The New York herald., 1922-03-06
Heroic Rescaes in
First Part of Neiv
Serial Photo Play
Dragons Claw Episode of
'AIistress of World Also Has
Picturesque Scenes.

liyOLI and RIALTO-.''The Mistress
N Of the World" with Miss Mia May in
tho fIrst oil four Paramount episodes.
.The Dragons Claw" Written by
Carl I1lgdor and directed by Joe May
for CFA, German film company.
A large opportunity is afforded here
for shivery music by the orchestra. II
is a long time since there was such
chance for instrumental shudderng.
Serials have been in allegiance in Ameri-
can movie houses since the days before
the war, and this unique experiment in
reviving them at two big Broadway
nlm palaces simultaneously once more
makes the orchestral accompaniment an
essential pare OF the action, as IN the
old melodrama days when the musicians
played cold perspiration drops rather
than Ic.es.
Heroic rescue work was obviously ap-
piled in reducing this story Of the Danish
girl VINO searches over most OF the Wild
spots of the globe for the Queen Of
Sheba's lost treasure. in order to bring
IL within the compass OF an entertain
3nent where the American fan wouldn't
feel he was devoting himself to a Wag-
merriam cycle on the screen. The original
photoplay shown abroad was in some
thing like nfty-two reefs, shown in thir-
teen ins.allments, and in diminishing It
to series of four episodes 1t can be
seen that two-thirds OF the material had
to be squeezed out of ii without endan-
gcring its vitality. The condensation Is
apparent enough in the first instaliment.
for 1t contains three separate kicks
that were no doubt designed to raise
stubby Teutonic hair in three different
installments.
Imprisoned by Oriental villain.
You watch Helen Ncilsen in the
Chinese phase OF Yer search being I'M
prisoncd BY an or lenta, villain who has
lrred her all thu way to Canton with
the pretended oier of work as gaver-
ness. and then attempts to marry her
using dungeon filed with rising water
70 convince her he has the right idea
about hasty matrimony. After her
escape. aided by Or. Eie7i Lung, Euro
peanized young Celestial. she Is once
more within the blackguard's clutches
for he turns out 10 be the king OF the
heggars, Just as you hoped he would
She Is no sooner saved from this by q
-fGstilit 1kldClf Oh slle b3nISn ICR3IlCn
than she Is beleaguered in a priests
mission house by q mob of coolies who
believe she has killed a native child by
witchcraft--for no particular reason
except 10 start more trouble. And so it
goes with the young woman pretty busy
during her days meeting perils, and
with only her nights to herself for social
engag ments.
Taken by and large, il is q good
workmanlilSe adaptation of a serial that
Is distinguished above similar fabrica-
tions primarily by an opulence of set
ting. Sometimes il runs aground on
false motivation. One can see no rea-
son why the penurious girl, searching
for a fortune that win make her mis-
tress Of tho world, shouldn't accept in
stead the wealthy Danish attache and
settle down with q couple of servants
IT'S hard TO soc how she can resist
him when he performs such prodigioua
foats of strength for her sake lie lifts
vast gate Off its hinges to save her
from the beegar Iabble--he nced never
worry about forgetting his latchkev if
they should marry. In the fight with
this riff-raff he hurls men about like
meal sacks, yet they seem 10 lear
eagerly right into his arms for this
purpose. At the ruined temple. where
dwells the hermit who has the secret OF
tho hiding place of the treasure, one f.
surprised to find that the Chinese once
used hugs Doric columns. but after that
one isn't astonished 10 see a big pillar
pulled over by an absent minded pony
hitched TO 1t. il flattens out the hermit
just when he has given the secret to the
attache, and It is high time to end tho
episode.
Vivid Scenes I'm the Orient.
The incongruities are no more shan
those of the average serial. and II has
imagination to burn. China is named
as the actual location OF the scenes. Ex-
tremely picturesque river and street
Nistas around Canton. an execution on
the great wall. and the weird haunt Of
tho bcggars-these are q few OF tho
vivid scenes that put the spell OF the
Orient on a working basis.
The cast, especially the native actors.
IS satisfactory. despite occa asional snaEs
In the continuity, and give the spectator
q good time while his spine undulatos
satisfactorily. Miss May is n brilliant
blonde. statuesquc TO the point of bux-
ovness. and no matter how many har-
rowing hazards she ondurcs she never
ioecs weight. Too often she pops her
eyes out as though about to lose them
overheard. But even occasional bad
lighting can't cloud the comeliness OF
this would-be feminine Napoleon.
Bohenen is said to be grand opera
barytone Of quality. ana certainly he
plays the strapping hero with the florid
gestures OF a singer aiming TO boost his
Voice above the orchestra. Perhaps the
reason why he runs back at one point
and let's tho girl be carried 70 the
bcggGrs' ambuscade Is in order To allow
her the proper handicap that all heroes
nusi overcome. The instament ends
appropriately with the attache trapped
in The fallen temple. while the besleged
girl Is about To follow his injunction to
ring the bell II she needs him. and you
resolve 20 view the next instalment. &c
only to see whether he answers with a
pitcher OF ice water.