The Washington times., 1922-03-27
GiSh Girls Charm
in Great Griffith
Picture at RiaItO
BY LAURENCE STALLINGS.

favorite old play to the screen,
utilizing for the broad sweep of
his canvas the background Of the
French revolution.
The story, with many ramifica-
tions that lead one into interest
ing bits of historical by-play
centered around the chief figures
In the French reign of terror.
concerns itself chiefly with two
orphans; namely the incompatible
Misses Gish. An orphaned gTl,
with her foster sister, also
orphaned. sets out for Paris on the
eve Of the revolution. The elder
sister is blind and their journey is
to be made that doctors may Ie-
store her sight. Arriving at Paris.
the seeing one is kidnapped by the
henchman of a nobleman and the
blind girl falls into the tentaCles
of an old hag who sees the signt-
less orphans value and possihil-
tties as a beggar. Both girls dur
ing their separation encounter all
the sings and arrows OF an out
rageous fortune, and are finally
reunited, with their loves, when
France regains her sanity and
Paris is once again herself.
This latest picture from the
Griffith Imagination is remark
able in it's faithfulness in portray
ing revolutionary Paris with pain
stalking accuracy. Were there no
plot or employment of suspense
the settings themselves would be
tremendously interesting for their
splendor. We have lately heard
a great deal of the Germans and
their films as being masters OF
the art of massing great bodies
Of figures for the screen. The
mob scenes in orphans OF the
Storm" are superior in their IN
tensity and cohesiveness TO any
thing so far produced on the
screen.
This latest picture of Griffith 8
hasn't the appeal OF some OF his
other productions. We would not
care to say that 1t is the best he
has done. But there are moments
In this picture when Griffith
approaches a new greatness. In
deed, when Monte Blue, as the
patriot Danton, harangues the
bloody tribunal in the halls of
justice, literally soaring the sans
cullottes with his dangerous
appeal for mercy, David Wark
Griffith has produced scene
that in our mind makes his ice
flow setting in Way Down East
and his klansmen ride in the
Birth of a Nation" seem 10 be
nothing more than a thriller for
20 hn hNt
We think Blue has done the best
bit of work in the play, and
piece of screen acting as fine as
any ever done.
All of the figures of royalty
strut and fret their brief hour
upon the screen in the Two
Orphans" One anyway familiar
with French history will find this
picture fascinating. Then for
those who confine their lives to
seeing, never reading, the master
director has obligingly added the
plot of the Two Orphans" with
all the suspense that is simply
child's play to Mr.. Griffith, and
the garrison finish at the close
of the last reel. Lillian Gish's
flower.like beauty is awaiting the
death swoop of Madame La Gull
lotine. Monsieur de Paris. garbed
in black. has his hand upon the
trigger that drops the knife OF
oblivion. when the great gates 10
the palace of death swing wide
TO emit a rush of cavalry that
scts the pulses strumming in
the fever-heat of action.
The types in the picture ar"
selected with the usual Griffith
6iscernment. Joseph SChildkraut
as the Young aristocrat is so much
the embodiment of the part that
II is almost unnecessary for him
70 do anv acting. The man who
PLAYED Robespicrre. we think II
was a Mr.. Samuel Herbert, was
that minC/nG murderer to the
lif.
Thanks are due the Rialto
Theater for offering the picture
al popular prices. ANYTHING that
Griffith does must Of necessity
be viewed hv all who take any
interest whatsoever in the screen.
and it is douhlv pleasurable when
the price is low enough to admit
all who care TO sweep themselves
back into the stark days of the
terror.
MISSES GISH TO APPEAR.
The Misses Lillian and Dorothy
Gish. who Lave the Co.star roles il
"OrphaHS of the Storm will ap
pear in person at today's and to
norrow's performances at the
Pialto. together with -. w. Crit
fith. The Eiulto Orchestra will
continue its specially adapted pro.
gram throughout the week. The
orchestration OF orphans Of the
Storm is winning new laurels for
this already famous collection of
musicians.
FCGENlE, BESSERER is
wellknown actress on the
stage as well as the screen. She
has been leading woman in stock
with Frank Keenan,, Wilton
IackaNp and Henry kOlker.