The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

50. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. June.9, 1923. REVIEW OF NEW ERODUCHONS Contact been responsible for the miracle, Pauline Brunius is admirably suited to the part which is hire: that of Victor’s motber, and those who have admired her skill in portraying difficult parts will find in her réle in this play additional witness to her ability to give to an unsympathetic character a real charm of restraint. Mary Johnson, as Karin, is dainty, beautiful, and a sincere actress, and in the scene when her concern for’ Victor’s sanity has to be interpreted, she ‘s really wonderful. Einar Hanson, who is ttle more than « youth, eiges real dramatic instinet in the part of Victor, and For patrons eo set a high standard this is a picture which will not disappoint. i The World’s Applause. A story of stage and studio—Strong story with high-class acting. RELEASED BY FAMOUS-LASKY. Length, 6,300 -feet. Release Date, November 26, 1923. OBODY is’ likely-to complain that the latest FamousN Lasky feature is lacking in any of the essentials that go to make a tense, passionate, fullblooded ‘drama.Its implied’ moral” need. not. worry us. “The events leading” ‘up to. the central. tragedy would’ haye seemed -no less plausible if the heroine had not been an actress whose head was turned by the world’s applause. ‘t Applause,” in fact, had nothing to do. with it; while the ultimate conversion of this young lady from a life of gaiety to one of hard work seemed a rather unnecessary ‘touch of goody-goodiness after-the’ dramatic happenings of previous scenes. Corinne D’Alys’is a.young actress who shines brightly in her world, and has a number of male adorers. Among them are John Elliot, her producer, ‘and Robert Townsend, a famous artist. The‘former is a ‘* white man,’’ who offers Corinne an honourable affection; the latter is a Bohemian philanderer with a wife who no longer pleases him. Mrs. Townsend is Elliot’s sister.’ Townsend has painted Corinne’s portrait, and on the day the portrait is finished he gives a party in honour of Corinne, whom he hopes to win before the cvening is over. He is in his Scene From ‘' Tue Worbp's Applause.” studio arranging the portrait and a beautiful diamond tiara, which he hopes to persuade Corinne’ to accept, when there is a kmock on the door. Believing it-tobe Corinne, be dismisses his valet, with instructions that he is not to be disturbed. When he goes to the door he finds that it is his wife. Townsend is furious, and tries to persuade her to-leave. She refuses, and they quarrel. Mrs. Townsend discovers first the tiara and then the portrait of the star. Seizing a dagger, she slashes the portrait. Townsend tries to prevent her, and’ in her mad rage sbe accidentally stabs her husband, who falls. When sho realises she has killed him she is beside herself with horror and fear. She telephones her brother, who has not been invited to the party, and he comes over immediately. His liorror at the deed ‘changes to fear for his sister, and, acting quickly, he manages to get his sister away. As he is taking her off, ho is noticed by the Jest of tbe guests, James Crane, a newspaper man. Corinne, who by this time is thoroughly annoyod «at Townsend's failure to-.appear, overcomes the Jap’s unwillingness to open the door against his master’s orders,. and finally forces him to open the door. Follows the discovery by,Corinne of the slashed portrait, the dagger and the dead body of Townsend. Hearing her shriek, the guests come in. Crane, taking commund of the situation, has the valet ‘phone for the police. The guests, fearing scandal, hurry off, all but Corinne, whom Crane detains hecause of the portrait. When the police and’ detectives arrive Corinne is questioned. Her innocence of the murder itself is proved. Elliot, who had come in answer to a ’pbone call from: Corinne, is questioned and detained. And now the notoriety which Corinne had so much sought’ turns’ against her.’ The néwspapers blaze forth with headlines suggesting that Townsend. had been killed for love of her, and the detectives, working on the theory of jealousy as the motive, begin to weave their web around Blliot. With Corinne’s reputation torn to pieces, with the public against her, the financial backers of her company réfuse to go on with her next play, and Elliot, who must shield his sister, can do nothing to save the woman he.loves. Elliot is arrested, and when Corinne, horrified at the result of her indiscrétion, goes to Mrs. Townsend to learn just how the arrest took place, Mrs. Townsend, out of pity for her brother, who is giving up everything—his owao career, his love for the girl—to save her, decides to confess. Mrs. Townsend leaves the country, having given Corinne a signed confession of guilt. We see her only once more, standing out on the rocks, her arms stretched out across the sea toward the land to which she can never return, a solitary tragic figure of resistance to her fate. Elliot is now freed, and goes at once to the girl he loves. The newspapers turn in favour of Corinne, and Elliot assures her that she will be as idolised as-she was before. But Corinne has had her lesson, and’ she answers Elliot solormnly that she will never let the world’s applause ‘turn her head ngain—she’s going to make her -work really worth-while now. All the scenes described above are worked out with power and decision. The producer (William de Mille) knew what effect he wished to create, and he has created it. Both the plot and the acting hold the attention. We are interested in what is happening, and eager “to learn what will happen next—a. good sign that ‘‘ The World’s Applause ”’ will be a popular favourite. The cast is a strong one, including, as it dovs, Bebe Daniels, Lewis. Stoné, ‘Adolphe Menjou, and’ Kathlyn Williams. The last-named, who takes the part of the aggrioved wife, gives a splendidly finished performance. The two men are excellent foils to each other. Lewis Stone is always good in a ** strong '? part, whether -he be playing hero or villain. Adolphe Menjou is the artistroué to the life, arid convinces at every point. Though by nd méans one ‘of the best-looking of our screen actresses, Bebe Daniels has personality, and knows ‘how to exploit it to the best advantage. In ‘‘ The World’s Applause ” she is at her best,