New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-04
On the Screen
Burning sands,'' at RivoIi, a
(, disappointment; s'Grand-
mas Boy" at Strand
By Ffarriette Underhill


have been intimating that in this new
picture would be found another
"Sheik," and as we sat at the Rivoli
Theater hour after hour yesterday and
watched Burning Sands" unwind the
time came when we could no longer
conceal our bitter disappointment and
we buried oar face in our program
land wept.sas What we should alike to
Ahave done was throw ourself on the
floor and kick, for Burning Sands' is
not only disappointing, it Is annoying.
[ The picture probably would have
been dull no matter who played in it,
but Wanda Hawley has not improved
since she appeared in some Of the De
Mile productions few years ago, and
she was quite inadequate in the role of
Muriel Blair. Milton Stills never has
pleased us in anything since he gave
such splendid performance years ago
in "The Honor System" 1t is abso-
4lutely impossible for US, to feel ro-
mantle thrill over any hero which he
portrays, and we doubt if any actor
perhaps not even Rodolph him self
could have made US accept this fellow
in Burning Sands" as our hero. He
was one of the strong, manly sort, who
did not care for women, nor for civil
cation, nor for anything pleasant.
This Daniel Lane lived out on the
desert with the old sheik, but one
day he went to Cairo on business. and
there he met Muriel Blair, daughter
Sof the Governor. She said to him
shaughtily, "Do you dancer" and when
he said gravely, "No, do not dance"
she began to love him madly. Robert
Cain was the villain, and every time
he threatened to kill the hero we felt
keen affection for him-only he be-
trayed Our trust and never put his
threat into execution. This villain was
an love with Muriel also, and he told
her that the reason Daniel would not
live in the city was because he kept
a harem. Then Muriel set out across
the burning sand and learned that this
harem business was not true, but when
the villain again poisoned her mind
by telling her that Daniel was carry
ing on an affair with a French dane
ing girl Muriel was more successful.
She caught him in a close conference
with the girl, and how could she know
that the girl had come only to warn
him of plot against his life?
L So when Daniel saw her again he
found that he had come to judgment.
She told him what she had seen, and
he replied, the while looking more
noble than ever hero looked 81 do
not owe an explanation to one who
understands me so little" AS matter
OF fact, we couldn't for the life of us
see what she was butting in for, any,
way. SO far as their screen relations
were concerned, he had merely been a
caller in her fathers home a half
dozen times. But Muriel held her love
In restraint for a few days and then
set out after him across those burn
ing sands again. After hard ride she
staggered into his library one night
and he grabbed her in his arms and
said: "You must Immediately return
to Cairo and | shall follow you there
and we will be married"
1T is right after this that all the
villains get together and rise up to
slay Daniel. Here the picture was
very exciting for five minutes as we
,cheered the Arabs on to victory. But
the cayalrymen arrived before the viii
lains had q chance to dispatch the
hero, and Daniel just stood up and
looked pale and high minded as he re-
celved the congratulations of the Gov
ernor Cor having saved his daughter
from fate worse than death.
There is a good enough story here,
but 1t IS utterly lacking In any human
touches by the director, the title
writer or the actors. They seem to
have banded together and said: eve
are engaged by Mr.. Lasky because we
are serious artists and we must be
sure to give him something inner and
better" Arthur Weigall wrote the
original story, the scenario is by Olga
PrinAlau and Waldemar Young and
the direction by George Melford. There
IS an Oriental prologue with Sheik
who sings and a dancing girl. This is
arranged by Josiah EURO. The over
ture is the ballet music from "The
Queen of Sheba" and later the orches-
ira plays "A Trip to Coney Island"
It Fred Newmeyer is responsible for
the delightful bits Of business with
which "Grandma's Boy is replete then
he deserves to share the honors with
Harold Lloyd, the star of the new pic-
ture. For months every one has been
waiting for the advent of this first
aive-reeler of Lloyd's, and yesterday
the waters turned out in full force at
the Strand. By 4 o'clock it looked as
though they would have to turn them
away, which proves what very strong
hold Harold Lloyd has on the hearts Of
theatergoers. Next to the star him
self Anna Townsend carried off the
histrionic laurels as Grandma. She
is the very wisest old lacy we ever saw
on the screen.
"Grandma's Boy" is entirely free