The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-15

Eagels has not brought the regula-
ton movie conception to the char
acter of Mrs CroSbie. This char
acter is rotten all the way through
although clever and respectable
looking on the service Miss Eagels
does not try TO make a Pollyanna
out of Leslie. The actress knows
what sort of a woman Mrs CroSbie
is and she does not attempt to make
her lily while. In other words, Miss
Eagels has given the talking screen
it's first dose of absolute realism.
This picture has no happy ending
as the man and wife, after LeSlieS
acquital by the jury. start living
their lives over again in the same
house. both terrible victims to their
own memories. Never have seen
such powerfully true ending to a
drama.
1t is to be regretted that the silent
screen was not honest enough in
matters of realism to permit her to
have done Sadie Thompson in
Rain" You recall that Gloria
Swanson did Sadie on the screen
and what q sad Pollyanna mess that
Gloria made of the hot talking
Sadie.
BY this one all-talker, Miss EagelS
has placed herself in very COM
handing and interesting position
on the talking screen. After some
trouble on the stage, Miss Eagels
by a ruling found herself forbidden
to act in New York.
She entered vaudeville and then
landed on the movie lot. surrounded
with some wild stories about her
temperament. AS far as l am con-
cerned, the movies are to be bene-
fitted by her absence from the New
York stage.
Miss EagelS. if she will keep on in
this talking movie racket. will dis
cover that she has a most inter-
eSting future before her. But she
must have the right kind Of plays.
Here is 70 ordinary actress but
woman capable of handling highly
emotional scenes.
Her direct way in creating that
impression is often shown in The
Letter She is a fiend when she
emptieS the chamber of a revolver
into the body of her lover, Godfrey
, Hammond, when he tells her that
he prefers his Chinese mistress to
her.
More proof of this womanS abiI
| ity is given when. without the use
OF a flaShback. she tells the lie on
| the witness Stand-that Hammond
forced his way into the plantation
/ home Of her husband in his absence
and attacked her
But she had written the letter
that summoned Hammond to his
death. And that letter during the
trial was in the possession of the
Chinese woman. 1t was for sale 1t
was purchased by Mrs. CroSbie's at
, torney.
| This scene when Mrs. CroSbie goes
to buy the letter from the woman
reminds one of the realistic dirt in
! the big scene from The Shanghai
Gesture" Here is realism for you
without any disguise used or an
/ apology given. And while the letter
is being sold. the inmates of the re-
/ sort are holding a snake fight. This
scene will certainly send the cold
chills down ones spine.
The Letter" certainly challenges
the modern contention of the all
talker that it must have as much
freedom as the press.
AS far as I know it is the first
attempt to really put onto the talk
irg screen stage play character as
the author conceived her.
The cast is as follows:
Leslie CroSbie .............J Jeanne Eagels
Joyce =. '-'''..''- y: I; Heggle
/ ROBERT CroSole -.......-.. reginald owen
| Godfrey Hammond $50. Herbert Marshall
/ Mrs. joyce ....-..........,. Irene Brown
Tf-Ti ady Me;