The New Pictures

The Big Parade. Easily the greatest war picture, one of the greatest of all pictures, has been written by Laurence Stallings (coauthor of What Price Glory); directed by King Vidor; and principally played by John Gilbert and Renee Adoree. It is the story of a rich man's son, a riveter and a bartender in the trenches, and the French girl that the first of these three married. It has humor, terror and bewildering beauty. It has one of the most exciting stories ever filmed, direction unexcelled, and truth and brilliancy of acting. The Big Parade is the one film since The Covered Wagon that men, women and children must not miss.

Stella Dallas. Of this picture great things have been said by great people. It is noted as the ultimate in native cinema art. It tells a story of the shame and bitterness of life, of a woman who grew up under hard conditions, her struggle to save her daughter's happiness. All this it does with amazing honesty. Belle Bennett and Lois Moran, not universally accepted personages in pictures, play the leads with extraordinary fidelity. If the picture is not one of the greatest, it is certainly a cardinal achievement.

Bright Lights. Charles Ray has attempted to come back. He has picked one of his old country cousin stories with a tattered straw hat on its head. Into his peaceful rural life comes a cabaret girl from Manhattan. The story is trivial and-- truth be told--Mr. Ray is not so good as he used to be.

Lord Jim. Conrad's great novel of cowardice has been done into a pretty good motion picture. It should have been a great picture and the manufacturers have only themselves to blame. The usually expert Percy Marmont rather underscales the potentialities of the leading character. The rest is too often routine.

Stage Struck. Gloria Swanson has hit on a primitive comedy, reminiscent of her early Mack Sennett days, that makes magnificent entertainment. She is a waitress; she aspires to the stage; she finally gets a job on a Mississippi show boat; is exceptionally inept; retires happily to a lunch-wagon for life. The unusual atmosphere, the frequent use of slapstick unabashed, and the brilliant ability of the star combine comfortably for genuine amusement.