The Washington times., 1922-07-30
SLEEPY HOLLOW
LEGEND IN
FILMS
lrving's Famous Story Of Dutch
Colonial Days Will Be Ready
for Showing Early This Fall.
<kITHE LEGEND OF SLEEPY
HOLLOW" probably the

most widely read story in
American literature, will be seen
on a Broadway screen early in Oc-
tober. It Is hard to understand
why a film edition of this quaint
classic has not been produced be-
fore. Its perturbation foreshadows
q new type of picture-making.
Jaded movie fans, sated with,
dramas which just pass censorship,
will find their search for a>differ-
ent note ended with the screening
in Washington Irving's master
piece.
While producers have We'd with
each other to secure the rights 10
produce temporarily popular best
sellers, they have overlooked a
classic that has entertained people
of all ages and nationalities for
nearly q hundred years and is now
more popular than ever. Forty.
eight editions are now in print,
and there are fifty-three different
publishers. The story has been
translated into all languages, and
has been put into shorthand for use
in business schools and on phono-
graph records in schools of phonetic
instruction.
The superstitions and fears of
the natives of the sequestered
valley of Sleepy Hollow are an in
timate part of the book.lore of
youthful America, and the thun-
derous hoofbeats Of the racing
steed mounted by the mysterious
headless horseman have disturbed
the childhood dreams of five
generations. The story has also
been read and re-read by adults
for its literary quality and whim-
sical charm, and is as widely
known in Europe, more particu-
larly in England, as in America.
The cast of the picture is regard
ed as a flawless one. Will Rogers,
who fits the part as though he
had been Irving's inspiration, plays
the role of "Ichabod Crane" the
hnky Yankee schoolmaster. All
Of the habits and eccentricities of
the itinerant pedagogue will be
given life on the screen-his class
in psalmody, his fear of the super
natural, his love of bounty, and,
principally, his hopeless infatua-
tion and subsequent disappearance
from the drowsy Hudson valleys.
Lois Meredith plays the charm
ing Katrina Van Tassel," belle
OF Sleepy Hollow, whose wiles
stir up hopeless ambitions in the
narrow breast of Ichabod. The sup
porting cast Of thirty-odd princi-
pals has been painstakingly
selected, in order that the differ
ent" note struck in the production
might be maintained in the act
ing. Ben Hendricks, jr., plays the
redoubtable "Brom Bones" Meme
sis of Ichabod.
The producer is Carl Stearns
Clancy, a young man of high
ideals and of long experience in
the film field. An entire year Of
preparation was made on this pro-
duction before the first foot Of film
was exposed. During this time,
Mr.. Clancy wrote and re-wrote the
continuity until in his opinion it
showed that the characteristic
charm Of Irving could be put upon
the screen. All of the exterior
scenes are being taken near Tarry-
town on the Hudson-actual
Sleepy Hollow locations. Edward
Venturini is directing the produc.
ton. Ned Van Buren is chief
cameraman. Every piece Of delft,
every earthern crock and copper
kettle used in the production is
a genuine antique, a heritage OF
the days when the originals OF
Irving's characters peopled the
sleepy valleys along the Hudson.
The Clancy organization is
adhering very closely to the story
in filming this famous legend.
There is no sensational melodrama,
as It is the alluring "once upon a
time" type of yarn loved since
childhood. There is, however.
convincing melodrama provided by
the stirring battle between the
aristocratic long pipes" and the
plebeian Short pipes''-the Hol-
lows amusing political factions.
Thrills and excitement have been
added by the conflict woven into
the story between Ichabod and
"Brom Bones" as this conflict,
not so much an addition as a
strengthening of the rivalry de-
scribed by Irving, also intensifies
the love story.
The long-remembered midnight
chase Of the hapless Ichabod by
the Headless Horseman will be
built into a great dramatic climax,
and 1t is hoped to provide the most
thrilling horse race ever filmed.
The final title Of the picture as
screened will be THE Headless