Judge — January 19, 1924 — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

COMMENDING THE COMMANDMENTS by George Mitchell ow THAT Messrs Zukor and Lasky have sereened “The N Ten Commandments” nothing remains but that a couple of Christian guys return the compliment. by filming the Talmud. Having thus boxed the religious compass we may comfortably make faces at the K. K. K. We were a bit skeptical of this performance of “The Ten Commandments.” t because of the that ex- isted between the subject matter and its sponsors so much as that Cecil De Mille was to direct it. We have learned, despite the charity taught us in the commandments, to take De Mille with enough salt to have made a lot of Lot’s wives. Much that De Mille has done has displeased us. His aptitude for screening ancient orgies gave us a feeling that he was going to have the time of his bald head with the paganism that the story of the Bible might offer. Imagine our delight then when we found ourself applauding with the rest of the house the wonderfully beautiful things he’s done with this marvelously spectacular material. We are willing to write Mr. De Mill letter of thanks for one of the pleasantest hours spent within the halls of famous players. We can’t remember seeing any- thing on the screen as beautifully, as gorgeously done as the flight of the Children of Isracl and their pursuit incongruity and We have seen nothing more electrifying than the ope of the Red Se permit Mos his followers _ to pass through. This is a_ stroke of genius to which we are willing to salaam. We've never seenanything more majestically dramatic on the screen than the rending of — the heavens when the commandments were thunder- bolted from the heavens. We must admit that we gave vent to an irreverent smile when, after the first six commandments had Hi in turn received its quota of applause from law-abiding citizens, the sev in silence. It’s remarkable how little public support is give a commandment that enjoys so much favor in private. We mention this point to warn those who yet to see the pic- ture. If you would avoid an embarrassed silence don't applaud any of the commandments. The first half of the film is undoubtedly the best thing that has been done on the screen in the way of spectacle. That is our private opinion. ‘The second half shows an application to the commandments as observed by a mother and her two sons —one who takes the mandments and the other who leaves them alone. It’s a ticklish bit of work. One can’t handle it without becoming mawkish. De Mille on the whole gets away with it rather healthily and the cast give him splendid support. Rod La Roque, as the commandment breaker, does a sym- pathetic bit of work, and Richard Dix is good without being rotten, manfully snatching his part out of the sugar pot of sentimentality. Leatrice Joy is all her name implies, but that doesn’t surprise us. She's one of the most dependable women on the screen. Naldi’s part in the business is too short and Agnes Ay has altogether too little to do. ‘The performance is lavishly set and produced and we don’t care how much it cost. If we had the money and could have Wife of Eccentric Dancer (who has just slipped)—Oh, Herbert, aid of a if we can only remember this step we'll be a knock-out! done itwe'd be as proud of theachi Lasky are. We salute them. The picture has set a mark that would break the heart as well as the purse of others to reach. Very frequently we have felt that there are too many com- mandments, but after having seen this production we'd add another: See “The Ten Commandments.” ment aswehopeZukor and E WERE Brother.” ‘Tom Moore in “Big 1 is in his glory as The pi sntiment and Edith Roberts. very much) interested by a picture of real merit. a gangster in a story of the underworld of New York. ture abounds in action, suspense, s Edith is a comely miss who plays opposite ‘Tom with sym- pathetic understanding and sincerity. Little Mickey Bennett does some fine pantomime as the little brother. It’s a good picture. One that will absorb your interest throughout. 1x Cytinper Love,” which ran so many miles on a gallon + of gas that the price of that commodity went up in self-de- fense, is an amusing little comedy. Many of the same people who made it successful on the stage are playing in the scroen ver- sion. Ernest Truex is his delightful little “baby” self and Donald Meck as his neigh- bor is standing by him in the same capacity, assuring him from time to time that “every- thing is going to be all right.” Why the big rhinestone grand oper: ne from t year’s “Music Box” is incorporated in the film is beyond our Se meager" compre- hension, except that both shows were owned by the same concern. But though we are a poor fish we mustn't carp. “Six Cylinder Love” will amuse you and keep you awake without the cup of strong black ffec. Whether it does more than that to you is up to your depth of mentality. E WOULD like it to be possible to get into screen communi- cation with the commandment makers of the movies. If so we are going to offer our pet commandment. It would read something like this: Thou shalt not wear false whiskers against thy neighbor or, more seriously: Thou shalt not convert thy neighbor's title. Ju reet wrote a very interesting novel called “Rita Coventry,” the central character in which is a female opera singer. “William de Mille seemed to think that “Rita Coven- try” might be mistaken for Covent Garden, perhaps, so he It’s a very good picture. a Naldi as the singer reaches one of the highest notes of her carcer. She has the figu the poise and the frigidity with which this peculiar bird passage is constructed. Agnes Ayres, too, has crept. under the covering of the poor neglected and entirely too trustful young woman whose faith in her lover is stronger than is good for both of them. Jack Holt plays the lover the egotism of a man who believes that the weaker sex is strong for him. But to Rod La Roque, who piano-tunes his way into the great singer's affections. we hand the palm for the most inter- esting performance. Rod’s a couple of rods ahead of his class. comicbooks.com Tee Seemee 1 7 t U 7 s t