The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

IISCILLA PORTRAYS 1\/|00DS — that is what Priscilla can portray — with a force, a realism and an artistry that is consummate; moods of gaiety, of sorrow, of anger; pensive moods and ecstatic moods ; moods of contempt and moods of terror, as she depicts so strikingly on these pages. That is the wonder of Priscilla Dean— the way she reproduces with a faithfulness that is astounding each and every shade of the human emotions. That is the reason why everybody is waiting so impatiently for "Outside the Law," the Universal-Jewel, soon to be released with Priscilla Dean at the head of a cast that helped make screen history. For there are ingenues and there are vamps and there are leading ladies galore, but there is only one Priscilla Dean — a girl who by the vividness and punch of her personality has made for herself an individual place in the world of the cinema. And that is the reason why the year yields but two pictures from Priscilla Dean — because hers is an artistrj' so exquisite that it is difficult to find vehicles worthy of it. Priscilla Dean has appeared frequently in "crook" roles because to portray a woman of the underworld, usually superior to her every-day sisters in personality, brains and ability to cope with difficult situations, required a dynamic personality, and Priscilla Dean is dynamic. But she took the world by storm when she flashed on the screen as Sari in "The Virgin of Stamboul" — Sari, the naughtiest, wildest, most adorable scamp of a beggar-girl who ever flourished in a story — a spitfire, a coquette, a hoyden, but most of all a woman, a real woman, tender, loving and heroic. "Outside the Law" will bring back Priscilla Dean in a "crook" role. She plays the part of Silky Moll, daughter of a criminal, a girl born and bred in the underworld, who knows and understands only the code and the morals of the lawless. How the better nature in her is finally stirred until she sees the real things in life with a truer sense of values is beautifully told in this intensely moving, vividly emotional drama by Tod Browning, who is also directing this, his own masterpiece. Introduced into the picture is a strange and fascinating character, who is cryptic and mysterious, who is kind and far-seeing and as wise as the ages. It is he who gives the title to the picture, "Outside the Law," for it is he who deals with the blackguard who is in his power as he sees justly fit, thus bringing about the happiness of two young persons who would otherwise have gone down to their doom. Months have been spent in the preparation of this picture. Scenes of the Oriental quarters of a big far western city have been so realistically shot that their like has never been flashed on the screen before. Sets of exquisiteness and gorgeousness have been framed, and no detail has been too small to be given the most careful of attention. Tod Browning ispromising the biggest work of his career as a director in this Jewel production, bigger yet than "The Virgin of Stamboul," which in the directorial world was an achievement — was epoch-making. In the cast, beside the spirited star, will be Wheeler Oakman, one of the most handsome and engaging of leading men; Lon Chaney, incomparable "character" actor; E. A. Warren, Ralph Lewis, Melbourne MacDowell, Wilton Taylor, and an adorable youngster, little Stanley Goethals, who will make his screen debut in this production. Priscilla Dean will be given a wide scope indeed for her emotional talents in this role of Silky Moll. She will be cruel and cold and cutting and contemptuous, and she will be tender and tearful — "just a woman." It vdll be a role of roles for her, big enough to fit the range of her vivid and striking personality. It is "Pretty Smooth" and "The Wildcat of Paris" and "The Virgin of Stamboul" all in one — the largest order that Priscilla Dean has ever been called upon to fill. It is a role of "moods" — of gray ones and gay ones, of cheer moods and fear moods, one set oflP against the other, and finally Love — with all the wealth of divine tenderness that it brings with it — consummately portrayed. "Outside the Law," in which "Priscilla Portrays," will be one of the big things of the artistic year.