The New York herald., 1922-04-23

ship had a dogs chance in the
studios" To illustrate. the heroine.
Lucinda. is talking with one Of the
cleverest OF the producers. who says:
"'Or take another case. Producer
buys big story, like. now
".Pdrddise Lost Lucinda sug-
gested mischievously.
Who wrote it?'
John Milton.'
".Never heard Of him. Make a
good picture?'
"'I'm afraid It would be difficult.
But it's a big story
"'All right Producer hands this,
now. Paradise Lost to his scenario
editor. She reads 1t, turns pale
around the gills, sends out an emer-
gency call for the director general,
says to him. says she: Listen.
sweetheart, thisIl be a knockout IL
D. ever gets on the screen the way
as wrote. The guy what wrote this
knew pictures before they was in
vented Director general says:
Gosh. that won't never do, or Wen
have this boob Milton on the lot
telling us our business. Stew up
the continuity to suit yourself. pet,
and leave the rest to me- Fin'ly
PGrddise Lost gets on the screen as
a Cyril de Menthe Production En-
titled Sex Against Sex. by Queenie
Hoozis. Featuring Hope Honey
bunch. with Bathroom Fixtures by
Joseph Urban and Telephones Hid
den by Sherlock Holmes, Suggested
by Magazine Story by ]. Milton
Not so much an extravaganza, af-
ter all. as it could be paralleled by
actual productions. We are also told
that this magnate had reached his
eninence by ''indefatigable industry
and appetite for hardship coupled
with quenchless greed and a COM
plete absence of scruples and moral
sense." And Mr.. Vance also pre-
cents him as one OF the best Of his
race. The story also shows specimen
directors. and details the "wanton
stupidity" OF a good deal Of their
antics. 1t also touches on the gross
extravaganza and waste In produc-
ton. not unnatural In such a "get
rich quick" atmosphere. There Is an
abundance of illuminative minor de-
tail.
But Mr.. Vance Is also writing
more or less standardized novel, and
he is interested in his heroine's trou-
bles. So is the reader, because it Is
a well written study, although melo-
dramatic and not startlingly original
IN conception. 1t is woman's maga-
zine serial fiction OF good quality.
Lucinda the heroine is one OF the
idle rich," but has the unusual dis
tinction of being in love with her hus-
band. Bellamy Is an amiable enough
chap. although when we first meet
him he is drinking too much prohi-
bition hooch and is also philandering
after other women Lucinda at last
becomes disguised and runs away.
She happens. quite by chance, to
fall in with a handsome movie actor,
land becomes seriously interested in
the film world. as she had already
found out that she photographed
we'll Partly to have something to
do-and to hide herseK-she goes
into the business. as star and pro-
ducer, and also manages to fancy
herself in love with the actor.
He is a bad egg. but 1t takes her
some time to find that out. through
series of rather high colored ad-
ventures, which end. OF course. in a
reconciliation with her husband.
Lucinda and the rest are lively. well
drawn characters, human enough
for their stage. though somewhat
theatrical.
This part OF the story gives Mr.
Vance an opportunity for occasional
! comment on the moralities. or i'm
: moralities. OF Hollywood. which Bel
lamy calls sink hole OF scandal
To the heroine IL seems also dubious
Though personal liberty and free
dom OF speech be a part Of the in
, alienable heritage Of the American
] people. it was the sum Of Lucinda's
observation that In the studios both
J were qracticed to the point of aban-
dom" She also quotes the familiar
! mot, Are you married. or do yol