Visual Education (Jan 1923-Dec 1924)

118 Visual Education Lagerlof, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. Released by Fox. THE BLIZZARD rising wind, howling wolves, a door swinging slowly ajar, and an unseen presence in the room. One wonders why a dramatic setting of artistic proportions and content could not have been supplied for this jewel of a dog. But anyway Strongheart, is nearly always present and in the end we find him and his mate blessed with progeny, settling down to a life of charming domesticity. Released by First National. THE BLIZZARD No doubt many souls were enticed in to view this picture because of the flamboyant posters which advertised it "as the only picture ever made of a reindeer stampede." Thus doth the exhibitor bait his trap! There is more to this film, however, than a reindeer stampede. It is an unusually fine production, and filmed with a mellowness and art, rarely achieved by American films. The story itself has an old-world flavor and a certain amount of intellectual background is necessary to appreciate completely its merits. A young boy forbidden by an autocratic and austere mother to indulge in the music for which his soul craves, goes out to make his fortune, even as a vagabond grandfather, mentioned with hushed breath, had once done. Up in the north of Sweden, amid stunted forests and snowy wastes, with the assistance of some Lapps, he rounds up a vast herd of reindeer which he drives down to market. But a late spring blizzard overtakes them, the leader of the herd breaks away and the frenzied animals stampede after him. Gone in a second is the lad's fortune. And gone is his sanity which could not endure the shock ! Undoubtedly this stampede is the big, spectacular moment, unique in itself, and photographed with a realism which forbade all attempts at sensationalism. But the scenes which follow, depicting the anguish of the mother over her stricken child and the efforts of his sweetheart to penetrate the fog which obscures his memory, are done with such feeling and simplicity as to be "big" also. The chronic movie-fan will instantly detect an inferiority in the quality of the photography. But the picture has something that more that compensates for lack of effect in lighting and shading. It has charm. The picture is an adaptation of the novel by De Selma THE MARRIAGE CIRCLE After viewing this picture one may not have a clear idea as to just why marriage is a circle. One has, however, seen a diverting comedy so skillfully handled that it is rated by some critics as one of the best productions of the month. Ernst Lubitsch, importd from Germany, is responsible for the direction. He is the gentleman who attained renown by introducing Pola Negri to the public and by creation of such pictures as Passion and Gypsy Love. Tn "The Marriage Circle" he shows that he can handle farce with a deft, sure touch and that his talent is not confined to tragedy and to the spectacular. The plot is occupied with the difficulties of a devoted young couple set at ends by the force of circumstances as maliciously guided by the dainty hands of a little love philanderer. Her guileful attempts are rewarded by the loss of her own spouse and after many amusing situations husband and wife find themselves again en rapport. There is reflected much of the satirical and much of the serious in the action and one cannot but reflect what a tense tragedy is here were it not comedy. The actors, with Monte Blue, Florence Vidor, Adolphe Menjou and Marie Prevost in the leading roles, have caught the spirit of the play and do capital work. Vienna furnishes the background for the story. Released by Famous-Players, Lasky. THE BLIZZARD