Evening star., 1926-11-21

L Washington Wednesday after
noon OF "Potemkin," the Rus
sian film which has created a grea
amount of talk and speculation sine
its arrival in New York some tim
ago. The photoplay was exhibited
at private showing at Wardmai
Park Theater, members of the Over
seas Writers organization, severa
Government officials and diplomat
being in attendance.
"Potemkin" has not been released
for exhibition in the photoplay thea
ters Agencies have tried vainly te
obtain il, but only one or two pri
vate showings have been granted
Local newspaper men in each cit,
have been barred from these show
ings; screen critics, were not wanted
There was--and iS-a great deal OF
mystery about the picture.
The statement has been made thai
"Potemkin" is propaganda from So
Wet Russia, and that its purpose II
this country is 10 obtain loans from
bankers and others able to finance
the former land of the Gar. Thi:
idea was advanced Oh account OF re-
fusals to release the film for public
showings, and through the fact that
bankers were invited to private
showing in New York.
But the picture, if it is propaganda
10 only the first chapter of a gigantic
Aim story which will tell the history
of the Russian revolution. As il
stands today, the film shows only ar
episode, and it will be only a chapter
of big story-probably the first OF
many chapters showing the develop
nent of the revolution from the mu'
tiny aboard the cruiser Prince
Potemkin in 1905 to the final victory
of the Bolsheviks. And as it now
stands "Potemkin" is a wonderful
picture-fve reels of action that viii
class with any modern product OF the
studios. There is no hint OF Bolshe-
vik propaganda. The story OF the
revolt aboard the Prince Potemkir
is told in a simple and yet thrilling
way. The shooting down Of the
people by the Cossacks, the handling
of the mob scenes and the views
aboard ship all go toward making i,
a picture to astonish the hardened
movie fan. The photoplay may be
classed with the best.
Briefly. this is "Potemkin": Sailor!
aboard the cruiser Prince Potemkir
object to the bad food which is being
served them. Their mutterings o
discomfort finally develop into oper
revolt. After a battle with the off
GERS, the latter are defeated and th'
sailors obtain control of the wal
vessel. The people of Odessa. il
sympathy with the sailors. gather a
the water front. where they are sur
prised and shot down by the Cos
sacks. The Russian feet appear
upon the scene to quell the mutiny
but the sailormen of the feet place
themselves alongside the mutineers
The Prince Potemkin is later in
termed in Rumania. The Russian
authorities promise the men faii
trials if they will return to thei
native land. The men return. but thu
promise is broken and the sailors arr
shot. That's the story. It's grea
picture. and mavbe that little revo
luton of 1905 is Just the prologue
Time will tell.
And if one should mention the pic
ture it must not be pronounced like
it is spelled. 1t is "Po-chump kin,
with the accent on the "chump.
y X x y
THE Big Parade" leading film O
the World War class, has Just com
pfeted a record run on Broadway
It was screened for an entire veal
at the Astor Theater, and the an
nouncement has just been made tha
it has been awarded the photopla,
gold medal for the best picture o
1925. Other pictures so honoret
have been The Covered Wagon.
"Tol'able David" "Humoresque" ans
"Abraham Lincoln"
The Sta,lings picture started thu
vogue for war pictures. but it re
manned the best OF the lot. Two o,
the newest war" screenings are
comedies. Behind the Front ane
Were in the Navy Now bott
starring Messrs. Beerv and Hatton
The Rough Riders" ard Across thu
Pacific" deal with the Spanish
American fray Another Stalling!
script, What Price Glory" is read,
for general distribution.
X X
Will Hays. in his latest address
speaks OF the value OF the moving
picture in an educational way-th.
influence OF the films in history ant
science. He mentions ph0top!ays de
signed for scientific research pur
poses and says that the historical
pictures are more valuable than tn,
dry text books. The films" quoting
Mr.. Hays. ARE being recognized pub
lioly as most vital medium in ouI
educ cational and scientific world
They have long performed this val
liable service. but only lately hav,
they been given the credit for tn,
important part they play in cotem
porary and ancient history"
Around about last Decembe
Natalie Barrache was voted tn,
most beautiful Russian by com
mittee of distinguished Slavic artists
Then, in January. American pro
ducers became busy. CONSIDERABLE
cash was expended in cable tolls, an,
finally Natalie has signed a contrac
with First National. She is arriving
soon and will begin work in th
studios on the West Coast. Mile
Barrache, who hai,s from an aristo
cratic family. took up dancing as