The Washington times., 1921-11-21
LOEW'S PALACE
"Enchantment."
By BEATRICE FAIRFAX.

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BY BEATRICE FAIRFAX.
At LoewS Palace Theater this
week there Is q picture which gives
us all chance at the thing for which
we long when we're tired or dis
couraged or find the pressure Of liv-
ing a little too hard to bear. The
picture IL called "Enchantment." q
Cosmopolit Paramount picture star.
ring Marion Davies. and It works the
blessed enchantment of permitting
Us to escape from reality through the
door of beauty.
But It does more than this. "En.
chantment" tells a story. 1t deals
with a problem of today. It gives in.
eight into character development.
And without preaching a sermon or
hammering on tired nerves It shows
how the soul latent In q self-centered.
unmanageable girl Of today may come
into its own.
must confess that ! like Frank r.
Adams stories so we'll that when I
find one has been made into picture.
go to II all ready to have q good
time during the hour It passes before
my eyes--and convinced that when
the picture is over and ! come out to
the turmoil Of the streets, I'll have
something to bring with me.
''Enchantment" did not fail me. 1t
won't fail you. In the fairyland
beauty Of Joseph Urhan's sympathetic
and gloriously imaginative settings, It
is Jewel Of a thing for the eye to
rest upon. And director Robert @.
Vignola has added to the beauty OF
nArfnCttnn
thoughtful detail in working out each
bit Of the story. He's made a drama
not choppy group Of pictures.
When the motion picture comes into
it's own, well find that just such
drama as "Enchantment" has helped
blaze the trail to the dramatic picture.
The story tells OF wineome
'flapper" who fancies that Cleopatra
might have taken lessons In charm
from her. Young Ethel Hoyt Is head
ing for destruction along the path OF
her best gifts-charm. beauty, magne-
tism and power over the boys who fol-
low her banner wherever she chooses
to make It lead.
Father and Mother Hoyt wake up
to the fact that Ethel is going to ruin
her young life out Of the very gifts
that make 1t so rich. And when they
see the Tanning OF the Shrew,"
Father Hoyt gets a notion that the
actor who plays Petruchio SO we'll
might be able to tame young Ethel.
It's not fair to tell the story. For
the development is so clever and so
romantic and so thrilling that won't
spoil your fun by analyzing each bit
OF the tale and revealing the weaving
before you've seen the pattern.
With perfection Of setting and
nfrarftnn hA
picture might still be spoiled by a lack
of sympathetic Interpretation on the
part OF the actors. But that doesn't
happen. Never fear.
Marion Davies comes into her own
as an actress OF rare discernment
added to her rare gifts Of beauty and
winsome charm. She has prohed
Ethel Hoyt to the soul and she knows
every feeling that ripples across that
young lady's mind and heart. She
feels every step In Ethels develop
ment from spoiled darling who
fancies herself irfssistible to the girl
that can mean.
Ethefs pride, her innate sweetness,
her thoroughbred way of meeting
situations-when she can't ''vamp"
herself out Of them-give the ex-
quisite Miss Davies an opportunity to
make every move count. And she
does it. Each glance Of her eyes gives
you a glimpse into the soul Of Ethel
Hoyt. The girl Is whimsical-but a
darling.
What Ethel wears. how she walks,
how she lifts her languorous eyes.
and how she pouts her luscious lips
character painting that will delight
you.
And Ethels growth is made pos
sihle by Tom Lewis unctuous play
ing Of puzzled but undaunted Father
Hoyt. n screen fathers were always
like this, We might more often realize
them as real folks. Mr.. Lewis knows
the values of character painting bit
by bit. His smile alone is worth
going miles to see. His enjoyment Of
the predicaments he creates will
make every father-person chuckle,
and every daughter person wish she
had chance at some Of his discipline.
And then to complete the triangle Of
Forrest Stanley.
Mr.. Stanley plays the actor who
poses as a lover with the idea Of
Ethel a lesson-and learns
one himself. He has poise and dis
tinction and he makes everything
Ethel does plausible. AS Petruchio-
as Prince Charming come to waken
the Sleeping Beauty-and as Ethel's
Prince Charming. he always is what I
ne portrays. His work is always con- !
and that he plays a part with
n a part, 1t all seems real.
AS you can guess, I like these folks
Ind am having lot of fun telling |
you about them. Edith Shayne as
he mother and Corine Barker as the
artist add to the perfection Of poise !
md breeding and understanding that
yives the picture so much reality.
And II you think 1t isn't enough to !
1ave a splendid time seeing a beautiful
,icture and getting rested and happy.
II just add hint Of the sermon the
picture so delicately indicates:
We talk lot about our wild young
people" But suppose we take the
rouble to understand them-to give
han, half opce-what will thew