Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-19
'OUTCAST' OWES ALL .
TO ELSIE FERGUSON
Star at Best in Film Version
Of Stage Success at
the Stanley

Stanley--.When the film makers at
tempted the transposition OF Hubert
Henry Davies "Outcast' from sage
to screen they were fortunate in being
able to keep Elsie Ferguson in her
original role Of Miriam. The result IL
that Miss Ferguson has carried to the
film all her superb artistry. I'll her
wistful. elusive beauty and all rhc sub
titles Of dress and actions with which
she imbucd the role. but the scenario
itself is creaky and diNiointed.
However. thanks to Miss Fergu.on's $
ability. the final impression is Of her
not the picture. We see her again,
bcdraggled and drag. stopping by Il
doorstep on foggy. dripping night to
stuff newspapers in the in,lr III .'r
the food offered her by Sherwood In her
apartment. while she tells her SID and
sortlid story. We sec her. garish and
over dressed. trying with tragic effor,
to hold the love of this cultured and
stidiOus Sherwood. We see her fail.
ing in her attempt. sick ut heart, but
refusing to let him help her. though
the alternative IL q return TO her hall
bedroom existence.
1t was rather courageous thing for
this star to do on the screen. Sly had
TO wear ugly clothes. make up in Il
i.aShy and unappealing style. Submnrgr
hcr princess like charm. and TO do these
things Is to court the displcasurc Of
the rank and file of film fans. Miss
Fergnson's Miriam is one Of the
screens greatest achievements.
The things they have done to the
story are terrible to behold. The final
blow comes at the end. when they en-
ploy radio message and an aeroplnne
in which the hero rides through the
night to achieve the inevitable happy
ending. Then. too. they have tried
half heartedly TO whitcwash Miriam =
character, and have only succeeded in
creating doubt and perplexity in the
minds Of the audience. The subtitles.
of which there were far too many. put
across the real meaning Of the action.
Only after many repetitions ard in Il
dubious sort of way. The fact that
Sherwood and his friends were little
hit ashamed Of the crude and untutorrd
Mirianl--which. after all. was the basis
of the drama was never clearly
brought out.
David Powell came back after n
period of painful stoldity and made
Sherwood a man OF real emotions and
feelings. William Powell had part
that was enlarged from the stage play,
and William David was Sherwood's 8
friend. Charles Wellesley swas excel
lent in another part.
buster Kcaton's latest comedy '.Tnr
Electric House, was also on the bill. .
and a funnier affair this sad faced
comedian has never had. lie is given
the commission TO wire q house. and
pnnripu vfo hot h, 4
food that comes into the dining room on
along the wall are the amusing re-
suits of his efforts. Another attrac-
ton is the organ recital given by Pirtro
\. Yon.
Aldine--An interesting trio of play.
ers 60 long way towards making THE
Forgotten Law" which IL picturiza =
ti"n Of Caroline Abbott Stanlpy's novel
"a Modern Madonna. both interesting
and believnblc.
The story concerns two mothers, the
older one something OF Il woman hater.
the younger a dissolute bounder. The
latter marries. and for a while lives
happily, but eventually his old habits
conquer him. Then comes his death in
4 most mysterious manner and evidence
points to the wife. but n happy solu :
tion is finally made. Tho title of the
picture refers to now obsolete law
which gave to the father of family the
right to dispose. OF his child's rearing
as he liked. oven to the extent OF will
ing it away from his mother.
Cleo Ridgcley. now seen but seldom
on the screen. plays the role Of the
wife with sympathy and understanding
Jack Mulhall is too pleasant a chap
for the unattractivr part he plays. but
his acting is admirable. Milton stills is
his usual stern and composed self as
the older brother and an old film friend.
Alice ITollister, once Kalem vampire.
does nice work in bit. Alec r. Fran
els and Walter Law are also in the
cast.
Karlton-This seems to be sonnet hing
Of an old home week on the screens. In
feature entitled TIL We Meet
Again" we find little Mae Marsh. who
young lady whom Walter Long as Gus
chased over the cliff in The Birth OF
Il Nation" returned after a long alb.
sence to the screen.
Her vehicle i one OF ultra. thrills and
nth degree action. and there is little,
opportunity in it for any OF the mem.
bers of the cast to, do any real acting.
but it's entertainment value is high.
The heroine. Marion Bates. is tricked
by her villainous uncle, thrown into an
insane asylum by him and escapes only
TO become member ot a band Of
crooks.
When she realizes their identity
(hcroines arc always notoriOuSly slow