Wid's Filmdom (1921)

qgys DAILY Sunday, July 10, 1921 LO ES GAT TE ATTA ea RRR SOD TL LCL TL LDS SEE Ingram’s Second, One of 1921’s T op-Notchers Rex Ingram’s production “THE CONQUERING POWER’ Metro DIRECTORS see oe eee tt oe Rex Ingram AUTHOR: =: Based on Balzac’s “Eugenie Grandet” SCENARIG IBY iirer we te MME coer one June Mathis CAMERAMAN? .». :: (53 Beets 24 . John F. Seitz AS A WHOLE....... Another triumph for the pro ducer; brings Balzac’s work to life in another of the year’s best pictures SLORY: oc Beautifully told, artistically presented and splendidly acted DIRECTION( 202 Excellent from every angle PHOTOGRAPHY. «eee eee Superb LIGHTINGS sien coat ee Unusually effective CAMERA’ WORK 622-277 eee eee . First class PUAYERS..5.% Alice Terry charms with her won derful beauty and Rudolph Valentino’s performance compels attention; Ralph Lewis gives a noteworthy characterization EXTERIORS gee ech eee ao = ope ee INTERIORS 225 te ee eee ee Good DET ALL 5.22 pees Pee te, Cases Satisfactory CHARACTER Oliss LORY: 33. The ruination and depravity caused by greed for gold LENGTH OF PRODUCTION........... 7,025 feet Rex Ingram is scoring a second success in “The Conquering Power” at the Rivoli this week. June Mathis has skilfully adapted the Balzac story for the screen’s use and the producer has brought it to life. The picture gets away from routine both in presentation and story; it is brim full of artistic effort and compels thé attention from first to last, and another feature that is noteworthy is the fact that Director Ineram wastes no time in the ending. There is no dragging anywhere, for that matter. Perhaps students of Balzac may be disturbed be cause the author’s work has been brought up to date, but certainly the manner in which it has been accomplished should more than compensate for any grievance they have toward those who modernized Balzac’s story. The photography, lightings and camera work contribute a full share of the success of “The Conquering Power.” No actress has ever been more beautifully photographed than Alice Terry is in this production. You can hardly believe that you are not looking at the living person. This is true of the other players. Besides the excellent production values, the photography and artistic effects, the picture contains undoubtedly one of the best casts and acting of the year. Alice Terry is not only beautiful, but talented; Rudolph Valentino, who became popular for his work in “The Four Horsemen,” is an actor of no mean ability, and to top them all, Ralph Lewis gives one of the most unusual character portrayals that the screen has had lately, a performance that ranks with Barrymore’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and George Arliss’ “The Devil.” As the miser who lives and dies for greed of gold, Mr. Lewis’ work could hardly be surpassed. Charles Grandet’s father takes his own life because of financial reverses, sending Charles to live with his rich brother, Piere. Piere has a daughter, Eugenie, who falls in love with Charles, so the young man is sent away when Piere discovers the young people’s affection. The miserly father intercepts all letters between the lovers and finally announces Eugenie’s engagement to one of the many suitors for Eugenie’s inheritance, rather than’ her love. Piere also lets Eugenie believe Charles is to marry another, hence the ‘estrangement. Piere learns that Eugenie had given gold to Charles upon his departure, the loss of which he broods over. Piere’s wife dies, while he himself, crazed by the loss of the gold, dies. Charles returns to find Eugenie still unmarried and a reunion follows. An Excellent Attraction That Will Go Big Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor If this latest Rex Ingram production doesn’t prove a money-maker for Metro, a good many will miss their guesses. Pictures that are really good are so few and far between that those that are worth while should be so popular that the distributors would not be able to supply the prints demanded. “The Con quering Power” is the kind of picture that will please everyone, for it is good from all angles. If you are lucky enough to secure a hooking, it will be your own fault if you don‘t do big business. It isn’t often that you can truthfully make the promises that Rex Ingram’s production makes possible. You have the name of Balzac, the name of the producer and his now famous “The Four Horsemen” production to talk about. Box office receipts should thoroughly compensate for any exploitation expense, and if you can secure the film for an extended run, so much the better. At any rate, don’t miss it.