The Omaha morning bee., 1924-12-08
At the RranieiS.

1
TO doubt the extravagant advance re-
ports concerning picture, but from
the very start of this film, the fact is
revealed that in many respects it ex-
| ceeds advance articles on Its grandeur.
De Mile has taken the theme that
THE Ten Commandments are not
rules to obey as a personal favor to
God. They are the fundamental prin.
ciples without which mankind cannot
| live together. They are not laws
| they are the law" With this he has
| added a modern story dealing with a
young map who started out to break
all the commandments and shows
what happens to him. Forceful as
the modern story is. it is the biblical
section which makes the picture pre-
eminent. Some of the effects are
ened age would be considered impos.
sible. Notable among these Is where
the waters of the Red sea part and
the children of Israel walk across on
dry land and then where the waters
rush together again engulfing the
Egyptians. The scenes where Moses
on the mountain Is given the Com
mandments, where each Command
ment is emblazoned on the sky in let
ters of fire is equally as impressive.
The magnitude of the production is
shown by the tremendous sets used
for the palace of Pharaoh. hundreds
of the Children of Israel dragging a
huge sphinx, etc. At least 20 enor-
nous sphinxes form an avenue down
horsedrawn chariots pursue the Chill
dren of Israel. When the action
fades into the modern drama, for a
time it seems quite commonplace COM
pared with the enormity of the bibli-
cal episode, but the basic idea of the
picture Is unbroken, and builds up to
story of great power, full of heart
interest and impressive to the nth de-
gree.
Every member of the large cast
gives an excellent performance. OF
especial mention are Theodore Rob
erts as Moses, Charles De Roche as
Pharaoh. Estelle Taylor as Miriam
in the biblical section, and Leatrice
JOY. Rod La ROGUE and Richard Dix
do splendid work in the modern part
"The Ten Commandments is a
dramatic thunderbolt and ranks with
the screens mightiest achievements.
At the Rialto.
"Sandra," the picture play at the
Rialto theater this week. Is the story
Of a woman with two personalities.
The major portion of the film is taken
up with the side which shows her as
an exotic creature who has given way
to her desire for romance and subordi-
mated the domestic side. She leaves
her husband to find adventure in for
eign cities. First there is the bar
gain with rich man in return for
contracts to help her husband; then
a Frenchman enters her life with a
sojourn on the Riviera. and finally
banker, who Is arrested for embezzle-
ment. Knowing at last that her true
love was really at her own doorstep,
she returns home completely disillu-
stoned and prepares to take her life,
when her plans are frustrated by her
husband, who takes her back.
The picture has been deliberately
staged, and one scene in particular,
masked ball, must have cost a small
fortune to produce. Barbara La Mari,
who has the leading feminine role,
has the opportunity to wear some
gorgeous gowns. which adds glamour
to the production. The story, how
ever, is unconvincing, and there is no
real motive behind it. The dramatic
effect is weakened by the number OF
instances which illustrate Sandra' 8
error in choosing the wrong path. Not
once during her European adventures
do the scenes shift back to the nus
band. who has evidently been forgot
ten in the film, until the very last,
when it takes on an atmosphere OF
the old-fashloned melodrama. with
the repentent wife returning home to
a forgiving husband. Miss LAMAR
is quite attractive in her role, and
Bert Lytell as the leading man does
some good work. The rest of the cast
Is adequate. Art Randall's orchestra
is the stage presentation again this
entertaining and well received.
At the Sun.
Harold Lloyds latest film, Hot
Water" Is showing for the second
week at the Sun theater. It's a
comedy that will gladden. the hearts
Of all who see II, for it's full Of good.
clean comedy characteristic of Lloyd
productions.
There is plenty OF lively action
something doing all Of the time and
good variety. Lloyd uses some of the
old comedy tricks which from the be-
ginning have never failed to bring a
laugh, but he shakes them up and
turns them upside down until they
make you laugh more than before.
Jobyna Ralston is cast as the young
bride. Josephine Crowel as the
mother.inlaw is convincing and adds
much to the merriment Charles
Stevenson and Mickey McBaur com
plete the cast.
At the Moon.
For the movie fan who Is looking
for thrills, don't fail to see the per-
formance of Reed 1owes in "The
Cyclone Rider" at the Moon theater
this week, for there are dozen or
so of them In this original tale by
Lincoln j. Carter. Once the action
Is started-and 1t isn't long in start
ing--it keeps going at breakneck
IN 1irtrn