The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

Theatrical Film Critique 157 g slender throat to her shoulder, and hands slip possessingly over her asts in the passionate embrace of her render, - the silver-sheet realizes acting a sort the American man can never at- \i. It takes a finesse of old world tradi- 1 and Latin inheritance to make such :ene, not coarse, not sensual, but fiercely, nkly the grand passion, [onsieur Desnoyers, played by Joseph ickard, was a delicate, steel-engraved tleman of France, a little absurd in his gain hunting of priceless treasures for castle on the Marne. His part in the ti-invaded Villa Blanche was a discrimi- ing, careful transition from querulous dity to broken terror. Stuart Holmes red convincingly his role of Capt. von rtrott, nephew ©f Desnoyers. Those les of war and plunder at the hands of Itur's hosts betrayed, more than any ur single element, the genius of Rex In- m. They were fatally restrained; ily they must have brought home, to erican audiences, the truth of how tally we were touched by the suffering the world struggle. "And then came ih troops to cheer and help their hers," was the finest, proudest appraise- lt of America's part in the war. here are countless details that a re- ver might enumerate to prove the asser- s made in regard to this film. There many, many more details about the in- dual characters. Nothing has been said ut those powerful monuments in the de- pment of Madame Laurier's story— effort to remain by her blinded hus- d's side/ that moment of flight when is aware suddenly of the battle-scarred it of her lover, sending her back into room to stay. We have had no time comment on the new Julio of the ches. To his father he said, "I am :ent—very content." Here again Valen- I remarkable countenance gripped in lepths of peace through intolerable suf- fering; peace that carried him, whole- heartedly, to the meeting in No-Mar.'s Land, with Capt. von Hartrott, his German cousin. But, space forces a hasty conclusion. By all means do not miss a picture that has in every reel those best elements that have made certain European efforts superior to anything any American producer ever con- ceived. HER HUSBAND'S TRADEMARK (Famous Players). Not much of a picture yet dotted with bits of excellent acting and some swift plot action amid much of slow progress. Perhaps the most unique element in this production is the new Gloria Swanson we see. In much of her role she is the smooth, svelte figure to which we are accustomed. But occasionally in the New York home, and particularly at the hacienda in Mexico, Miss Swanson becomes a boyishly eager creature, flinging her head and clasping her hands in quick gestures of delight. Probably it would be granted that this is a studied part, but no matter, it was weh presented. Stuart Holmes plays his dis- agreeable role of a husband willing to sacrifice his wife's dignity and love in playing her like a chess queen against her erstwhile lover to obtain sa'id gentleman's million dollar oil concession. Mr. Wayne plays the lover's role quietly. Particularly good was the scene of his final struggle against the old love; its culmination in the swift embrace and the consequent shame and regret. Miss Swanson's in- fallible grace stood her in honest stead here. She is not an actress; merely a woman who wears convincingly her gorgeous clothes and moves with eas> poise through whatever situation the con- tinuity man plans for her. She makes the trite bandit raid possible and real with the same qualities. Not a good picture, but