Indianapolis Times, Volume 36, Number 97, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 August 1924 — Page 6

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BLANCHE SWEET BAS ANOTHER SCREEN SUCCESS Movie Favorite Creates Tragic Role in Tess' Film. By JACK JUNGMEYER, NEA Service Writer f T OLLYWOOD, Aug. 30.—The |—l haunting ghost of Hardy's “Tess of the D’Urbervilles,” one of the most tragic figures ever impresed upon the popular mind, has been vividly and pathetically refleshed by Blanche Sweet. Under the direction of her husband, Marshal Neilan, the blond star has added another triumph in the character by which the novelist paid his sardonic respects to the double standard of morality. The. role was a happy selection. Both In type and personality does Miss Sweet encompass “Tess,” the maid who fails in her timid, ingenuous way to avert the smirching circumstances which finally lands her on the gibet. There are scenes in which she is perhaps too theatric. Familiars of Hardy’s heroine may feel that she misses by a shade suggesting the full measure of tragic resignation to her fate. But on the -whole, the portrait is excellent. A little more of that sombre apathy which Miss Sweet incorporated in her superb “Anna Christie” would have made the likeness perfect. Triumph for Two It is interesting to note that Neilan and Sweet score so decisively in this their first joint effort since marriage at a time when a number of other director-actress matrimonial alliances have split for professional activities, after long periods of dual endeavor. Neilan discovers, or permits expression of. histrionic resources in his wife which even Griffith didn't fully exploit. “Tess” shows Neilan in anew light as well. His usual horseplay is eliminated. There is practically no comedy. There are few essays at subtlety. He has translated the book with considerable fidelity and with straight away march tempo. More difficult than the finessing cf auy scenes, I take it, was the fundamental necessity of making the tragedy seem an inevitable outgrowth of the girl's first stumble with the seductive "Alec D'Urber vllle"; *o preserve the picture from cheap melodrama in these days of compromised standards. That diff: culty Miss Sweet and her director surmounted by grafting the poignant drama to “Tess's” mental attitude, rather than to incident. Higtilights in “Tess's” love gamut, from housemaid with her ravishing kinsman to discarded bride of “Angel Clare,” whom she lost by telling the truth, show her being wooed against her will in the "D'Urber villa” mansion, performing home baptism of her child, working in the dairy where real affection poses her dire dilemma, slaying her betrayer, caught in flight at historic Stonehenge Temple, and bidding farewell to her contrite husband in prison. Work in these scenes gives haunting quality to the role.

Nagel Is Splendid Conrad Nagel as "Angel Clare” gives his best performance and Stuart Holmes contributes a striking interpretation of “Alec D’Urber▼Ule.” into whose greedy arms Tess's designing father dings his untutored daughter. George Fawcett plays the father, Victory Bateman the mother and Joseph Dowling the priest who scourges Angel's conscience for having deserted his hride. Impications in "Tess of the D’Urberville’s.” written by Thomas Hardy a little over two decades ago. and stated in Neilan’s picture, afford sharp comparison between the right ethics of even that recent date and this, a more tolerant period. When written. Hardy’s novel was considered a very daring, iconorlastic. even dangerous screed. In his foreworti the author pleaded. "In respect t& this book’s opinions I would ask any too genteel reader who cannot endure to have said -what every one nowdays thinks and feels to remember a well-worn sentence of St. Jerome's: ‘lf an offense comes out of the truth, better is it that the offense come out than that the truth be concealed'. ’’ Which censors might ponder if they be inclined to take a slash at the screened “Tess.” Margaret to Make Debut Margaret Livingston makes her debut as a star in the Regal production, "The ’Follies’ Girl” and little Billy Seay mages his debut as an “extra.” Billy is \he little fellow .who toddles out on the racetrack in the way of the onrushing horses and is saved by Patricia O’Brien. “Follies” girl, played by Miss Livingston. It is Billy's first appearance before the camera. Fanchon Hired to Create Dance Asa final embellishing touch to “The Siren of Seville,” Hunt Stromberg engaged Fanchon. noted dance creator, to stage a brilliant and bizarre terpsichorean specialty in which a chorus of forty girls appear, as a novel introduction for this Priscilla Dean feature. Another Zane Grey Movie Zane Grey's “The Border Legion,” which has just gone into production upon a location In the northern mountains selected by the author .himself, will carry what is said to ■>e the strongest cast yet assembled t' e making of one of his popu■f western novels in film form. WilHoward, who will -irefet the for Paramount, was accomon location by Anionio MoHelene Chadwick, Charles Fellows, James Corey, Grlbbon, Luke Cosgrave, and a large comminor players.

