The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

(5rtirough the Box-Off ice %rn J (^viewers* Views On feature ^Um Sdited bij CS.SewdL "Faust" Murnaii Makes a Splendidh^ Pictorial Version of "Faust" Liberally Changed to Meet Screen Needs Goethe's "Faust" With E^mil Janniners Directed by F. W. Murnau An UFA Production A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture CAST: Cherub Warner Fuctterer Mephisto Emil JaiiiiinKs Faust Gosta Ekman Marguerite Camilla Horn Her Mother Freida Richard Valentine Wilhelni Dieteric Aunt Martha Yvette Guilbert Dake Eric Barclay Duchess Uanna Ralph LengtH — 8110 Feet Declaring himself to be greater than God, because all men turn to him, Satan is challenged by the Archangel to ply his wiles on the learned Dr. Faust. Satan scourges Faust's town with the dreaded Black Plague and when Faust's lore is helpless to aid those who call to him, he turns to Satan for aid in effecting his cures. Satan lures him with a dream of youth but in the end loses his victim because of his sacrifice to true love. Splendidly pictorial version of Goethe's immortal story. PICTORIALLY the Ufa presentation of "Faust," done by F. W. Murnau and interpreted by a cast headed by Emil Jannings, is one of the most splendidly scenic eflects yet sent us by the Germany company. Scene" after scene reveals a setting that for composition and lighting has seldom been equaled. There is one set in particular, a flat expanse of snow meeting a flat grey sky, with only a single gnarled tree, its trunk bent to an arc by the wintry blasts that on canvas would be regarded as a masterpiece, and this is but one of thirty or forty settings equally worthy of unstinted praise. Not all are landscapes. The interior hall of Marguerite's home for example, is a masterpiece of lighting. The fanciful nature of the story makes possible an artistic treatment not always possible in a modern story. As an eye-spectacle, "Faust" will rank high. But the story has been altered to gain action. Mephisto makes a wager with the archangel that he can win the soul of any man and is bidden to try his wiles on Faust. To attain his end Satan afflicts the town with the plague and the humanitarian Faust, finding his learning useless to cope with the disease, turns from God to the devil, only to find that his townsmen will have none of the relief offered by one who fears to face the Cross. Denied by those he seeks to save, Faust turns to thoughts of his youth and becomes a Don Juan, finally centering his affections on Marguerite, his one clean love. From there the story follows the Goethe romance to a climax where Marguerite is burned at the stake and Faust joins her, l)y that act defeating the Fiend. The early scenes suggest the story of the Plague in London, with a transition to Don luan and later a suggestion of The Thief of Bagdad with a magic carpet sequence. Jannings' Mephisto is at least different from the accepted versions. In the opening scenes he suggests the gross Arch Fiend, l)ut in his first encounters with Faust he is far from the stage type of Mephisto; a squat, grotesque, rather haunting figure; a wonderful character make-up, but far from suggesting the Prince of Darkness. For the middle story he becomes more nearly the Mephisto of the stage, but a Mephisto who is coarsely humorous rather tlian sinister, a very low-comedy devil who does not carry conviction. As acting, without regard for the role, his work is excellent, but he does not suggest a reasonably clear characterization. There is neither lightness nor subtlety to his work. The Marguerite of Camilla Horn is rather too heavily stressed, first for youthful innocence and later for anguish of soul. She plays with power but not always with conviction. The Martha of Yvette Guilbert, the once-famous French diseuse, was a finely considered bit of comedy, and the Faust of (iosta Ekman was excellent. "Faust" should make a general appeal on its pictorial features. It is sumptuous to the last degree. "The Cheerful Fraud" Reginald Denny Again Has a Fast Moving and Hilarious Farce Comedv That Should Please IN "The Cheerful Fraud," the newest Reginald Denny Special, Universal again has an offering that should provide enjoyment for the masses and especially please th': wale clientele of this star's fans. Like his previous productions, "T!ic Cheerful Fraud" is a hilarious farce comedy, punctuated with gags that are good for a large number of laughs and smiles, with a genuinely amusing story that keeps iiioving at a rapid pace. There is not a minn'.e when there is not something afoot. The plot concerns Sir Michael Failric "go-get-her" romance with a pretty young social secretary. In true farce comedy style, when he sees her on the street it is love at first sight and on being turned down he manages to get a job with the same wealthy family so as to be near her, of course using an assumed name. In the meantime, this new rich family has invited as a week-end guest an international crook who is posing as Sir Michael, and not satisfied with the complications that would result from this mix-up a woman adventuress who turns out to be the pal of the crook appears and seeks to blackmail the wealthy man and to save himself he introduces her as the hero's wife. The family jewels are stolen and the real Sir Michael accused, but he, of course, manages to prove his innocence and ends by catching and exposing the real crook and, of course, winning the girl in the case. Dennj has a congenial and characteristic role and again gives a fine performance and is supported by an excellent cast. Gertrude Olm.stead is attractive and capable as the girl, with Otis Harlan as the easy-going ricli man, and Emily Fitzroy as his wife who wishes to shine in society. Charles Gerrard gives a finished performance as the false Sir Michael, and Gertrude Astor is at her best in the comedy scenes where she is trying to blaickmail first the rich man and then Sir Michael, after she discovers his real identity. Director William Seiter has given this story good direction and in fact It is more in the handling of the different situations and the gags introduced, together with the capable work of the players, than in the rather familiar farce comedy plot that the entertainment lies. Each situation has been (Continued on page 443) Carl Laemmle presents Ref^nald Denny In "The Cheerful Fraud" Directed by William A. Seiter A iTni vcrsal-Denny Special C.VSTi Sir Michael Fairlle ReBlnald Denny Ann Kent Gertrude <Hni.Mtead Mr. Bj-thewny »tU Ilnrlan Mrs. Bytheway Kmil VHzroy Steve Chnrlen Gerrard Rose Gertrude Astor Lengfh — 6,945 Sir Michael falling in love with Ann, a social secretary to a wealthy woman, takes a job with the family while a crook poses a.s Sir Michael. The real nobleman, after a series of mixups, saves the jewels and wins Ann's love. Amusing 'arce comedy.