The New York Times/1918/11/11/Little Women Shown on Screen
'LITTLE WOMEN' SHOWN ON SCREEN
The Strand Presents Brady's Motion-Picture Version of Louisa M. Alcott's Book.
BERT HALL AT THE RIVOLI
Aviator Appears Personally in "Romance of the Air"—"Woman's Experience" at the Rialto.
William A. Brady as producer, Harley Knowles as director, and all others concerned, have done a good piece of work in the so-called "picturizing" of "Little Women," which was shown yesterday at the Strand Theatre. Of course Louisa M. Alcott's famous story cannot be told on the screen completely, and no doubt many of those who love it will consider any attempt to turn it into a "movie" as a sort of sacrilege; but leaving these considerations aside, and judging Mr. Brady's production on its merits as a photoplay, one must say that it is good. And there will be a large number of admirers of the original "Little Women" who, instead of offense, will find delight in the animated illustrations of the story.
Owing to the co-operation of the Alcott Memorial Committee in permitting scenes of the photoplay to be made in and about the author's home in Concord, Mass., and owing also to a careful attention to customing and other details on the part of Mr. Knowles and others, "Little Women" on the screen really has what can best be described by that much-abused word, atmosphere—the atmosphere of a New England home in the sixties. Many of its scenes are charming glimpses of the period.
The acting, on the whole, is satisfactory. At times there is about it too much conscious posing and a lack of character delineation, but these faults become less conspicuous as the story proceeds and heightened interest supplies deficiencies. Another criticism that must be made is that the action is too frequently interrupted by sub-titles. And while minor shortcomings are being indicated, it should be mentioned that in reproducing a telegram supposed to have been sent in 1863, the director permitted the name of Newcomb Carlton, President of the Western Union, to show at the top of the blank. Mr. Carlton was born in 1869. Yesterday's spectators at the Strand seemed to respond with mirth and quick sympathy as gay scenes and grave were flashed before them.
Another item on the Strand bill is "Scrambles in the High Alps," a Burlingham travel-scenic, showing unusual views of mountain climbing in the Alps.
Mary Beland's Film Debut.
"A Woman's Experience" at the Rialto is that type of photographed stage play which, in the opinion of some, can never put the screen in high place as a vehicle for drama, but of its kind it is one of the best productions seen on Broadway recently. By the technique of Perry N. Vekroff, the director, and a number of the actors the situations are vividly developed to something approaching dramatic climaxes. Mary Boland, the featured player, who makes her debut on the screen, is often effective, though she sometimes falls short of the mark or overreaches it. Corine Uzzell, whose exceptional pantomimic ability was strikingly demonstrated in the part of the mulatto in "A Woman of Impulse," again plays with distinction. There are two scenes between her and Sam Hardy, who is also adequate, in which the action is made dramatic and clear without the aid of a single subtitle.
The photoplay, which is based more or less faithfully upon Paul M. Potter's "Agnes," has nothing in itself to commend it. It pretends to be a story of high life, with a moral, but the pretence is not sustained.
"Sumatra," a Post travel picture of the Malay Archipelago, offers education by way of entertainment.
Bert Hall Sees His Picture.
"A Romance of the Air," the feature of the Rivoli, is a melodrama of the war in which Lieutenant Bert Hall of the Lafayette Escadrille and Edith Day play the principal parts. It is highly melodramatic, but includes a number of excellent scenes of airplane activity, and the story holds interest. Lieutenant Hall adds to the interest by a personal appearance at each showing of the film.
"Suspicion," with Grace Davison, and "Shoulder Arms," with Charlie Chaplin, in its third week, are the offerings of the Broadway.