Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-21
MANY new FILMS
AT LOCAL HOUSES
Hope Hampton Appears Person.
ally With "Stardust"-
dora" a Great Spectacle g

declaration made In the title that the
film story called "Stnrdust" was merely
suggested" by the Fanny Hurst novel
Of that name. one can view the picture
without rancor. It IL, judged entirely
as a photoplay and without reference to
its literary antecedents. an average pro;
gram picture with very excellent pho
Biography in spots, and with cast Of
character actors and actresses who have
made distinctive names for themselves
in other films, and who lend consider
able strength to their present vehicle.
Hope Hampton. the star, Is appearing
in person at 3 80, Z 80 ana o 80 T.. NJ.
daily as an added attraction.
In the film story Lily Becker, the
much represscl little village girl with
great musical longings. is forced into
marriage with the vulgar and brutal
Albert Penny. Life with him Is too
much for her and she fees to New York.
where she has hard struggle and many
tragedies. including the death of her
baby. But in the end she wins triumph
as an opera singer. Penny is killed in a
railroad wreck and she Is happily be-
trothed to Thomas Clemons, a person
able young composer.
Viva Ogden, the comedy little gossip
Of "Way Down Fast is excellent. IN
her own way, as Pcnny's mother. Noel
Tcarle, the hypocritical brother of
Over the HILL" makes Penny rs re-
pulsivc as the script calls for. Charles
Wellesley, seen here recently on the stage
with Ethel Barrymore. has heavy
part, and James Rcnnie, known more
intimately as Mr.. Dorothy Gish. Is the
handsome young composer.
Miss Hampton puts sincerity and her
personal charm into per portrayal OF
Lilly Becker. and the camera man has
done we'll by her. Many of the settings
particularly the opcrn scenes. are very
elaborate and rich, AMI the train wreck,
actually staged for few feet OF hlm, is
one of the most dramatic things of its
kind seen in u long while.
Stanton - 1t is natural to presume
that there will be many profoundly
amazed and shocked audiences see
.'rhcodora" during the stay Of that
feature picture here. They'll be missing
something something that has hardly
ever failed thcm--something that they
could not name. but which is expressed
in one word-hokum.
"Theodora is n great big. sincere.
digniticd tragedy. presented artisticaliS'
worked out logically and cohcrcntiy.
There is no futile and silly "ridc to the
rescue: no interpolatcd comic rCIict
that is anything but comic; no overdose
of twaddling heart interest.
Sardous tragedy of Byzantium in the
days Of the Emperor Justlnian has been
screened faithfully and beautifully.
There has probably never been picture
in Philadelphia whose settings were so
stupcndous There Is never the feeling
that one of the particularly imposing
scenes is ''set' taken in studio lot.
Rather there il the positive impression
in the minds of the OnloOkcrs that be-
hind that particular scene are many
more of the same caliber: that this
really is great city of the past, re-
created and flashed before our eyes.
Scenes in the palace. in a beautiful
villa on the shore Of an Italian lake, IN
the dungeons. in the mammoth hlppo-
drome, in the streets where strange
animals and strange people abound
thcy come, one aftcf the other. to thrill
and fascinate. The actors and actresses
are worthy of the background; the Ill,
rccting and the photography DO full
Justice to the scenes. flash showing
Justinian giving instructions to ms four
generals was especially impressive and
Turks in the memory. The loosing of
the lions in the arena is unforgettablc.
II "Theodora is bit ponderous in
action at the beginning. 1t soon quick
ems in pace. There is always that sub
tle spirit of impending doom, always
color. movement. breadth. fire. The
heroine is presented as both woman
and an empress her love affair is as
interesting MS her thrones danger; her
royal feelings are as human as her love.
If. as is natural, the characters are
sometimes lost IN the immensity of the
mob scenes. they emerge again ana
claim our interest at the end. The
Italians have shown us here how n
great historical spectacle can be made
both great and true. Distinctly. 1t is
one in n hundred
Karlton - The great danger Of the
screen Juvenile becoming impossibly at
fectcd and forward is only too well
known. Let 1t be recorded. right off
the reel. that Jackie Coogan has. so
far. escaped that peril. His acting IN
My Boy proves that.
MY Boy is the story of youngster
whose mother dies in the stcerage on n
trip to America. and who finds himself
deserted Mt Ellis Island. He manages
to elude the guards and ATTACHES him
! self 10 an old sea captain. The events
that follow are not always plausible, but
! they are always interesting and well
told. For example. when the captain
falls sick. "Jackie' goes for food. gets
two pies and brick of ice cream at a
ncghboring house party and fees home.
ward. pursued by angry policemen. A
happy ending, by which Jackie" finds
real grandmother. is arranged.
With all due respect TO the cute
ness' and antics of Master Coogan, the
outstund, feature of interest in this
picture IS the presence of Claude
Gillingwatcr as Captain Bill His is Il
mastery creation, far different in
character. yet presenting the same
sympathetic elements as his Earl of
Dorincourt in Little Lord Fauntlc-
row." Here is really great screen
actor. Mathildn Brundage is the only
other character mentioned She is
good.
Arcadia - Eugene O'Brien tries his
hand nt light comedy In "Chivalrous
Charley" and makes a more interest
ing and enjoyable film than any he has
been seen in long time:
"Chivalrous Charley Is about an
over poltc youth who is n hero in the
eyes of a girl, but boob to his uncle.
Although the comedy is distinctly not
slapStick, there is n chase across coun
try that is for all the world as hair =
raising as any of Sennett's.
Nancy Deavcr, a comparative new
conner, plays opposite the star, and
dcpcndable old George Fawcett Is n
delight as the uncfe. Huntly Gordon
and ID. J. Flanagan are other members
/ ~ tho cost Robert Ellis directed