Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08
The Moving Picture
WBv Robert E. Sherwood

AS predicted in this column some
4 months ago, the new season Is
destined 20 produce Several pictures
that stress the religious note.
There will be Cecil De Miles gl-
gantic offering, THE King of Kings
with Ii. B. Warner as the Savior,
Joseph Schildkraut as Judas. Victor
Varconi as Pontius PLATE and Ru-
dolph Schildkraut as Caiaphas.
was rumored at one time that Mr.. De-
Mile had engaged Gertrude Lawrence
1.-THE Chariot revue singing ana
dancing starr TO impersonate Mary
Magdalene, and again that Gloria
Swanso would have this role. Both
of these ladies, however, have other
plans.
ID. w. Griffith is also anxious to
take a picture from the gospels-the
title as announced being THE Man
Nobody Knew" This is strangely
reminiscent Of Bruce Barton's best
seller. THE Man Nobody Knows al
though Mr.. Barton has no present
connection with the Griffith enter
prise. In fact, he is to do some edi-
torial work on Cecil De Miles pic
ture.
1t will be remembered that some
VI TIC lONChSSI cSCIiCo III ~ W 49,
fith's "Intolleranoe" were those which
pictured the miracles in Jerusalem.
Warner Brothers have indicated
that they will make a picture based
on the deluge, with Noah'S Ark fea-
tured, and First National owns the
screen rights to Papini's Life OF
Christ" 1t Is considered unlikely that
either Of these productions will even.
tuate.
Some one, possibly Marion Davies,
is bound to do Max Reinhardt's THE
Miracle" before long.
X \
There was a great wave of religious
pictures seven years ago. following
the enormous success of The Miracle
Man"
The cause of the present trend is
generally attributed to Ben Hur,"
but 1 doubt that this has anything to
do with it. The real reason, in my
estimation, is to be found in the sud-
den regeneration Of religion as topic
of news value. The battles of the
and ModerniSts and
the numerous reform campaigns have
brought religion to the fore as sub
ject for argumentative conversation.
Within the past few months, New
York has seen several plays that def
nitely reflect this tendency: Bride of
the Lamb" GLORY Hallelujah,"
Devils and others.
There is one picture now on view,
The Wise Guy" which comes close
to catching the spirit that distin-
guished THE Miracle Man" It is the
story of a medicine show faker, who
discovers that there are rich profits
in balllyhoo evangelism If it Is prop.
erE worked. He goes through the
country. saving souls and raking in
money-until. suddenly. he gets re-
ligion" himself THE Wise Guy was
directed by Frank Lloyd. and the title
role is played by James Kirkwood.
Both have done remarkably fine worA
For some reason. THE Wise Guy>
has been so utterly mutilated by the
New York censors that much Of it's
vitality is gone. But it remains an
exceptionally interesting picture-and
there is no question that 1t points
worthy moral.
In addition to the wave of religious
pictures which is due to arrive this
year, there will be other waves of war
pictures. historical "epic" pictures
(along the lines Of 1.-The Covered
WagonD and romantic costume
dramas forming a celluloid ocean to
engulf the world.
The vogue for romantic costume
dramas Is rather surprising. in view
of the fact that productions Of this
type have almost always proved to be
dismal failures. There have been no
table exceptions, of course-including
Passion" THE Hunchback Of Notre
Dame" and the various Douglas Fair
banks spectacles.
On schedule now are "Barlelys the
Magnificent" with John Gilbert: Gel
lini', with Rudolph Valentino; Don
Juan" 1.-The Tavern knight and
Francois Nillon.' all with John
Barrymore. and that flashing melo-
drama Of the Saharan Sands, Beau
Geste."
Lubitsch's next production may be
The Fortune Hunter" with Patsy
Ruth Miller starred. ." That world
famous classic. Bertha, the Sewing
Machine Girl" is to be produced soon
at the Fox Studio. Paul Whiteman is
to tour the public movie theaters next
season. at a reported salary of 800
a week plus a percentage of the box
office receipts.
Metro-Goldwyn has acquired the
movie rights to Rose Marie" for ap-
proximately $150,000-a record sum,
no matter what the rate of exchange
may be.
Copyright. 1922