Exhibitors Herald (1926)

20 EXHIBITORS HERALD January 1, 1927 Eucharistic Congress Picture Draws Increasing Praise Majesty of Ceremonials, Dignity of Scenes and Beauty and Skill of Camera Work Reflected in Neivspapers’ Comment SO ENTHUSIASTIC has been the public’s reception of the official motion picture of the Eucharistic Congress in Chicago. New York and Boston that leaders in the industry are confident the production will prove a sensation when it goes into general release throughout the country. EWSPAPER writers unanimously ^ ' agree upon the impressive dignity of the majestic ceremonials, the inspiring beauty of the succession of events and the skill and completeness of the photography. Emphasis also is laid upon the occasions for wholesome and sympathetic though subdued laughter in several instances, such as in the closeups of some of the children taking part in the chorus singing. A supreme appeal to audiences of all religious faiths is reflected in the newspaper reports on the picture, which was made by Ray Hall for Fox Films and presented by William Fox and Winfield R. Sheehan to His Eminence George Cardinal Mundelein, archbishop of Chicago. Following are excerpts from the printed reactions of newspapermen of the three cities: CHICAGO Carl Sandburg, Daily News — “A presentation almost as vivid as life . . . The characterization of the film as a superpicture, however, holds good.” John Joseph, Herald and Examiner — "Anyone with feeling for demonstration of any sort will find the film absorbing. In the immensity of the crowds pouring in and out of the Stadium, or spreading across the lawns of St. Mary’s by the Lake, there is a thrill. The Fox cameraman did a fine job.” William J. Clark, American — So realistically did it grasp the audience that filled the theatre that at its close the thousands of men and women burst into the “Te Deum” with a spirit as devotional and fervent as might have been registered had the actual ceremonial of the final benediction at Mundelein been enacted before them. . . . Full of impressive ceremonials and full of spectacular scenes. . . . Anyone seeing the picture once will want to see it again to study it and analyze it. James O’Donnell Bennett, Daily Tribune— Everybody knows that the Cardinal archbishop of Chicago was a great churchman, a great diplomat, a great builder, a great organizer. . . . But now it comes out that Cardinal Mundelein is also a great motion picture producer. . . . He launched on the Lord’s Day at one of the few remaining Chicago play houses that possesses a distinguished tradition, a corking good show which was also a series of tableaux richly fraught with poetry, splendor and spirituality. . . . All that the Congress held of the spectacular and much that it held of devotion are revealed in the Cardinal’s show. ... A great historical document. NEW YORK Palmer Smith, Evening World — For Catholic audiences this picture cannot fail to re-create something of the spiritual significance of the Congress. To a non-Catholic it proved to be a moving panorama of humanity and more effective than I supposed possible. To a newspaper worker it is obvious that the motion picture camera is a top-grade reporter of such an event. Roscoe McGowen, Daily News — A keenly appreciative audience watched and applauded the unreeling of this most unusual of motion pictures. . . . The ceremonies bring a reaction that no ordinary film could bring. There are, happily, occasions for honest and harmless laughter, the closeups of some of the children who formed the gigantic choir of 62,000 voices stirred sympathetic chuckles here and there, and other incidents which only the camera could catch and record brought laughter of a subdued sort. It is a remarkable record of a remarkable gathering well worth seeing. Mordaunt Hill, New York Times — An impressive pictorial record. . . . The camera was skillfully used. . . . Not only were the scenes interesting, but the numbers set forth in the captions are staggering. Charles Cohen, The Sun — The film St. Louis Archbishop Welcomes Opening Jan. 2 (Special to the Herald) ST. LOUIS, Dec. 28. — John Joseph Glennon, archbishop of the Catholic diocese of St. Louis, has officially endorsed the showing of the Eucharistic Congress production, which opens in St. Louis January 2 at the Odeon theatre. "I feel that the representation on the screen of the more notable features of the great event will help to recall the memories of it, and also revive the spiritual emotions, especially of those who were privileged to be present Archbishop Glennon wrote. i " I commend the motion picture to the clergy and laity of the diocese.’’ The Archbishop has reserved a box for the St. Louis premiere. The prologue will be staged by Joseph Solari under the personal supervision of Rev. Daniel A. Lord, S. J. The music score was arranged by Erne Rapee, New York. The rendition will be in charge of Maxwell Goldman, with an orchestra of picked men from the St. Louis Symphony organization. constitutes a real document . . . and is interesting pictorially as well as sociologically. Louella O. Parsons, New York American— The realization of Will H. Hays’ hope to interest the world at large in the importance of the screen as a religious and educational factor. Edward B. O’Brien, New York Morning Telegraph — The audience manifested its appreciation by resounding rounds of applause . . . faithful and inspiring . . . is one of the most impressive spectacles the human eye has ever witnessed . . . stupendous and magnifi cent. Truly this film brings home the message of what a marvelous medium is the motion picture, for there is no other agency within the reach of man that could so graphically depict the wonders of this gorgeous and soul-stirring event. Martin B. Dickstein, Brooklyn Daily Eagle — It does, I believe, succeed in capturing a measure of the spiritual significance of that entire holy procedure . .. . The magic of the camera, more than in the average photodrama of this day, became indisputably apparent. . .. . Aside from any religious interest in this picture . . . the film is unquestionably a beautiful cinematic creation. It is, as seen through the nonpartisan eye, not without an element of drama. As mass effects go in the cinema, not even D. W. Griffith, I think, could have achieved so tremendous a tableau. Certainly, no preconceived spectacle could have been half so magnificent. Charles A. McMahon, N. C. W. C. News Service — Nothing but the highest praise can be accorded it. . . . Ad mittedly a difficult task to picturize so stupendous an event, the. result was a pleasant surprise to the critics. Aided by exceptionally fine photography and a story in subtitle form which effectively knits together the various events of the Congress, the picture reveals a surprisingly good continuity, building up smoothly and holding the attention and interest of the audience to the last fadeout. BOSTON Evening American — The audience is held spellbound at the sheer magnitude of the succeeding spectacle. ... A panorama never to be forgotten by the audience that sees it unrolling on the screen. . . . Perfect continuity and well written explanatory sub-titles. Herald — The religious fervor ... is the most impressive quality of the motion pictures of the Congress. Post — A new record for motion pictures was established. . . . The crystal clearness of the pictures, their lifelike brilliancy, wonderful perspectives and immense crowds have never been equalled by any spectacle staged for the screen before. From the point of view of technical skill they are well nigh perfect. . . . The picture is not only wonderfully clear and gigantic, it is enthralling and beautiful in the extreme, holding the spectator spellbound to the last. Globe — A very finely selected rotation of the numerous events . . . aroused applause . . . Evening Traveler — An opportunity to live over in delightful fashion that great dramatic and human spectacle ... a marvel of carefully chosen scenes . . . transferred to the screen with a brilliancy and accuracy that must be most pleasing . . . worthy to go down in history as an unusual achievement.