The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

124 The Educational Screen cause it re-emphasizes the old quarrel aboul transferring literature to the screen and because it happened to sound what was practically the only flaw of Our Mu- tual Friend, But for this slight over- amount of titling at the beginning the continuity was beautifully written. To illustrate the contention, it might be well to trace the action in its chief emphasis. We began with the story of John Rokesmith, his peculiar behavior at the identification of the body found in the river. His application for room and' board at the Wilfer's, followed by old Boffin's rise and his consequent employ- ment of Rokesmith as a secretary, brings in easily, in relationship to Boffin, those delightful old rogues, Mr. Venus and Silas Wegg. This sequence culminates, motivated largely by Boffin's growing ir- ritability, in the marriage of Rokesmith and Bella Wilfer. From now on their story, as a main plot, is finished and they are subordinated to Lizzie Hexam's story. In fact, these formerly main char- acters do not appear again until the end of the Lizzie Hexam thread when they are needed to complete the action. The meeting of Rokesmith and Lawyer Light- wood leads to the former's arrest. The exposition of his supposed death brings the threads together; old Noddy's mean- ness is explained; the film closes, a prop- erly emphasized, unified and balanced narrative. So much for the writing of the film. The cast deserves praise of the same ex- travagant quality. This picture, pro- duced by the Swedish Biograph, presents an English cast of the high measure typ- ical of the English stage itself. Bella Wilfer Katherine Reese John Rokesmith Peter Walton Eugene Rayburn Albert Fenton Mortimer Lightwood Elvin Milton GafTer Hexam Peter Anderson Gaffer Hexam's Daughter Katherine Casper Rogue Riderhood Evan Rostrui "Ma" Boffin Jean Nethersoh "Ta" Boffin Alfred Mille Mr. Venus Charles Wilken: Silas Wegg Bertram Cros: "Pa" Wilfer Charles Withe] Miss Reese was exquisite in the pois< and delicacy of her interpretation of th< spoiled pet of a large family. Mr. Wal ton portrayed the lonely and often-hum bled Rokesmith with a dignity of botl mien and manner that made his bizarn story convincing. The lawyers were dis tinguished, fine-grained fellows witl every evidence of being finished actors Miss Casper's features, thickened by th< camera, made her a bit coarse in ap pearance—not the type one would ex pect Mr. Lightwood to love. Evan Ros trup, as the tough river pirate, was ; perfect, balanced, undemonstrative ruf fian. He played his hard role of swag ger and brutality quietly, forcefully, witl no hint of the cheap burlesque many pic ture men read into such a part. "Pa 1 Wilfer looked a bit aggressive for th< timid gentleman he portrayed, but hi acting overcame the handicap. Nowher but in England could a Silas Wegg an< Mr. Venus have been found. Messrs Wilkens and Cross gave us Dickens' cari cature on the screen as surely as did th< author on the pages of his novel. In ; good many years of film study, this casl without any exception, stands as the mos impressively intelligent array of polishei actors ever assembled for a screen pro duction. One last word about the sets. They too, were faithfully Dickensesque, but th photography was sometimes below th' best—of the old kind, the set fully il lumined with little attempt at light am shade effects. The foggy river at the be ginning was absurdly clear. If you feel that literature is not to b< screened, we remark that you are de ciding a question not to be decided to<