New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-04
On the Screen
Gorgeous Photography Fea-
lures "The Conquering Pow
er"; Revival of "Cabiria"
BY I1arriette Underhill

1.-THE Conquering Power, mace from
Balzac's story "Eug6nie Gaudet," is the
feature at the Rivoli this week. In fear
and trembling we sat down in the the
alter and waited for the picture to be-
gin. We were afraid we weren't going
to like it, and in that case we should
have to say so, and we are tired Of
being insulted by anonymous writer's
who suggest that we ought to be put
off The Tribune or drawn and quar-
tered because we didn't like "The Black
panther's Cub" Sowing the Wind"
Carnival" and some others. So far,
no one has upbraided us for not liking
"Tradition," but it would not surprise
us if some one did. "What do you
want?" they say, and we answer now.
once for all, another "Conquering
Power"
We sat spellbound while the story
by the youthful appeal, vvacity and
cleverness of Rudolph Valentino, who
plays Charles Gaudet; by the restful
and perfect continuity of the story, by
the gorgeous photography, by the most
excellent and beautifully brief titles
and by the splendid direction of this
man, Rex Ingram, although we have
mentioned Mr.. Valentino, especially, it
is because he is the possessor of that
quality which would make you aware of
his presence even if the director de-
cided to use him as an extra. 1t is
something which the good fairy gives
you at birth and can never be acquired
if one has it not. 1t will make callous
world sit up and take notice; it will
make the most blase become interested
in oil Of
been defined, but is called personality.
If the cast is not ll-star it should
be from now on. Alice Terry is de-
lightful and lovable in the title role.
Ralph Lewis does by far the best work
we ever saw him do as Pere Graudet, the
old miser. Eric Mayne is perfect as
Victor, the unfortunate father and
Edna Demaury, Edward Connolly and
George Atkinson are all excellent in
their parts.
When "The Four Horsemen" came to
town we missed it and never have had
chance to see it since, but some one
who has seen both pictures told us yes
terday that they liked "The Conquer
ing Power even better than the ear
lier Ingram productions
No attempt is made to gain SYM
pathy for any one-the story holds no
popular appeal, no lesson is hammered
home-but the tale is presented on the
screen as delicately as it has been
photographed. 1t is full of soft, elusive
shadows and high lights. And it has
love and certain amount of mystery
and honor and retribution all done by
director who has firm hand and
level head. No matter what you see on
that it is unreal.
Eugene Grandlet is the daughter of
miser who is so rich that no one
can compute his wealth. His brother,
Victor, lives in Paris, and because he Is
open-handed and extravagant he is in
volved in business difficulties which he
sees only one way out Of This way
ne travels after sending his son,
Charles, to the tender mercies of his
mlserly brother. Charles arrives dur
ing Eugenie's birthday celebration, and
TINS is one of the most delightful
scenes it has been our pleasure to
witness on the screen-the meeting of
the gay Partisan Charles, who leads a
French poodle on it's leash, and the
modest and beautiful Eugene, who has
never been away from the village.
Particularly now, when so much is
being said and so much more is being
felt in regard to the German films. is
such picture welcome? Germany has
turned out nothing finer Need one
say more? The picture is presented bv
metro: The adaptation was made bv
June Mathis. '0
gram arc the Pictorial Review and
Tony Sarg's almanac, "The Tooth Car
penter,' delightful cartoon with lots
of animation.
Inc overture is American Fantasia.
with susan Clough singing THE Star
Spangled Banner" Desha does a Danse
Orlentale, which is an exact reproduc-
ton of a scene in the picture.
mere is also scene from Herodiade.
with Marcel Salesco, Mary Fabian
Susan Clough, Desha, Vera Myers and
Gene Chapelle. The dances are ar
ranged by Paul Oscard.
me hrst picture we ever saw was
"Cabiria" when it was presented IN
1914 at the Knickerbocker Theater
Like every one else we we're stunned
by the bigness and magnificence of if
al and thrilled by the rescues and the
feats of strength of Maciste. We had
always supposed that his real name was
Maclste. and it was only when we
looked at the program at the Strand
yesterday, where the D'Annunzio mas
terpiece is being received, that we
Pagini. W
In looking back at "Cabiria" we have
realized that the story was very vague
IN our mind. There were very long
stretches where we only knew that
vast armies were coming together and
were Killing each other with spears
ana pushing each other off the towers,
but we had no idea which side to roof
tor because it was impossible, to tell
friend from foe. Now, with our long
experience in movie plots and with
well-regulated movie mind, we found
ourself still rather at sea.
we got along very we'll until Cabiria
grew up, but then we couldn't re-
member who was the villain-villains