Evening star., 1927-09-12
NATIONAL "Oid Ironsides."


: If the flame OF patriotism has burned
low during the past decade, the spark
bf it will be rekindled in all probabil-
aty, by "Old Ironsides,' now being
Screened at the National Theater.
The picture is a glorius tale-an epic
of the sea and of the young Amer
leans who have always fought, and
who always will fight. the battles OF
fheir country. 1t is the story OF q
gallant ship, the Constitution, and
brave crew. clinaxed with the thrill
3ng and historic battle in the Bay OF
Tripoli. Through it all is woven a
delightful love fiction-a dainty bit of
theart interest" which takes second
place to the action of fighting ships
and fighting men. 1t is. primarily.
n screen story for all of Young Ameri-
ca. And who could be old. with such
q tale unfolding before ones very
Ayes"
{. II is quite probable that when the
producers and The director pat TN
heads together for the first plann:a>,
of old lronsides,' it was decided to
make it straight drama of the sea,
Gecordinc of an incident in the Ma
tion's history. However. in the casting
of characters, the director was fortuh-
ate enough to employ the services of
wallace Beery. character actor who
was supposed to play one of the minor
foles. But this man Beery cannot play
q minor role. and this 'act is clearly
demonstrated in "Old Ironsides."
From the first reel to the last, he
ssteals" the picture. One gazes upon
1he splendid screen work of Charles
farrell as the boy. Esther Ralston
as the girl. George Bancroft as the
f..ti
4nodore Prehle Johnny Walker as
young stephen Decatur. hut Wallace
Beery as the hos'n of the good ship
9;s, her walks away with the hon0rs.
His character parts in this and other
photoplayS has placed him at the head
of the Hollywood list
= Charles Farrell in this and a later
Spicture. THE Seventh Heaven" wins
his place as screen headliner. He
is the find of the season. and his
~work opposite Esther Ralston marks
him for even more important parts
in pictures of the future. George Ban
scroft who plays the part of a gunner
rof the Constitution. is pioneer in the
~photoplay. field and an actor whose
efforts are always appreciated by An
saudience. Charles Hill Males as the
Scommander of the Constitution and
Johnny Walker as Stephen Decatur
-handle their parts like the old-time sea
Fighters. if one is TO look back upon
sthose ancient books of American his
story.
: 'Old Ironsides" tells the story of
athe young Republics determination
Ito wipe out the crews of pirates in
sthe vicinity of Tripoli. The powers
Aof the world had been losing ships
aand men and had been paying tribute
sto the thieves for hundreds of years
THE opening screen picture shows
~meeting of Congress in Philadelphia,
-from which came the ringing cry. Mil
lions for defense. but not one penny
-for tribute"' The fighting ships, Phil
ss.adelphia and Constitution, were built
sand equipped, then manned with
syoung crews and sent tot Tripoli.
After the Philadelphia was captured
sand later blown up by Stephen De.
ecatur and his gunners, comes the IA
amous battle in Tripoli Bay. a screen
s5pectacle worthy of classification with
the best in photoplays.
. The story. as written for the picture,
sfs the work of Laurence Stallings,
) who also wrote What Price Glory"
{ Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky are
1.-THE producers. and James Cruze direct.
.ed the battles and love scenes. Robert
: Hughes, the novelist, is credited with
! the titles