Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-03
IBANEz'S "HORsEMEN' IS
PHOTOGRAPHIC TRIUMPH.
Film Masterpiece Is Replete
With Thrills and Occa-
siOnaI Tear.
siOnaI Tear.

iDnhe1s masterpiece. "Thc Four
Horscmen Of tho Apocalypse" in
moving-picture form. was given the
first of series OF presentations mt
the Academy yesterday afternoon A
holiday crowd saw the first showing
OF the film. and the Academy was
filled to It's capacity.
This widely read story Of the great
Spanish writer has been made over
into thrilling picture. The mem
DRY can scarcely recall a moro dra-
matte film. and 1t is quito worth
noting that the original story has
been closely followed. Tho arrange
ment for tho Aims has been skilfully
made. and Tho strong Incidents OF tho
book made particularly telling in the
perturbation. Such Incidents AS the
destruction of Denoycr's castle on
the Marine. the reunion of father
and son. after the lattcr's enlistment
In the French army. arc brought out
with mastery skill.
This Metro picture. directed by
Rex Ingram, has been made the me
dium for some very striking photo
graphic triumphs, the various cpl
sodcs OF the IIorscmcn, when they
are brought into the story, furnish
Ing strong example. The beast"
n frIghtful product of the imagina-
tion: the Horsemcn. representing
Conquest. War. Pestilence and Death,
are gruesome features OF tho nlm.
while the rccurrent appearances OF
the four figures riding across the
sky are dramatic I'm the extreme.
BY an excellent arrangement Of
tho musical score. the interest is
held closely throughout the action,
tho violins playing alone during GER
tain phases tho drums In military
scenes. with certain other cacophon-
GUS additions to tho Instrumentation,
make up n score second only In ef-
feet TO Gririth's original masterpiece.
which need not be named to BIO
remembered.
The action lies In the hands OF n
capable and wcil-selcctcd cast.
headed by Rudolph Valentino. as
Julio Dcnoyers. and Alice Terry. as
Marguerite Laurier. charming
heroine. with nm equally charming
name. Joseph Swickard. MS MHrcelo
Dcnoycrs. also sustains u great part
OF the play. In one OF the finest nlin
the writer has ever seen.
Tchernor. played by Nigel De Brulier.
Is symbolic character, remarkably
outstanding. and much more impress
sive In the film than In the book. In
his makeup. In his prophetic role,
ana In the references which nc makes
tn the BOOK OF Revelations, he has
been invested with n quality OF d.
rInity. The role is n striking ono.
The cast OF principal characters en-
braces list OF thlrty-two. In which
many familiar faces are seen.
The note OF patriotism is struck
frequently. SO that all the old spirit
OF the world war is revived. The
singing OF La Marseillaisc. In n Paris
cafe. the entrance OF tho American
troops into tho war. the hideous
aspect OF the German invasion OF
France. tho cannonading. with Its re-
sultant destruction. tho shooting OF
French noncombatants, these and
other opiaodes reproduce tho old
spirit of 1914 to 1918 to high de-
gree.
This great picture Will DO shown
Mt the Academy OF Music for the bal
ance of the week. 1t holds all kinds
OF thrills. and IAN occasional tear.
one must not forget however, tho
HBhter and humorous features, con-
,ributed by tho trained monkey. the
pet dog. tho two pigs and tho street
hsht under Julio's window. These arc
needed TO relieve tho tension at times.
j. c.. ii.