San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-21
Gossip About the Films
Reviews of Some of the New Pictures.

mount. In those she was undoubtedly
the screens worst actress.
However, Negri seems at last 10
have sensed her own shortcomings.
Contriton is upon her. The Span
ish Dancer" is infinitely better than
her previous American pictures. 1t
is infinitely less artistic than her
first foreign pictures. The artist that
was born in the upward struggle
| from obscurity was submerged in af-
| fluence. in worldly success. She will
again become the very accomplished
artist that she was in Passion only
Il she can regain the youthful ardor
that once was hers.
All of the shortcomings of The
Spanish Dancer" cannot be counted on
Ncgri's score. Two years ago, this
would have been an outstanding
achievements of the cinema-one of
those pictures Of huge masses, in
trigues of medieval royalty. of courtly
pomp and circumstance. The Ameri-
can studios followed the European
idea and by now they have overworked
| the idea.
Originally The Spanish Dancer "
was to have been The Spanish Cav
alier.n Based on Don Cesar de
Bazan," it was TO have been a star
ring vehicle for Valentino. When
Valentino walked out Charles de
Roche. French actor. was brought
in and it was announced that he was
TO have Valentines role. But he
was not the type for the picture.
| The balance of drama was rear
ranged so that Negri could be
starred. Little wonder that Negri
Il woman, would not appear 10 her
best advantage under such Il scheme.
Antonio Moreno. her leading man,
has the better role. Perhaps it angurS
well for Negri's future that she ac-
cepted such situation.
| 1t has been only recently that the
motion picture camera hes been
able to register dance steps in
proper tempo. An outdoor dance
scene in The Spanish Dancer" is
one of the best things Of its kind
that has yet been recorded on cellu-
loid. Action of the dancers ard the
camera has been perfectly synchro-
niZed.
Edwin Carewc is leaving for Algiers
10 film a Son of the Sahara" by
Louise Gerard. This will probably be
the first time that Il desert picture has
been filmed on real desert. The
sand plains near Hollywood, few
wand machines and a potted palm ~
two have proven sufficient background
in the past for celluloid tales of torrid
passions and shifting loves.
One desert picture WAS filmed on
Long Island beach. stationary air
plane being used for the wind ma
chine and some scraggly camels Dor
r0wed from circus for atmosphere.
! All sand looks alike through the eye
of the camera.
at has been my ambition for 10
years 10 make a picture in Africa. :
Csrewe says. Maybe that's suffi-
cient reason for the trek 10 Algiers.
He isn't going TO stop on the edge
Of the desert. either. His headquar-
tiers will be at Bislira, the end of the
line.
Bert Lytell. Claire Windsor and
Walter McGrail will head the cast
They will make the trip TO Africa
with Carewc.
OF all the books I've read in the
past year. A Son of the Sa-
nara" was probably the worst
drivcl of the lot 1t is comparable
only to that sentimcnt-dripping hot
tamale by Edith Hull. called The
Shcik." However. comma. The
Sheik" was one of the biggest box
office pictures ever filmed. "A Son
Of the Sahara ought TO be ens great
a commercial success.
Latest list OF exceptional photo
plays" from the National Board OF
Review is headed by "Polikushka.