The New York herald., 1922-05-23
Nero New Fox
I. Film Spectacle,
Is Sensational
Calamity and Violence Prodi-
gally Hurled on the Screen to
Astonish and Bewilder.

Great results can be accomplished by
iove--for blonde. In ancient Roman
days II would appear from Nero"
blondes could work more seismic
changes than the brunettes. just as
they can to-day For in the extremely
impressive and frequently brilliant
William Fox spectacle revealed last
night at the Lyric Theater sudden
death, fire and storm are caused, and
even Vesuvius is made to .erupt-all
for love OF blonde barbaric princess.
The stabbings and wholesale murders
OF Nero's dark haired consort, Pop
pded. seem puny compared to this.
Indeed, about every imaginable
calamity and form of sudden violence
that can be conceived is hurled upon the
screen to astonish and bewilder the spec
tators as well as the Roman mob. Every
variety of natures fireworks-and hu-
man emotional pyrotechnics--is set Off,
except an earthquake and the aurora
boreals The picture is more than
photoplay--it is a series of geological
disturbances. The patron is left gasp
ing, feeling he has been through cross
between violent gale at sea and
rough cross country trip in flivVer.
The Settings Massive.
The screen seems to be convuised.
When Rome catches fire one IS sur
prised that the film doesn't flame into
spontaneous combustion, too. Here j.
Gordon Edwards. the very shrewd dlrec-
tor who has shown his skill before at
handling massive settings and frantic
multitudes. achieves new heights. for In
spite Of very yellow and jaundiced look
ing flames. the only thing comparabl bic
TO it for fierce intensity is an oil con-
flagration at Bayonne. The scenes OF
the mighty city gushing huge tongues
OF fire and smoke have been very craft
lily contrived. even in the faxed
scenes. and snatch the beholder back
twenty centuries on a sublimated travel
tour that brings him to the Eternal City
just when the pot is boiling.
For the burning of a whole great city
none other than an Emperor of the
World Is accused. Popular tradition has
been maintained in this respect. as well
as in having Nero sing what SOUNDS
like a musical comedy lyric during the
fire. Afterward he accuses the Chris
tians with the incendiarism, still sticking
close to accepted history. Here. when
the Christians are thrown to the lions,
the picture goes Quo Vadis" one bet
ter. for the golden haired Vannian
princess is rescued by a gigantic slave
who chokes lion with his bare hands
rather than a sleepy bull.
Earlier. when Nero would forget the
inviolabilty of this fair hostage and
have her for himself she is snatched
from his hands by Hordtius. a young
conqueror in league with windstorm
Again, when Hordtius is liable to forget
himself with her. a volanic eruption
kindly intervenes and knocks INN on
the head All this looks as IL the heroine
fortuitously had big pull with nature
a Af ft.a q M
too.
BUILT for Sensational Eject.
The authors of the story. Charles
Sarver and Miss Virginia Tracy. while
they have built it we'll for sensational
effect. have neglected drama for the
sake of excitement--they haven't the
skill Of ID. W. Griffith in combining
the Individual dramatic and the mass
spectacular elements of story in one
Anal crescendo crash. But they do
bring thrills, and sweep the story TO its
finish with speed-thes speed OF SUBJ
way train. The revolving legions pelt
toward Rome in a way that gives even
the clansmen in "Thc Birth of a Ma
tom their dust.
And there is flashing chariot race
William Fox loves a chariot race.
Strangely enough. Nero and not the
hurtles to victory--but. then, Horotius
has the real triumph when the crowds
swarm down from the stands better than
it has ever been done at the Polo
Grounds-
There are many enhancing scenes
among mountains and superb palace sets
and Gustav Brock. Danish artist, has
added touches of color with beautiful
effect Alexander Salvini as the heroic
Hordt,us lives up to them and his family
name He has some potent love scenes
with Miss Violet Mersereau. who as the
Princess seems In her naive loveliness
to suggest Mary Pickford amid wild
cabaret Jacques Gretillat is physically
and dramatically competent for Nero,
though he and the other players In an
almost totally foreign cast have the
Continental habit OF becoming occasion
ally spasmodic. Miss Paulette Duvak
is by turns seductive and repulsive as
the Queen who started all the mischief.
On the whole II Is the best picture Fox
has ever done. capable of arousing great
and dizzy delight.