THE MOTHER AND THE LAW
Starring Bobby Harron and Mae Marsh
MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE
March 1920
Simply because my space has been so crowded of late, I have
not heretofore reviewed this picture, but I feel that I must work
in a few lines concerning it. Taken from Griffith's "Intolerance"
of several years ago and re-edited, it shows more clearly than
ever his supreme power in portraying tragedy. His picture of
the fate of the little wife is so pathetic as to actually hurt
not only one's throat glands, but one's chest as well. And here
we have positive proof that Griffith makes his actors, for Mae
Marsh's portrayal is worthy of a Bernhardt, a Nazimova or a Barrymore.
Yet never after her departure from the Griffith fold did she
do anyting that even scratched the surface of our emotions. Miriam
Cooper, too, is nothing short of marvelous, altho, I found Bobby
Harron not quite capable of appearing rough.