Wid's Filmdom (1921)

Sanaa July 3, 1921 ; to) é f? DAILY 3 a N Splendid English Production In Romantic Setting “CARNIVAL” Knoles Production—United Artists IRM O Re ees es ee eee Harley Knoles AUTHORS ..Matheson Lang and H. C. M. Harding SCENARIO BY...... Adrian Johnson and Rosina Henley CAMERAMAN: S000 00..-.5-t20 gene Philip Hatkin AS@ae WHOLE ....Well balanced drama in old world setting. A satisfying entertainment STGherwer ec. Adapted from the play “Carnival” TIVREGTLONG tot cae cee os Ae ematemeeerc Splendid PHOTOGRAPHY ........... Excellent throughout LIGHIUNGSe.. eo cet. eee Very good in parts CAMERA CWORK(....... ss cememmamee ro Good PUARERS..-.*: Matheson Lang does fine work. Support very good OCH RIOR SG G7 ee ess oe seen ‘Real Venice INTERIORS..122-2: +--+: Good. Some big sets TP Pete Sate sears es eo oe Lot of money spent CHARACTER OF STORY...... Modern Othello with tragedy avoided LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 7,300 feet “Carnival”. is a well balanced and very satisfying production, by far the very best that has come over from England since the war. First it was German films but now it threatens to be British. Meeninice: 0.0 ‘ore 8 The success of this production is due to a variety of attractive combinations. The acting stands out as excellent work and the support is very good, The story is quite plausible and is given a very attractive setting in the tragic city of Venice with its many gondolas, that do the work of our trolley cars in a more romantic manner. Besides this there are several very spectacular scenes employing hundreds of extas that are well registered and beautifully photographed. The picture has also a good balance between love, sex, jealousy and incident. There is also a relation between plot-development and characterization. The story deals with an Italian Shakesparian actor Silvio Steno, the actor, has been neglecting his wife for in Venice, his attractive wife and her lover. his work and she has been accepting the attentions of his best friend. He soon finds out that something has been going on behind his back and the poison of jealousy gnaws at his nature. The climax comes during a performance of Othello. Just before the bedchamber scene Steno discovers that his best friend has been paying attention to his wife and they had been to the Carnival the evening before. His wife plays the part of Desdemona and {from this moment on the play is taken out of Shakespeare’s hands and becomes a reality. The curtain is rung down and in the blue room of the theater the wife explains the circumstances, and it all ends with a very satisfying clinch. There are many very beautiful scenes and unusual merfectee ane this’ production: — Some sel the photography is excellent and the night effects all well done. Especially beautiful lightings were given to the scenes in the nursery at night and big carnival shots where the light is played among the dancers. In some of the early scenes, however, the lighting was too diffused and uninteresting, and also in the stageupon-the-stage the bed chamber of Desdemona should certainly have received a more dramatic lighting effect. Matheson Lang plays the. part of the Italian actor His facial expressions are well registered over his thoughts, thus reducing the number of titles. Hilda Bailey plays his wife in a satisfactory manner though she does not build up the character in as convincing The supportNovelle, Twinkles with a good deal of thought and care. and get a manner as accomplished by the star. ing cast all do good work and include Ivor Clifford D’Ansola, and Hunter. This production factory feature and stands up well alongside of some Gray, Duchess as a whole makes a very satis of the season’s best. Don’t Hesitate—It Will Please Them Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Judging from the applause that followed the showing of this at the Capitol Theater, New York, it don't seem that you can go wrong in placing it before your people. It is not very often that an audience in New York applaud a picture, especially and when they do it is significient. Lay stress on the foreign settings, and the theme. Use the lines “A Modern Othello.” “A story laid in Venice” or “See the Power of Jealousy.” in hot weather, Stage life is always attractive and the romantic settings will be well appreciated by your women patrons. You can safely talk about the star for his acting is sure to satisfy and there will certainly be more pictures featuring him. Anything gay like streamers, toy flags hung around the entrance will the same time symbolize the “Carnival.” balloons, and attract and at This feature presents many exploiting angles and is the kind of a picture your people want and will enjoy.