carrying the RESPONSE
bility of the world on his shoulders as
director.
What is understood to be by all odds
the greatest of Italian pictures will
never be finished nor exhibited-but
pause DeIOTe you Sneu tnOSe tears. Inc
UCI. with characteristic sangfroid. set
out TO put Genesis on the screen. The
producers obtained an immense subsidy
from the italian Government. so the
story goes. and then, when the picture
was three-Quarters completed. word
came from the Vatican that II would
not countenance such q production be-
cause the Papal See had heard that the
directors were presenting the scriptural
!. - + -gAA
Adam and Eve strictly au naturel. So
the producers had to abandon the picture
because they violated motion picture
precedent and for once stuck closely to
their scenario.
Nice is promising to develop into the
Los Angeles of Europe, with its pic
turesque scenery--we have IL on the
word of Baedeker--its palaual resi-
dences and It's sunlight, that the natives
are willing to match against any sample
from California. Three or four italian
and French companies have started
operating there though so far, the ma
tives concede, the crop of scandal In
the movie colony has been very poor
and compares unfavorably with Holly
wood
Miss Ivy Duke and Guy Newall. pop
ular English stars. have had a studio
at Nice and allowed Maurice Maeter-
linck to pick up some points about the
movies which he didn't absorb at Holly
wood. this time getting them In his own
language. which he appears to UNDER
stand better than English. The British
pair are closing their studio and will
return TO England 20 rest and get back
in the tea habit again. after which In
about ten weeks they will launch
themselves on the United States. With
.pleDty OF warning
The French do not appear to have
been as successful as other Continental
countries so far In twining themselves
about the American screen. One of their
most ambitious pictures, based on the
life OF Napoleon, is still drifting Ike
a derelict In these parts. with no one
either to tow 1t home or blow Il out OF
the water Famous Players-Lasky had
an option on 1t until recently. but held
their decision In allegiance until II could
be seen whether censorship would over
whelm them or pass by on the other
side. When It appeared likely that
censorship would come Into the lives OF
the film magnates here the Famous
Players executives decided to send
Napoleon" into exile, holding that
some Of the scenes might incense the
censor. Some OF the parts were consid-
cred open to Interpretation as saiacious,
and perhaps IL might be thought tnat
Josephine was not held UP to the eye
as a perfect lady should be to qualify
for an appearance in the school text
books.
While the foreign companies are send
ing films over here az fast as they can
raise money for the freight American
film notables are being shipped over
there, though this is not likely to affect
the rate OF exchange appreciabiy. Mar
shall Neilan Is going TO spend six
months in Europe, ostensibiy to devote
ali his energies to directing one picture
In that time for First National. but II
is understood that some of his energies
will be devoted to waiting for the prof
It's on hts earlier pictures, particularly
The Lotus Eaters" with John Barry
more. to mature and make him capable
OF coping with the American scale OF
living.
Miss Anna Q. Nilsson likewise sailed
last Tuesday leading the summer wash
out 70 Europe OF film stars. and now
IL some other actresses. far inferior In
looks and talent to this pretty actress,
could only be persuaded TO follow her
example. the country would be thht
much richer by their loss. Miss Nilsson
will return I'm the fall, when she de-
cides that she and New York are han
kering for each other.
we practice Is increasing OF starting
n movie with the title Of song. or