The New Pictures

Rupert of Hentzau. With the stock of good stories available for the screen rapidly dwindling, one has a frantic desire to call out the National Guard, the Shriners and the Girl Scouts for a solemn processional of thanksgiving when a good novel is cinematized in the manner of living to which its characters are accustomed. Nay, furthermore, these characters themselves are personages; the list: Elaine Hammerstein, Marjorie Daw, Lew Cody, Bert Lytell, Bryant Washburn.

For those who do not know the story from Anthony Hope's novel, it need only be said that it is laid in the Court of Ruritania (a European Kingdom). There are quantities of scarlet uniforms, marching and countermarching, and love making with a real Queen. An English youth, in appearance the King's twin, impersonates the Royal gentleman arid becomes involved in a love affair with the wife (Queen Flavia).

Miss Daw, in a small part, manages to hurry away with most of Elaine Hammerstein's honors. Lew Cody as Rupert and Bert Lytell, who plays the Britisher and the King too, swagger most effectively.

When the producers were digging for a subtitle writer they inadvertently struck a gusher. Otherwise the production is excellent.

Success. There is a great deal of drinking throughout. In fact the King Lear of a big Broadway production gets drunk just before the opening night. This sorry deed has well nigh wrecked the show when who should thrust himself into the gap but Brandon Tynan. Mr. Tynan plays an aged actor with white hair and a pink lizard complex, who once had success but drank away his reputation. He gets into the Royal Whiskers, and plays Lear looking like a cross between David Belasco and Santa Claus. Despite the fact that the picture is " full of laughter and tears " and that the story is convincing, it all seems very unfair to Shakespeare.

Children of Jazz. With Divorce and Wandering Daughters, this effort completes a trilogy of the three worst pictures ever produced. It is another of those emetics about the vicious state of young society.