The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-11-19

Hollywood. AS Is the way OF excur-
sionists from the film capital. Mr.
Block devoted the major part OF his
time to intensive theatergoing.
We asked him for an opinion on the
present condition of the New York
theater.
THE plays seem to be better than
they were three years ago." he said,
but II seems TO me that the acting
has deprecated materially. Perhaps
I feel this way because I have been
spoiled by my movie experience. I
believe that the acting on the screen
at present is superior to that which
I have seen on the stage here in New
York"
Coming. as It does. from one of Mr..
Blocks attainments. this announce
ment carries a considerable amount Of
weight.
Mr.. Block Is no loyal native son of
Hollywood. He is not merely putting
UP the average Californian's instlnc-
tive wall Of defense against the criti-
cism, uttered or implied. OF the New
Yorker. He is. in fact. New Yorker
himself. and possessed Of unusual
knowledge OF the stage. Before en-
tering the movies, some three years
ago, he was dramatic critic here, and
has been a director of the Theater
Guild since its inception.
He is therefore qualified to talk on
this subject. and his opinions are
worthy Of attention.
II would be dangerous for us to
agree with him, as we are not sup
posed TO know anything about the
mere speakies." as Merton Gill calls
hem. and are not permitted to make
comparisons between them and any
phase of the cinematographic art.
However. we are safe in stating
that Mr.. Block is right in so far as
the movies themselves are concerned.
Acting before the camera has reached
a very high state of development. and
it is constantly getting better. 1t is
progressing much faster than direc-
ton and scenario writing.
There are a great many actors and
actresses in the films to-day who can
etand the test of comparison with the
best talent that the stage has to offer.
They are working out n new style Of
pantomimic expression which Is
adding materially to the potential elo-
quence of the silent drama and re-
ducing the need for subtitles TO the
desired minimum.
The leading example, OF course, is
Charlie Chaplin. II there Is any
tragic comedian on Broadway who
can equal him as an artist, we are
willing to leave the films fiat and
divert our patronage to those dra-
matte emporiums which are presided
over by William A. Brady, Jake and
Lee hubert. Charles b. Dillingham;
ct al. (Woods).
There are other less obvious in
stances. Theodore Kosioff is one. He
learned the secret of rhythm from his
experience with the Russian ballet
and he has applied it successfully 10
bis performances before the camera
lie constructs his characterIzat!ops
with the utmost care and expresses
ABGiI Will tAlo eAia liio 4S6S %
well as his face.
Those who have seen him in some
of Cecil De Miles pictures. or In the
recently exhibited ITO Have and to
Hold" will understand what we mean
Ramon Navarro. who has occupied
important roles in Rex Ingram's two
latest productions. Is another movie
actor in whom dramatic vigor is con-
trolled by grace Of movement and deli
cacy of expression. He. too. was a
dancer before he invaded the realms
Of celluloid, although his training was
not nearly so extensive as that Of
Theodore Kosloff.
An exactly opposite example Is pro-
vided by Wallace Berry. the Richard
Occur de Lion OF Robin Hood" and
the villain OF many blood and thunder
melodramas OF the past. Sc
Berry is a great hulk Of a man.
possessed Of tremendous shoulders and
arms and an extraordinarily forbid
ding countenance. His leer Is evil
enough to chill the stoutest heart. But
these natural advantages. II such they
can be called. would not amount to the
market price OF a ruble note IL he did
not also possess the ability to act.
For all his brute force he has a
power of repression which enables him
TO keep the emotional throttle under
control-opening II only when the &C.
casion demands.
or somewhat the same type is Wal
ter Long. who first played Gus, the
husky renegade In The Birth OF a
Nation" and who has been consistently
yillainous ever since. Long Is nothing
much to look at, but he can generally
Outshine the pretty matinee idols who
play opposite him.
II is curious that so many old
actors. who have knocked about on the
stage In various capacities for many
years. should find their meter In the
JnovieA
Theodore Roberts Is one and George
Fawcett is another. They are both
splendid on the screen. Then there is
w. J. Ferguson. who was In the cast
Our American Cousin" as 1t was pre-
scented at Ford's Theater on the night
when Lincoln was assassinated.
We can name o hers William Nor
ris, Frank keenan,. Robert Edeson and
Edward Connelly-who are better In
the f1irns than they over uero or, the