The New York herald., 1922-01-30
WILL ROGERS IN A
DUAL FILM ROLE
Mixture of Peter Grimm and
'Peck's Bad Boy

RIvOLI-WilI Rogers and Miss Lila
Lee in "One Glorious Day." Para
mount picture written by Walter
Woods and A. b. Baringer and d.
rected by James Cruze. Scenario by
Woods.
VIII Rogers Of the "Follfes" and
Spiritualism-it sounds like wild prank
arranged by "Follies" showgirl! Some
how one never thought of chewing gum
and the psychic blending. Yet Rogers
does it. making spirits jump through a
hoop without once using his lariat.
This delightful supernatural skylark is
a mngling OF "The Return of Peter
Grimm" and '.Peck's Bad Boy" The
bad boy In this case Is pranlsish little
spirit, Ek. who gets into Rogers's body
when the comedian as dreamy profess
sor Is careless enough to leave his
carcass around empty. for all bodies. 1t
seems, are like booze bottles-refilab BILE
with spirits. Like Grimm, Rogers turns
gray when he becomes disembodied, and
his very pongee suit loses Its color. but
retains it's lustre in an astral state.
Likewise after the fashion or David
Belasco's character Rogers in his
ethereal condition finds it almost i'm
possible to gain the attention of the
very substantial citizens to whom he
Is invisibfe, for violent blow on
mans face seems less than q fly's
tickling. and even Dempsey on that
plane would find it difficult to scratch
any one.
Rogers in the role of Prot. Esra Bolts
excavates his soul from, it's physical en-
vclope in order TO demonstrate to his
little grour OF psychic thinkers his belief
that he can appear before them clad
only in his personality after virtually
checking his body at the door. Mean
while NIX. a small sprite. having dis
covered that tho baby promised to him
Ia heaven az his heshly casing has been
pre-empted by another soul and that he
Is likely To wander around the world
with nobody to cover him. blithely
takes possession of the physique which
the Professor had dumped in his chair
at home.
In his proper person the Professor IL
n shy. diffident character-you know II
irstlnctively, for Rogers wears the
dowdy fedora he displays whenever he
IL embarrassed and shambling. Bolts
IL too beshful to express his newly
awakened love for his housekeeper's
daughter--awakened by that artful
young mink herself, needless to say
He lets a strapping, wealthy young boor
walk off with her, and lets himself be
cajoled into running for Mayor of the
town when the corrupt politicians decide
he's the ideal candidate because he's
bit minus In the head.
It's treat TO watch Rogers giving
real characterization in this new type
Of dual role, as himself and his own
ready to wear spook. Credit should
probably go to the director. Jane Cruze,
for overcoming Rogers's usual tendency
to kid a part. BY numerous quaint
touches In the early episodes he makes
the distracted Professor as real and
lovable figure as in Barries play,
"The Professors Love Story" and
even when he Is incoming over atavlstic
poetry there is no suggestion of a tongue
slyly poked at the spectators. In the
violent contrast. when Elk gets control
OF MIN. and he briskly walks off tables.
humping his nose in the belief that he
can stfll fit about impalpably, and
jumps on a saloon bar with an impish
leer. one would swear that another spirit
had hold OF him and that Rogers Is the
logical player for shakespeare's Puck.
Miss Lee does her best work as the
daughter and the rest
Of the cast. including Alan Hale. throw
hemselveS-literally-- the story.
Though he fllts about too much some
times. little John Fox as Ek gives a
spirited impersonation of Ariel with a
gnomelike Thanksgiving mask. The
theme itself Is not entirely new to
G. Wells once wrote
short story of a mischievous spirit seiz-
ing anothers body--but II Is new
enough to the screen 10 make this one
Of the unique pictures OF the winter,
killing incrcdibility with n laugh. BY
Its predominantly light treatment II sue
ceeds. with a subject that many persons
take very seriously. In mixing gun
powder and jam. And among other joy
ously whimsical touches Is the final sug-
gestion that when Ek finally does get
born Dempsey had better watch ou,