New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
: !. Movie Idol
In the Role of
A Stage Idol
Mr.. Farnum's New Picture Is
Story of Edmund kean,
His Triumphs and Loves
By Harriette UndeYhill

By Harriette Underhill
William Farnum has returned to the
Green. Not that he was doing any
hing more than vacationing. but he
has had long vacation. and in conse-
quence no one has seen new picture
Of his for q couple Of ysars. "Big Bill"
snew that he wasn't takak g any chances
when he went 10 Europe for an indefi-
nitc period. for William Fox assured
him that those hardy perennials "Les
Miserables" and "A Tale of Two Cities"
would keep his memory green until he
returned. And now Mr. Farnum has
inished a picture at which he has been
hard at work fer some months. He
was so thrilled and happy. he said at
ecing himself once more in the shad-
ows that he gathered his friends to-
'ether Wednesday evening and gave
them dinner and then carried them
eff to private view Of the new pic
tIrc. It is a screen version of Alex
andrc Dumas's "A Stage Romance. :"
Herbert Brenon edited it. and Mr.. Far
hum IS seen as Edmund kcan. the
actor who was the nations idol. Now
cont just rise up and say. But Mr..
tarnum isn't the type of Edmund Kean
at all. They should have had John
Barrymore play IT," but wait until YOU
-ee the picture. We agree with YOU
mat MI Farnum doesn't seem like Ed
mund kean-he is too we'll fed and
happy and sanc--but he does give q
delightful performance of this tempera-
mental artist who was once a circus
BOY.
Mr. Farnum IS especially forceful in
ne scenes where, in his jealousy and
rssee. lie publicly insults the Prince of
Wales and then feigns madness to pro-
tect himself from the anger of the
peorlc
The picture opens with Kean at the
height OF his popularity. He is madly
in love with the Countess Kocfeld. and
she goes again ard again to the the
ster to watch HIM play. He PLAYS all
Of his love scenes to her, and the only
flaw in his happiness is that his friend
the Prince of Wales, is in love with the
same lady.
One night after the countess and he
cave pledged their love in a stolen
meeting in his dressing room he bees
q
me performance, because he is afraid
ne VIII not be able to trample on his
'Saiousy sufficiently to 60 on with his
performance. The prince disreea rds
MS warning. and in spirit of fun
Goes to the box of the Countess Koe-
'cld and kisses her shoulder. kean is
laying Hamlet, and he has arrived
al the scene where "The plays the
thing He begins to bunge his lines.
ana when he should saw at is the
ing nc says. HE is the Prince Of
Nales,' and then goes on to tell the
neop'e N the theater what he thinks Of
'nc heir apparent to the throne OF
-nglsnd
MIR. farnum does his best work in
ms scene, though. of course. it gives
''m greater chances. He is brought to
MS senses by the sight of Anna DANNY.
ne young girl who has been in love
18th him all along. but to whom he has
ever given thought
he ending is tame. as tame as we
'elieVc the life of Edmund Kcan is
Aoing TO be. that is. if he sticks to his
>nna' She is one Of those namby-
Namby young persons who think they
5nouid be on the stage, because they
'sppen to be in love with an actor.
ana then kean hands out the same
I'D line. Adam no doubt said it TO Eve
"hen she asked, Did you love Lilith
IS much as you DO me-"
No. my dear. have learned the
diHerence between infatuation ana y
asting love" And the funny part of il
> that the woman who has received the
infatuation" is always supposed to be
nsuch riqued and the woman who re-
ewes the true love- is presumablv
ruch set up over it.
so kean turned from the lovely
countess with the remark that il was
Only an infatuation and decided to 90
% America with Anna, because that
was true love.
The trouble is that tlis true love
business does not necessarily bar
'uture lnfatuations. But who concerns
nlmself with that? A prospective mar
rage between the hero and heroine
psures the happy ending. And it is
IS we'll that there are no sequels. We
are almost sure that Anna was the sort
who would give her husband an
umbrella for Christmas and write on
tho card: ITO you from ME. Just a
little something for rainy day"
At the Columbia