Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1924)

JANUARY 1(>-M Ri\ Ingram has made another masterpiece. Ht^ films, sinc< The Four Horsemen have been eagerly-anticipated events in the history of Scrccnland, and Scaramouchc, his latest and great) supreme in its class and challenges all the host productions of the last tew years. It is historical drama, spectacu lar as The Hunchback or Orphans Oj the Storm; period early eighteenth ccn tury, just before and during the Revolution. The royal court of France. the Kin;,; and Queen arc shown in effective contrast to Robespierre, cold and calculating, Danton, Marat, Foaquicr-Tinwillc and other prominent Revolutionist leaders. Its plot, based Upon a Rafael Sahatmi novel, is simple and concerns the enmity between two men, one a selfish Marquis (Lewis Stone), the other a youth whose exact ancestry is unknown hut who was "born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad." The Marquis kills the friend of Louis who becomes a Revolutionary in order to avenge him. Later, fate ordains Right : George Seigmann as " Georges Jacques Danton " Pictures and PicrvireQuer Scmrwouche i1' in. hi himself, startling in its veracity. And Willi. un llumplii the " i In \ aji< 1 dc < lhabrillanc," is, in l\< \ Ingram's opinion, oiu of the few Ann lie. in artists who call Wear tin clothes ami look tin pari of .in aristocrat of l>\ gom da . I hi Paris streets, th< Squ the i \iii mis hi' ill, ( li.u, .nix and palaci >. as will as tin rooms tin n in, arc •>' memorable in auty. For Ingram b» in realism and m arly c> 1 rythinjj in Si ui'idiioiicIic, 1 \ in in the stones of a weather-worn old bridge ^ a replica correct to period. Apropos of this bridge, Rex Ingram had plaster moulds made from som< masonry, and then the " weatherworn " stones were made and their sur roughened from the moulds. Aii expensive process, if earried out ill everything, hut worth while, since it eliminates any false note. Scaramouchc has great pictorial qualities too, and many scenes have the quality of early Renaissance pictures and wall paintings. And the talc is well told and worth the telling and holds the spectator's interest until the very last shot. oY/.<:c : Leu-is s/,,„, oikI .11,, ,■ / err Above : Ramon Xni-arro. I.dilh Allen, and the strolling players. that he hecome " Scaramouche," the masked comedian of the Paris stage. Again the two men meet, for both love the same girl, Aline dc Kcrcadiou (Alice Terry) and then the Red Reign of Terror sweeps all three into its maelstrom. But the Revolution is not allowed to swamp the plot, for the historical figures are purposely subordinated. The storming of the Tuilerics is shown, -but only because it is necessary for the development of the story, and there is not a single ,c shot " of the guillotine throughout. Every incident has its dramatic value, and many of these short scenes are directional gems, like the one in the first reel between the Marquis and the ragged girl near the peasant's hovel. Though Alice Terry looks lovely and plays well, and Julia Swayne Gordon's work is nicely done, Scaramouclic is a film in which three men carry off chief honours, Ingram for his direction, Novarro and Stone for their characterisations. Ramon in particular gives a matured and versatile performance which the American critics compare with those of John Barrymore. George Sicgmann's " Danton," is vivid and his resemblance to the portraits of the