Judge — June 14, 1924 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

“Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall” “Dow Vernon or Hapvoy Hats.” seems to have nearly everything— a straightforward, entertaining story, competent acting, and above all exquisite scenic beauty. We confess that the pic- torial side of motion pictures apy us more strongly than the dramatic. If, as a friend recently confided to us, the movies are still in their infancy, many of the so-called film dramas that we have een obliged to sit through appear to be suffering from infantile paralysis. The photography and the scenic effects, how- ever, the parts that possess a purely visual appeal, have been a joy and a delight. The story of “Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall,” adapted from Charles Major's popular novel of a generation or better than most. At least it is not silly, and the Elizabet! settings and costumes afford \ Pickford an opportunity to look and act her prettiest. We are not among those who go into emotional fits every time Miss Pickford smiles upon the screen. We do believe, however, that The World’s Sweetheart, as her publicity department shyly calls her, n exceedingly capable and charm- ing actress, and we can think of no one, offhand, who is quite as successful as Miss Pickford in’ projecting her charm upon the screen, so ago, There are cnough hairbreadth escapes, duels, rescues, and wild, galloping cross- country rides to satisfy the most exacting movie fan. Allan Forrest plays the part of Sir John Manners, Dorothy's lover, with a romantic fervor that belies the fact that in real life he is Miss Pickford’s brother-in-law. ‘The portrayal of Queen Elizabeth by Clare Eami convincing, and coincides with our recollection of the appearance and manner of the late queen. However, as we said before, it is the seenic beauty of the picture that remains most. vivid in our mind. They have reproduced, with ai ng fidelity, a pic- ture of English countryside, than which there is nothing more lovely anywhere. There is a fine old Tudor manor house, complete to the last. det grim medi- eval castle; beautiful stretches of green- sward: clipped ornamental hedges, and magnificent centuries old oak trees. The interiors, too, are beautiful. The motion pictures may lack much in intelligent dramatic presentation, but too much praise cannot be given for their fidelity to historic detail and accuracy. We have Miss Pickford’s word for it, nevertheless, that Dorothy Vernon “isn’t a costume picture in the ordinary movie sense of the word.” There is a deep and laudable underlying purpose in presenting the picture. “T want Dorothy Vernon, Mary, “to make ‘y man’s wife remember the time when her husband told her she was the only woman in the world, and mak« him hold her hand while telling her again. [ hope it will and I believe it will. That's how strongly the story the the costumes. which are typical of the period but always secondary.” As we remarked to the wife, nothing could be fairer than that. romance—dominates “Cytherea” was a slot) machine in Teer our younger days that used to lure our youthful. pennies by. of cinating bits f ing such fas- ur edification as “Fun in a Harem, Night in a ‘Turkish Bath,” and “The Wedding Night.” We would drop our pennies guilelessly into the slot, turn the crank and peer hope- into the machine, but as we recall . We never witnessed anything that might not have appeared in the pages of The motion pictures to-day are carry- ing on the tradition of the penny: slot machines gloriously. This week's offer- ing is called “Cytherea,” and it professes film version of Joseph Herge- sheimer’s novel. — Violations of the Seventh Commandment are as common in the movies as violations of the Volstead Act in real lif We have seen six in the past two weeks, and there has not been a kick in the lot of them. True, there is a novel touch in “Cythe Instead of having the errant wife die in Bermuda, as in the recent Tellegen confection, she shatters all screen traditions by dying in Cuba. The picture is beautifully made, and 13 well acted. Lewis Stone particularly is deserving of mention, Alma Rubens is quite alluring 1 vampish, and Irene Rich plays the ungrateful part of the nagging wife with considerable charm and intelligence. Mr. Hergesheimer on a placard in the lobby of the theater expresses his delight at what they” Well, if he is satisfied we certainly are too. “Sherlock, Jr.” T rincipal fault. with “Sherlock, Jr.” the new Buster Keaton picture, is that it is not very funny. picture this is al objection. * done to his story. And in a comedy us quite an important There are, of course, amusing moments, but on the whole Buster Keaton is obliged to make the most. of a dull and uninspired scenario, “Mille. Midnight” Wis we saw Napoleon the Third, Empress Eugenie, Abraham Lincoln and General Grant (at least we think it was General Grant) we thought that we were in for a grand time; particularly when Grant itously placed a eape around Lincoln's shoulders to keep hin from catching cold. tle bits ays fascinate us. But then the picture jumped two or three gene sol These imtir of historic revelation ions and we discovered that we were witnessing just another Mexican picture, with fiestas, bandit course the inevit and of dle heroic Ame plays three part volatile Renee de Gontran of the pro- logue, in a blonde wig; her Mexican granddaughter, Renee de Quiros in’ the main story, in a black wig; ‘and the Spirit of Midnight, or Youth, or what- ever it is that they have in these pictures without much wig or anything. Miss Miirtay is not'a very gud actréss, but ui the other hand, “Mlle. Midnight” is not a very good picture. Monte Blue is a solemn and pains- taking hero. ‘The picture should go far lishing friendly relations be- Jnited States and Mexico, Newnan Levy. toward ¢: tween the comicbooks.com