New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-10

Reinhardt's Art on
Screen To Be Seer
Soon on Broadway

Nh
ern and the aneient--a conb;,s...
both beautiful and dramatlc-,s at,
Golem," film play based on n, =,
chronicle Of the fourteoath csr.,,
which Hugo Resented Will prs,.s.
soon on Broadway.
In pure pantomimc, with highly Il.
orative yet realistic settings. nos,;.
spirit and rich coloring in light eas...
THE Golem' stands forth "a u...,
expression vf the artistic pho.oplav :.
IS an exemplifcation Of the thsor:.
worked out by Max Reinhardt VII.
placed imagination and the play NM,
the soul higher than the mere nbn..
graphic. To this European master =.
stagecraft the theatcr was to b.
frame for the fields of poetry bevord
an opening TO peep through and m.
an Independent entity in itself A.
cording to modern students the c;ns,,.
will be the art through which Rein
hardt's theories will be best revealaa
and "The Golem" is regarded as an ~,
ample of the realization of his idss,
Just how closely Reinhardt is con.
nected with THE Golem" can ls
guessed from the fact that Paul Weso.
ner, who played the title role and aIso
directed the production, is his "a.
sistant. Wegener studied Reinhard.,.
theories of lighting, of stage settine.
and Of acting with the mas.
ter and caught his spirit. He carried
his ideas into the motion picture field
ard gave expression to them, HOLDING
fast to the principle that the stage
and its human figures were mere ae-
cessories to the greater purpose-ths
idea of the story.
And the result has been an artistic
production, at times charming and
delicate, at others terrific in its drs-
matte power. The story is an old Jew.
ish legend told with all the racial char
actertistics and ancient forms. A Jew.
ish community of 600 years ago is req.
resented, not with Photographic pre-
cision, but with poetic melting to-
gether of dreaminess and imagery
Portraits rise from the screen; grass
covered walls with the quaint little
watch house Of the gatekeeper float be-
fore the eyes; the cavernous vaults Of
an alchemist come to view; a giant
RACES through the confines of the city
killing and burning, only to be laid
low by the hand Of curious child.
1t is a story which can best be ex-
pressed in the methods of the Rein
hardt school. 1t is an imaginative
story, as all legends are; piece Of
literature which has been handed down
through the centuries and is best ex-
pressed in shadowy terms. The old
patriarchs are shown in soft tones On
the screen, lights and shades which
play with loving touches about them.
The old walls of the ghetto, the houses
which lean affectionately against each
other, the staircases which have been
worn by many generations Of feet
these demand the soft tones of the
camera art and the rich shadows which
speak of the past.
The Golem was the name Of giant
figure created by one of the wise old
men of the ghetto as servant and pro-
tector. Many hours were spent IN
building the massive frame, the colo.
inexpensive feature of clay. The Gre
alton of life fascinated the old alche-
mist. He turned the leaves Of his big
books to find the secret of life and,
having ascertained the vital words, be
calls upon Astaroth to Undue the clay
giant with motion. Supernatural IN
terposition confers the gift Of life.
The Golem becomes the servant Of
the family, a willing, patient slave
When his master wishes him to beconis
clay once more he removes the silver
star from the breast, the star which
holds within its shell the sacred scroll
of life. The king calls upon the alche-
mist to entertain him and tn, clay
giant steps with stilted walk into the
royal presence, sensing for the first
time the sweet smell of a rose and tho
beauty of girls face. Life has be-
come dear to him and for the first
time he refuses to permit the alche-
mist to remove the star
And so the fascinating story goes.
1t tells how the Golen /aved the life
OF the king and how it crushed OUT
that of courtier who loved the mas
ter's daughter. The youths death
aroused his brutal instincts and he set
fire to his masters house, carried or
the fainting girl only to drop her
when something else interested his
slow moving brain, and marched
through the ponderous ghetto gate
to meet his death at the hands OF
child during the festival of flowers.
Wegener's portrayal of the Goier
is marvellous piece of characterize
ton, according to those who have seen
tho film play. AS he walks he gives a
sense of cold and rigid limbs; his small
eyes move slowly, yet, at times, wita
deepest expression. His nav opens
and closes like that of piece o.
mechanism and there is touch OF the
grotes,.ue in his smile. Half beast,
half clay, the figure Of the Golem seems
both the slave and master of his cree
ator.