Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-09
PALACE-Rudolph Valentino, in
"The Conuuering Power"

'"rhe Conquering Power" Rudolph
Valentines newest screen play,
founded on human natures oldest
emotions. was presented at Loew's
Palace Theater yesterday where 1t
Nill remain throughout the week.
1t is drama of triple interest, In
that it is adapted from BalZac, was
directed by Rex Ingram. who won
fame with The Four Horsemen of
he Apocalypse" and has for its CO.
star Alice Terry. The story is so
limited in scope that most of its
lction takes place in the home of
irandet, wine grower. eX-mayor and
niser. whose penuriousness makes
him live in a dreary barracklike
house on the village street. though
he owns chateau on the hill. There
S wife, pathetic nonenity. and
der young daughter, Eugene, who
IS beloved by Grandet because her
this sordid loneliness of her. girlhood
:opes cousin from Paris; a lovable
scamp, whose eXtravagances have
.aused his fathers ruin and death.
earring romance between them, the
user sends his nephew to Martin
que. robs the boy and Eugene Of
heir fortunes and broods over the
fear of discovery until greed fer
nents into mania-a mania that so
iistortS his brain that in its vision
ng the stone walls of his room close
N on hirn, cadaverOus hands reach
,ut and the god of gold" born of
lelirium, becomes the conuuering
lower that claims him as his OWN
me love that finally unites Charles
md Eugene doubtless represents
The ConQuering Power" of the title
,ut. while each deserves every praise
iue to freshly natural portrayals of
youth and romance, it is the miser
4 mi al, ,aI-l
srowins piles of golden louis, his
e!eptiess cruelty and, finally, his
Heath agony, that dominates the play.
Audiences know about love, but the
insanity of greed offers novelty for
most people. And it is novelty that
-hrliis. Ralph Lewis plays TIE role
While this especial story of Honore
6aizac lacks the rollicking humor of
Dumas Three Musketeers." the first
work OF the masters of French Htera-
ture to be seen here, the somewhat
;omber plot is lightened by delight
iui DTS OF French provincialsm: The
Village street. with its old men and
chattering danes: laundresses wash
ing linen by the rivers edge. the in
iocently common philanderings OF
peasant maid and man. and the SPLEEN
lid hdelity of the housemaid-sach
adding it's individuality to a compel
-ingly interesting whole.
4 foreword reminder that literature
'elongs to the ages provides a lati-
tude which permits the use of late
nodel automobile in contrast with
luill pens. The producer explains
that it serves to accent the progress
sive difference between Paris and the
provincialism of village life-an &C
:ent that asserts itself in the hidden
.ars of Eugene, whose hair-fashion
of the now, differs from that of the
Deriod in which she really lives.
1t is an explanation which should
make these fncongruities permissible
granted that an Intelligent audience
needs such kindergarten instruction
out there isn't the least doubt that it
skaters the sense of atmosphere, 9TH
erwise so artistically created, of
french life written by a French nov
.list, who died a matter of seventy
odd years back.
Motion pictures, a funny cartoon
and really fine orchestra add to the
interest of the bill.
MAMIE T,ANCA STER