New-York tribune., 1921-10-03
On the Screen
dangerous Curve Ahead" ct
Capitol; Pola Ncgri in ''One
Arabian Night" at Strand
By Harriette Underhill

Dy iIdIIlcIAC OnQcTNIli
Rupert Hughes, the best title writer
in the world, has picture at the
Capitol this week. 1t is called Dan
gerous Curve Ahead" Now, for those
who are not familiar with Mr. Hughes's
work this title will have meaning
which has not in the present instance
been written into it at all. II it were
Cecil De Mile picture Dangerous
Curve Ahead" would mean Just what
you would think it meant; but with
Rupert Hughes it means something
quite different. The story proves that
the matrimonial bark is quite as apt
to be wrecked in quiet lake as in a
whirlpool. The life of Phoebe Mabce
and Harley Jones seemed terribly dull
after they were married. Perhaps it
is really bound to be SO when lot
of children come quickly, but the lives
OF none of the people we happen to
know are like that, and it seemed as
though the Joneses missed lots of
chances of having good time OF
course, there are plenty Of people who
would have preferred the De Mile
translation of which We spoke, and we
are not sure that we should not have
done so realizing, even as we do that
Dangerous Curve Ahead" is a perfect
performance as it stands.
The titles are delight, the picture
is beautifully directed and the cast
leaves nothing to be desired. We have
only one criticism to register two,
rather. Why was it necessary at the
end of the picture, when husband and
wife clasped hands over the cot of the
convalesccnt child. to flash large,
brilliant circle, presumably a wedding
ring, in the middle of the scene? And
why was it necessary. after convincing
every one in the action of the picture
and in the titles that the young wife
was enceinte, to show her looking wst-
full, while halo appeared over her
head and spread until it covered the
whole screen. Lots Of people have
children!
Phoebe Mabee is an excellent name
for the heroine. She was the great
potentiality in her own home town.
The title stated that she had been
engaged and disengaeed with every
eligible young man she knew. When
the story opens she is engaged to
Harley Jones, but he breaks the en-
ing Anson Newton. In the denouement
later she is seen knceling at her window
ledge delivering the maden's prayer
1t is, "Send me a good husband, make
ne Il good wife" Knowing Phoebe as
We already did, we felt she should have
added "Give me good time"
You see, Phoebe was temperamentally
untitled to become what she did be-
come. After Phoebe's prayer there is
another title which says: "This is the
noblest wish a woman can utter" or
words to that effect, but this is one
more thing which does not sound like
Rupert Hughes. Mr.. Hughes nevel
tells people what is noble and what
isn't
Phoebe's prayer was soon answered
Harley came back and they were mar
ried. That was when their trouble
started. Phoebe had children faster
than Harley could afford them, and tbs
Joneses seemed the sort of people who
belleve Woman's place is in the homo
exclusively, and that if you have any.
thing to do with another man after yoI
arc married he will seize the Oh.
portunity to make love to you. There
tore, Phoebe was lonely a lot of the
time. When Harley's salary was raise(
so that he could afford a business tri1
to Europe, Phoebe refused to go becaus,
she couldn't leave the children. al
though by that time they had all sort.
OF maids standing about the apartment
Anyhow, Phoebe didn't go. She swen
TO Ialm Beach instead, and there in {
perfectly innocent way she nearly mad,
the dangerous curve a fatal one. Til,
nnlsh OF the picture seems merely a,
interlude, for although Phoebe's thre,
cnl!dren were doing very we'll and he1
troubles were over, you feel that sh,
IS gong to have lot more of them.
Helene Chadwick is delightful a,
phoebe. 1t is tn chest thing she ha.
done. Richard Dix is perfect as tn,
young husband. Lefty Flynn is seel
as the other man, and the beautiful ant
stately Kate Lester is the wealthy aunt
Miss Lester is the wealthiest lookins
screen lady we know and no one els,
can ever be half so imposing in tn,
grand dame roles. The picture is
Goldwyn. 1t was directed by MasoI
Hopper The prologue is a distinc
novelty. Prizma has a picture on tn,
program called "a Little Love Nest
The overture is LISTS 18th Hungarian
Rhapsody. There is also a CLestc
scenic called The Last Hope" and
ballet which includes Danse Oriental
by Doris Niles, Cassandra bv Thai;
Aanou and Glow Worm by Gambarelli
There is variety at the theatre thi
week for, after the quiet at the Capito
picture comes the tense and colorfu
drama at the Strand. 1t is called con
Arabian Night" and it has for the sta
that marvellous actress, Pola Nepri
The only fault we can find with tn
picture is that there is not half enoupl
OF Pola Negri in it. If the star wer
anyone else we should say well~an,
good, for we hate directors who sacri
tice everything that their star ma,
have hundreds of feet of film to d.
nothing in. That is one beautiful fea
ture OF the German films. The directo
tells the story, let the chips fall wher
they may