STAGE OFFERINGS NEXT WEEK

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Left—Adele La Verne in “Jarvis Revue,” at the Lyric. Center —Gertrude Barnes at the Palace, opening Sunday for three days. Upper Right—Florence, King in “Steppin' Out.” at the Broadway. Lower Right—Alice Joy in “Step This Way,” at the Capitol. • Rounding Round Theaters (Continued Front Page 5) aims and accomplishments of G. Carlton Guy and the Municipal Theatre. It is my critical privilege to select the plays of the Municipal season that I desire to review. 1 considered Dalton's new dramatic effort of sufficient importance to cover the show personally. I have written no policy reviews. I get hot under the collar when actors—it isn't the reading public—get the opinion that a critic is controlled because he doesn't write ieviews to please the actor. That is not true with all actors or any large per cent of them. The actor must become as much in earnest for free and honest criticism as the theater manager of today has become. We all want honest and efficient reviews. A controlled review is perjury. -I- -!• -IMiss Marjorie Vonnegut, Indianapolis actress and member of the frlurat Players this season, has accepted a position as leading player in the Boston company of "Hell Bent for Heaven.” This play opens Monday in Boston. The dramtic work of Miss Vonnegut at the Murat this summer was one of the real features of the local season.

Opens Season PAUL WHITEMAN Ona B. Talbot will open her concert season at the Murat on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 12. with Paul Whiteman and his orchestra. Concerts will be given in the afternoon and at night. INSTALLATICi SERVICES H*-v. K. \V. Welch, New Pastor Woodruff United Presbyterian. The Rev. E. W. Welch, new pastor of the Woodruff United Presbyterian Church, Arsenal Ave. and Twelfth St., will he formally installed Tuesday night. The Rev. W. P. Cooley will make the opening address. Rev. W. Guy Hamilton will deliver the “charge to the congregation," and Rev. J. P. Cowan, retiring pastor, will greet the new minister. Special music will be provided. Youth Heat Victim George Jones, 18, of South Bend, Ind., is in the city hospital today after he was found at Indiana Ave. and Blake St. Friday overcome by the heat and suffering from the lack of food. Jones told police he came here In search of work Thursday and had not eaten since his arrival. Former Transport in Movies Thousands of American soldiers will remember the trip made across the Atlantic on the transport Great Northern when they see the First National picture, "In Every Woman's Life.” The engine-room, as well as exterior portions of the deck and bridge of this gigantic ship were filmed for this production by Irving Cummings and his company.

Wolfe Shows Open Monday at State Fair

<ii h ,r..<J|j[fT ■>' WA " rector. Included in the list an Herbert Tree. Madge Kennedy, Ttil- jet ‘■' . ,?>■** Jn>~ iarrymorc, Els ■ >■■■ \,u.' . ■ Ferguson and Doris Keane.

