Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1924-Apr 1925)

jm eS x on aa? a AS a by ‘ é Pictures in Toronto By HECTOR CHARLESWORTH (ALORIA SWANSON appears in new and picturesque surround ___ ings in her latest vehicle, “Wages of oy iXttte. ~ Italian girl, keeper of a wine-shop in Here one sees her as an Sidi-Bel-Abbes in Algiers, patronized _ by the soldiers of the Foreign Legion. In these romantic surroundings she _ plays the role of a naive girl of the ‘slums, in whom loyalty and gratitude “are at war with genuine love. Res cued from death by the strong man _ of the circus in Naples, she feels bound to serve him for the rest of her life. Despite his brutal nature she stays -with him through all kinds of trial. Eventually they find themselves in Algiers where he joins the motley crew of the Foreign. She sets up a little wineshop in the native quarter, and her seductive but wholesome charm attracts the men away from the regiment canteen. The well-to-do old widow of the canteen in revenge plans to win the heart of the man to whom Carmelita is devoting her life, and on account of her prosperous circumstances she does win him. But meanwhile a young American who has recently joined up is introduced to the girl by John Boule, the mysterious Englishman of the company and the two young people fall madly in love with each other. The strong man plays dog in the manger and plans to kill the boy, but is prevented by the kindly John Boule, who also shows the girl the faithlessness of her so-called protector, and enables the lovers to marry. But the unfaithful man in a fit of jealousy fights .with the boy and is about to overpower him when Carmelita rushes in and with her ever-réady knife kills him. The men keep silent as to the cause of his death and all ends happily. Gloria Swanson gives a capital performance as the passionate girl, retaining a child-like frankness that makes her lovable at all times. The swift play of her emotions is admirably depicted. She also displays great charm in the moments of comedy which arise here and there in the film. Ben Lyon gives another of his fine characterizations as the passionate young lover of over-impulsive tendencies. Norman ‘Trevor is good as the fatherly Englishman. The picture shows excellent direction throughout, particularly in the handling of Ben Lyon’s role, and in the scenes of merriment in Carmelita’s shop. Every advantage has been taken of the pic turesque scenic opportunities. One cannot express much joy at the prospect of another Balkan royal love-story. But in the hands of Ernst Lubitsch, and with Pola Negri in the principal role one may expect something unusual and worthwhile out of “Forbidden Paradise,” whose _ title means as ever, practically nothing. The Balkan royal atmosphere is redeemed by a delicately suggested air of satire in the directing, which in no wise spoils the romantic quality for those who like that sort of thing. It cannot be attributed to any particular incidents, but to the general attitude of the directing mind towards the imaginary society treated of and the actual society it claims to be based on. The distinctly sophisticated tone that runs through the romantic scenes is also delightful. There is much the same attitude of kindly amusement towards the foibles and weaknesses of the characters involved in a plot which is melodramtic and a bit naughty in spots. The role played by Pola Negri of the queen of the small country of conveniently vague locality is naturally one of a lady of easy virtue. But under the guidance of the director one views her, not as a glamorously terrible vampire despite her numerous amours, but as a creature to be pitied; one without resources in herself to keep her mind and fancy occupied and consequently the prey of any passing whim or passion. By not holding up his hands in conventional holy horror and thus exalting her offences Ernst Lubitsch achieves an almost moralizing effect in making her frivolity ridiculous and her nuerotic passion a state of mind not at all to be envied. All this he does by dealing in a straight forward manner with an interesting and amusing tale of royal romance with an inferior. The young officer, however, has a lady of his own and though temporarily dazzled eventually throws over the enamoured queen. All the while in the background is the chancellor, managing everything to just his own ends. Pola Negri gives a splendid charcterization of the empty headed flirtatious queen, whose obvious charm is marred by her unhealthy nature. With her ranks Adolphe Menjou, whose subtle methods make a notable creation out of the part of the sensible, tactful, omnipotent chancellor. Rod La Rocque is delightful as the impulsive, very human, and not very discreet young officer. Pauline Starke as his fiancee is a little too tearful to be altogether charming. The settings are exceedingly beautiful, and show daring use of contrast. One or two scenes are almost futuristic, but always effective. The photography is most artistic. er ek A see “Dangerous Money” is another. of the long list of films and plays that unsuccessfully and insincerely set out to show that money is the root of all evil, and in poverty and want only is there joy. Yet despite such crass “material to work on, it manages to, be quite entertaining chiefly because it gives Bebe Daniels a vehicle for expression of widely varying moods and developments, as the slavy in a boarding house, as the awkward girl in a fashionable school, as the society butterfly, and as the troubled young wife. She is at her best in the earliest scenes of sentimental comedy where her winning sweetness mingled with an admirable awkwardness makes a distinctive appeal. Her later work is also good, but of a more commonplace type. Tom Moore as the poor but go-ahead young Irish lover gives a delightful performance, and many others in the cast give splendid support. The development of the story gives ample chance for settings of great variety and picturesqueness. J. M. Franklin Exhibits Famous Oil Painting Twice Daily at Theatre Manager Joseph M. Franklin of the B. F. Keith Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, conducted a novel feature during the week of January 12 in the form of an art exhibition in the spacious and handsome lobby of the Keith house. The outstanding exhibit in this display was the famous oil painting which Mr. Franklin discovered in Ottawa at a private sale, this being the Erskine Nicol masterpiece, “Sampling.’ Although Franklin secured the picture for a small sum, art critics have placed.a valuation of $10,000 upon it. Mr. Franklin has secured $20,000 worth of publicity through the discovery of the painting and it was because of many requests for private views of the picture that he decided to have an art exhibition in the theatre lobby. The exhibition was held twice daily during the week, from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 10 p.m. each evening. Before Buying Pictures Read The Digest Advertising Pages. Go. gle Page Five * A = “! + eee