The New York herald., 1921-04-04
Norma TaImadge
PeaSeS Amen in
" Passion FIOwer"
.City of Silent Mem and a
Story Of Circus Life Also
Film Novelties.

Miss Norma Talmadge. who claims
Castilian descent herself has chance
to show her Spanish in The Passion
Flower at the Strand this week. In the
screen version OF Jacinto Benavente's
play she has her best medium in some
time for the display of her histrionic
talents as the young girl who caused
one lover TO be tried for killing another
over her. set her stepfather mad about
her. and generally acted in the fashion
that Andalusian demoiselles are expected
to as soon as their eyes get the better
OF them. But the girls mother has
a starring vehicle for a young and
pretty actress, though Miss Tslmadge Is
powerful in the clinacteric scene Wnen
she yields to her stepfather's arms be-
fore every one. and the big drive on the
emotions comes. Yet somehow one
misses the immense pull OF Miss Nance
O'Neil saying at this point Lip TO
lip"
has decidedly enhanced this work. the
settings no longer seeming home made,
as on the stage. 1t is distinct sur
prise to notice that Spanish autEor
can write mystery plays almost as Well
as George NJ. Cohan. Herbert Brenon,
on the whole, has hewed to the original
line closely and the chips fly with great
skill. Courtenay Foote, as the STEP
g.. II,
lover and Miss Eulalie Jensen as the
mother are always in the picture" a
spriRhtIy "Torchy" comedy and Gomezs
III Guarany" overture are side bets.
"City of silent Men" Mt RivoH.
Thomas Meighan in The City of 81
lent Men" a Paramount free translation
of John A. Moroso's novel Of prison He.
The Quarry" arrives at the Rivoh ana
starts \ rally against circumstanuai
evidence, just when Augustus Thomas on
the speaking stage begins delivering
body blow to the same kind of evidence
with Nemesis" The picture, which
was directed by Tom Forman, Is inter-
eeting not only because of It's theme but
because it shows in greater detail tnan
the screen has ever exposed before the
process Of matriculation at Sing sing.
so that any spectator who later finds
himself inducted to Ossining will know
precisely the etiquette of the place.
Mr. Meighan gives straightforward
and likeable portrayal of the young me-
chanic who lis railroaded TO prison, es-
capes by means OF a shrewd ruse, flees
to the Pacific coast and Is cleared OF
the murder charge against him by one
Of those confessions OF fellow prisoner
that loom 30 large in the movie but so
often fall upon stony ears in actual life.
Miss Lois Wilson is another of those
great characters without whom the
screen simply could not live-the woman
who refuses to believe her noble guy
did anything wrong.
Julian Ollenforff's captivating sketch
ograph, Ewes Leaves showing how
woman has silhouetted herself on the
ages; Gomez's III Guarany" overture
and solos by Carl Rollins and Alma
Dona are other donations.
Picture or Circus Life.
At an opportune time comes Mary
Miles Minter to the Rialto in The Lit
tie Town." with the aroma of peanuts
and the menagerie of Barnum & Bail
ey's still lowering about the city and
supplying a background for this Real
art picture of circus life. Besides CIV
ing to dainty Miss Minter a chance to
cavort and be melting by turns in an
agreeable fashion, this story by Avery
Hopwood. originally intended az a man
tie for Miss Billie Burke. answers the
question as to where all the spoken
plays go that fall by the wayside on
the road. Nowadays they go into the
movies and live happily ever after.
The thread of the story Is woven
about a little orphan girl OF the tan
bark ring. who falls in love with
runaway youth who has fallen in love
with the circus, and how they over
come parental objections to the match
an old idea. but somehow interesting.
especially in spring. 1t Is a fairly salts
flying story. what with the odor OF
sanctity OF the real circus at Madison
Square Garden to help It out. A COM
edy, Rossini's Barber OF Seville" over
ture and solos by Sascha Fidelrnan and
Grace Hoffman are other contributions
fallaQffn