Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-09

we most OIL us llhSu iAAiS SNoA 49,
in our childhood. we also enjoyed
tales of pirates. Indians. mermaids'
and all, kinds of imaginative yarns
and the more fantastical the better
were we pleased. That hundreds of
us have not lost our remembrance
of the story-book destinations Of
Younger days now that we have
grown up and are occupied with the
affairs of the work-a-day world, was
testified by the big audiences which
greeted the first showing of the film,
peter Pam" at the Colonial theatre,
Thursday afternoon and evening.
So convincing. so entirely entran-
cling and delightfully."- intriguing is
the film version Of j. Nj. Barrie's i'm
mortal story, that as we sat there IN
the half light Of the theatre last eve
ming, had we been asked, do you
believe in F,airies?" we are convinced
that the .ayes'' would have been
vastly in the majority.
AS a book, peter Pan" delighted
countless thousands of boys ana
girls and older boys and girls. A
few Of us were fortunate enough to
see Maude Adams in the title role
of the stage play, and now through
the medium of Willis Goldbecks
adoption for the screen, and Her
bert Brenon's splendid direction OF
the Famous Players-Lasky produc-
ton, millions are enjoying the OPP
portunity of witnessing the thor
oughly satisfying Characterization by
Miss Betty Bronson. Barrie him.
self selected this little miss to play
the role for the motion pictures. ana
surely his selection was justified by
the manner in which the actress
caught the spirit of the piece.
Peter Pan" The personification
of fantasy, the little sprite of the
woods, who never wanted to grow
UP but wished to remain always
boy so that he could disport himself
as Youngsters have and will through
all the ages. We are told at the
outset that it is pure fantasy, an
ut-and-out fairy tale, whimsical,
and with no spretense at reality, SO
we are left free to let ourselves be
carried away in our imaginings in
sympathy with the joyous lights OF
the story. There is usefulness and
charm, simplicity and fascination,
superb fantasy and a wealth OF
beautiful imagining.
There are all of those things
which will appeal equally as strong
" to the wisdom Of mature years.
There are fairies, mermaids. Indians,
a roaring pirate chief, a big friend
ly dog that guards and protects the
kiddies, a crocodile that made the
audience shout gleefully when ne
snapped the hand of the pirate; and
there are also literary beauty. bril-
liantIy witty titles and Rapier like
thrusts of satire.
Miss Bronson in the title role con-
yinces you that she lis" Peter Pan,
the cheerie little chap of the mys-
terious forest. Distinctly feminine,
she also successfully registers the
boyish charm and feeling of the
role-she is entirely adequate-ask
any boy who saw it, and every boy
and girl should see it.
Excellent are the performances OF
the grown-ups, Esther Ralston as
the beautiful, loving mother. Cyril
Chadwick as the irritable father, and
Ernest Terrence as the blood-thirsty
pirate is of course fine. But 1t is
the children, including Miss Bron-
son, who is but a slip of a girl, that
really carry the picture. Mary Brian
is delightfully."- childish, natural and
pretty as Wendy: Philippe De Lacey
and Jack Murphy are very real as
the little Darling boys. and the
group. of kiddicA who portray the lit
tie lost boys are every one of them !
human and lovable. Virginia Brown |
Faire is the tiny fairy and Anna May |
Wong the little Indian girl. One Of |
he finest performances is George Ali