Evening star., 1926-03-21
The Moving Picture
By Robert E. Sherwood

in New York. In the past few months
I have reported many such events. in
Guiding 'The Big Parade. "The Merry
Widow" la Boheme" and Ben
Hur." and I have done my best to
describe the crowds In attendance.
notable in their way, 1t Is only when
Il Douglas Fairbanks production is re-
vealed that the mob really turns out
in full force. Those who are still suf-
ferng from bruises, abrasions and
lacerations received at the recent
world premiere of "The Black Pirate"
will testify that I don't exaggerate
when l say that the Jam of people in
and about the Selwyn Theater estab-
lished new record for congestion.
OF course, a Doug Fairbanks picture
on the screen Is a considerable attrac-
ton in itself; but when 1t Is supple
mented by the presence of the agile
Doug. in person. accompanied by his
talented wife (also In person). the
situation becomes practically tntol-
cradle.
Outside the theater, In Forty-second
street. the entire population Of New
York was gathered, with the whole
New York police force on hand to
quell the rioting. 1t was an uneven
struggle, with the police coming in
second best.
When Doug and Mary drove up In
a long gray Rolls Royce the cheers
were deafening, and were acknoWl-
edged In truly royal style by the
happy pair.
Inside the theater was another
bowling mob of enthusiastic citizens,
who were fortunate in the possession
Of tickets or standing room admission.
Perhaps six Of these people had come
to see the picture: the other 5000 had
come to see the crowned heads of
Hollywood.
Before the picture, during the inter.
mission and at the end, they surged
down the aisles to cape at the box In
which Doug and Mary were nervous
ly ensconced. Nor did they neglec,
the other celebrities who chanced tc
be present. Three flappers happened tc
spot Adolphe Menjou, who was sit
ting with his brother in the center ol
a row. They instantly rushed for him
trampling several women and chill
dren under foot as they surged for.
ward-and all for the sake Of his auto
graph. Your correspondent produced
blank check and asked Mr.. Menjou
to autograph that, but he graciously
declined.
So much for the incidental Mysteries
which seem to be an inevitable fea-
ture Of the birth Of each new. picture.
y + X X
AS for "The Black Pirate" the os
tensible excuse for all the delirium. II
is a huge success. 1t has all the quail
ties of romantic thrill that have en-
livened Doug's pictures in the past; II
has also a pictorial beauty such as the
screen has never before known.
"The Black Pirate" was photo
graphed In the Technicolor process
which was used in 1.-THE Toll OF the
Sea-" "Wanderer Of the NVasteland'
and in various shorter films. Up tc
now, this Technicolor process has
never been particularly successful. due
to it's insistence ON the more violent
reds, oranges, yellows and greens. All
the color pictures that / have seer
previously have been trying to the
eyes and confusing to the senses.
"Thc Black Pirate" however. marks
a definite advance in the development
of this new movie medium. It's tints
are deliberately subdued, SO that the
most brilliant color in the entire film
Is the glowing bronze on Doug's well
tanned skin. There is nothing startling
offensive or disturbing in the color
scheme; 1t is perfectly modulated. The
result is a series of scenes Of mex
pressible beauty, invigorated with a
considerable degree Of dramatic
strength.
The story concerns young Castil
ian duke, who, with his father, Is sail
ing the Spanish main when pirates
board his vessel to plunder and kill
with proverbial piratical fury. The
duke and his father swim ashore. but
the old man fails to survive the ordeal
so the gallant youth, fired with the de
sire for revenge, enliStS with the pi
rates and proceeds to punish them
one by one. for their misdeeds.
There is every known variety OF &C
| ton in this melodramatic tale. culmi
| mating in q scene wherein Doug and
| his stalwart supporters swim under
| water to attack the pirate vessel-like
so many human U-boats stalking thei,
| prey.
Doug Fairbanks is his usual ami
mated self, somewhat grimmer ant
more serious than usual, perhaps, bu,
| less to say, he performs all manner o1
acrobatic antics in the rigging OF the
ship, and uses the rapier with his
usual deadly skill.
The heroine is impersonated by Miss
Billie Dove, who hasn't much Of any
thing to do: the principal pirates are
played by Anders Randolph, Sam Dr.
Grasse and Donald Crisp.
Albert Parker directed 'The Black
| Pirate" and Is entitled to a large
share Of the credit. He and Doug Fair
| banks have collaborated before; they
work extremely we'll together.
"The Black Pirate" is a grand pic
ture-another legitimate triumph fol
a star who has earned the worlds es
TEEN. 4, X X 4
1t is probable there will be wave
Of religious pictures next year. simi
lar to that which followed "Ths
Miracle Man" .. They'll have to rur
out Of stories about the great wal
some time Marion Davies, on he,
return from New York. win do ''The
Red MILL" one Of the famous Vcto,
Herbert musical comedies Harry
Langdon has completed his first staI
comedy, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp" "
and has proceeded with same toward
the Atlantic coast.
If John Gilbert had been standing ir
Times Square last week he would
have seen his name on the electric
signs in front of three Broadway thea,
ters He Is starring in 1.-THE Merry
Widow" at the Capitol: In la Bo
heme." at the Embassy. and 1.-THE Bic
Parade" at the Astor ;. Mr.. Gilbert
unfortunately, missed this treat. he
being in Hollywood at work on his
next picture, "Bardelys the Magnif
cent"