The Washington times., 1922-01-09
'Whirl of New York" IS Big Hit at the Belasco

however, speaks better for itself than
one can possibly describe II, for IL
began q premiere Washington engage
ment at Loew's Columbia yesterday
afternoon, as one OF the mightiest
offerings that playhouse has ever
offered.
Theodore" is an engrossing. fasci-
mating and voluptuous screen study
Of Theodore. the byzantine flower
whose irresistible beauty and grace
brought to her feet a brilliant array
Of Byzantine mobiles and eventually
the great emperor Justinian himself.
who promptly made ner his queen.
The proud hauteur Of the emperor,
however. failed to crafty the love of
pleasure of the former flower girl
who, disseminated with palace life,
ventured onto the streets and met
there Andreas, Greek patrician. to
whom she gave her heart for the first
time in her whole life.
The populace, however, were fretful
under Justinian's reign and Andreas,
without knowing that the woman he
loved was the empress. plotted with
the Byzantinians against the emperor
and his consort. When he Ia eventual
ly detected In this plot and his life
is declared forfeited. the former
flower girl, now an empress, uses her
royal prerogative to sacrifice her
empire. the people and even life itself
in a vain effort to save her lover.
Such In the enthralling romance
built up by Sardou about the person
Of this royal adventures, but the
chief power and brilliance Of the pro-
duction lies In the sweeping and
astounding magnitude and opulent
beauty of settings and its multitude
Of actors who have been brought to
it's Interpretation. 1t is possible to
give an idea Of the utter magnificence
Of the picture only by indicating GER
tain facts Of its composition, which set
1t entirely in a class by itself among
the great spectacles in the history Of
photoplay production. &
In the first place, the picture re-
quired two years to complete and Its
cost is reckoned as close to $4,000. 900.
The great cast that has been brought
to its Interpretation numbers $4,000
persons, under the guidance OF Com
mendatore Ambrosia, who also direct
ed the great "Cabiria." Over 10000
costumes, including many Of cloth-of-
gold, We're specially made for ''Theo-
dora" and twenty mighty settings,
reproducing Byzantine palace, ter
U
tectural features Of this great empire,
were personally designed by Armando
Brasini, the famous architect Of the
Vatican. More than thirty batteries Of
motion picture cameras exposed over
500 900 feet Of film in making the pic
ture while, in order to gain realism
for the great Hippodrome scene, forty
half starved lions were loosed on thou
sands Of actors.
Sardou, 1t will be recalled, originally
wrote Theodore" for the great Sarah
Bernhard, and 1t has since been pro-
duced on the Italian stage with other
great actresses in the role Of Theo-
dora. In the screen production Of
Theodore" the beautiful and fasci-
mating Rita Jolivet has the role Of the
flower girl-empress and the players
grouped in her support contribute
equally fascinating interpretations.
Theodore" which has already
created a perfect sensation In New
York, where 1t was shown at the
Astor Theater, at regular 81 prices.
is assured Of creating an equal sensa.
ton In Washington this week, where
1t Is being presented at popular prices
as one of the most remarkable and
splendid cinema offerings Loew's
Columbia has ever presented.