Evening star., 1924-10-20
Metropolitan-Sabatini' s
THE Sea Hawk"

LIOSu mas aCnleSeQ a screen
masterpiece. in The Sea Hawk" the
pictorial dramatization of Raphael
Sabatini's novel. which is shown this
week at Crandall's Metropolitan
Theater. AS thrilling spectacle
THE Sea Hawk" easily takes rank
with David Wark Criff1th's "Intoler-
ance" and possesses al the dramatic
tenseness of Rex Inram's -Four
Horsemen," What more could be
asked?
The Sea Hawk" probably is
Sabatinfs most fascinating tale Of
romance and adventure. II is filled
with hot-headed English blades, bold
Moorish corsairs. Intriguing women
of the harem, the flower of England's
womanhood. Its plot is based upon
fraternal jealously, feud between
two gentle Cornish families and the
bitterness of man whom fate has
thrust from his home and his love.
In an Eliza hethan setting this makes
a stirring story.
To Milton Sills, more familiarly
known to motion picture devotees as
a drawing room idol, has been given
the role of Sir Oliver Tressilian. hero
of the tale. and Sills proves himself
capable of enacting a real herman
part. Enid Bennett, cast as Rosa
mund Godolphin, the lady of Sir
divers heart, graccs the picture, but
perhaps could have put more fire into
her role. Wallace Reery. though.
gives his best screen presentation as
Capt. Jasper Leigh. a seafaring rogue,
unscrupulous in many ways, but dog
faithful to his protector. Others Of
the cast acquit themselves we'll. but
the three mentioned bear the main
burden Of the play.
ct
knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his
splendid efforts in helping to repulse
the Spanish armada, comfortably con-
templating life at Penarrow after he
inarries Lady Rosamund. But his
fair ones brother Peter strenuously
objects to the union and provokes
quarrel between Sir Oliver and Rosa
mund's guardian. Sir John Killigrew
Peter, who later takes. up the fight,
Is killed by Sir divers brother Lionel.
but under circustances that lead
Rosamund to believe her fiancee was
the murderer.
She repluses Oliver. and Lionel,
fearing for his own safety, has his
brother abducted by Leigh. who has
been instructed to hand over Oliver
to the Moors. But Leigh's ship is
captured by the Spanish. who thrust
Sir oliver into the galleys. Lady
ROSamund 8 lack of faith in him COM
bined with the terrible torture of the
rowers' bench causes Sir Oliver to re-
nounce Christendom and accept the
faith of the Mussulmans when the
Spanish galley is overcome by Moor
ish corSairS.
Sir Oliver quickly wins the conf
dence of his new associates and soon
Is made commander of Moorish
carack. AS Sakr-el-Bahr. "the hawk
of the sea- the scourge of the Medi-
terranean and the terror of Christian
Spain, he wakes great. Determined
upon revenge. he raids Cornwall, alb
ducts Lady Rosamund and Lionel on
them off to Algiers Then the drama
rises to it's. greatest heights, with Sir
Oliver finally being saved from a
hangman's moose by the reawakened
love of Rosamund and the repentance
of tho dying Lionel.
Lloyd's picture certainly emphasizes
the great possibilities of costume
productions as compared with pres
ent-day settings. The staging Is mag
nificent and realistic. The galley
scenes that show the slaves bending
at the oars under the lash OF the
burly taskmaster pacing the deck
above them are realistic and harrow
ing, while the clashes between big
ships manned by hundreds of soldiers
and sailors are appalling in dramatic
intensity. Yet through 1t all is woven
a strain OF romance that counteracts
the harshness of the action.
THE Sea Hawk" Is a great picture
done in a great way and entirely
worthy Of great consideration.