ManhafMbcT ; ipilk Tom-Maore 1 * 1 ■yt/RITING advertising copy for “Manhandled” is easy! The sky’s I W the limit! If we used every superlative in the dictionary no- ( body could call the ad misleading. Imagine a picture ten times Vetter j than your favorite Swanson picture to date! Imagine Gloria more I stirringly dramatic, more gaspingly gowned than ever! And imagine her as a howling funny comedienne besides! But you can’t imagine I it! See it! i Lester Huff Spat Family Comedy

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

MOTION PICTURES

‘STEP THIS WAY’ NEXT COLOMBIA SHOW AT CAPITOL 'Steppin' Out' to Open Sunday for Week at Broadway, “Siep This Way,” which combines the latest that there is in musical extravaganza and vaudeville, is a burlesque offering which comes to the Capitol next week commencing Sunday matinee. I. B. Hai*p, the Swede comedian, who is responsible for the book upon which the burlettas are based, will be seen as the principal comedian. Right behind him comes Fred Binder, in Jewish parts, as the second comedian. A1 Golden, new figure in this form of entertainment, is a "straight” man; ' Charles Wesson, the nimble-toed dancer; Nully Desvall and Arthur Young are all given

prominent places on the program. A chorus of eighteen will be lead by Gertrude Beck, portrayer of “kid” parts. Hazel Alger is the prima donna. Alice Jay and the La Van sisters complete the cast. Special scenes of which there are fourteen In number, reach the height of elaborateness in “Holland,” “Chinatown," “Styles of 1964,” the Spanish scene, and the big surprise finale known as “Broadway.” “Step This Way,” is newly costumed and equipped with new scenery, and with its elaborate vaudeville numbers headed by the Six Rockets novelty acrobats, and a circus act featuring Olympia Desvall and company’s leaping dogs and educated equines, makes an appeal for patronage. -I- -I- -!- SECOND WEEK FOR MUTUAL SHOWS OPEN At the Broadway next -week the attraction booked to appear is ‘‘Steppin’ Out” with large cast and a fast chorus. I. M. Weingarden is the producer. One of the features is “The Great

MOTION PICT UR E S aSfHj&f- yvs KATHLYN WILLIAMS -and g JjJ T* a great CAST in ZANE GREVS J ly-'WtfJpERER MXdi IjPT: by the amazing new ; IMPERIAL* ' technicolor ; COMEDV-J PHOTOGRAPHIC Im m process. ■ F rama i CO T edy an j f Entertainers H VflwV C-iriiti I rftgsdy cncictcd • * * i n the arid lands of the EARL GORDON 1 pHGreat Arizona Desert. Organ Selections : fQj, AMUSEMENTS I BROADWAY I Playing Road /attractions of the Mutual Burlesque Association 9 Week Beginning Sunday Mat., Aug. 31 Steppin' Out I I | > SNAPPY - PEPPY I |ImBURLESQUE I FULL O’ GINGER | 1 THE GREAT DELUGE I j Prices to Suit Your Purse 30c, I \ BURLESQUE IS BURLESQUE 50c, THE WORLD OVER A Few at 75c

Deluge,” the large living picture. A baggage car is required to transport this picture. There are several other attractions with this show. Among the principals are Bob Girard, Charles Burnes, Jack Quinn, Bob Robinson, Henry Carr, Florence King, Trixie Saul, Minnie Burke, and Ruth Clark. Sainpolis Engaged by Levee John Sainpolis has been engaged for the M. C. Levee production of ,v in Every Woman's Life,” which Irving Cummings is directing for First National. Mr. Sainpolis will be remembered for his work in “The Four Hoi semen,” “Three Wise Fools” and “The Perfect Lover.” Elaine Hammerstein Signed Due to her performance in “The Foolish Virgin,” first in the series of eight Columbia Productions, the producers have signed Elaine Hammerstein to star in two additional pictures. Miss Hammerstein is remaining on the coast where she will shortly begin work on one of them.

iSATuHDAY, auu. 30, Id^-±

HOOSIER NAVAL HERO IS DEAD Arwine First to Take Ship Across in War. Bit Times Special COLUMBUS, Ind., Aug. 30. Commander John S. Arwine Jr, United States Navy, who commanded the first ship across the Atlantic after the declaration of war against Germany in 1917 and the last to return from active service, died Friday at his home in East Orange, N. J., according to advices received today. Commander Arwine had been sick for several weeks. He will be buried at Arlington cemetery Monday. Commander Arwine, at first executive officer on the Meville, Admiral Sims' flagship, was later in command.