SCARAMOUCHE
Starring Ramon Novarro and Alice Terry
MOTION PICTURE
January, 1923
We wonder if anything in the world has been more thoroly dramatized than the French Revolution. Now comes Rex Ingram's worthy "Scaramouche" which gives us France in those troubled days immediately preceding the Revolution. And while the historical characters of this time have mingled frequently of late with the fictitious characters of the screen, never before have they possessed such physical accuracy.
"Scaramouche" borders perilously near the spectacle group but, after all, it is of a nobleman who joins the people under the guise of a performer. . . there, coming by his name of Scaramouche . . . in order that he may avenge the death of his friend. So you are not irritated by the import given to spectacular things. Nor are they permitted to obliterate the activities of those people in whose fortunes you are most vitally interested.
Really, the acting honors must be divided between Ramon Novarro and Lewis Stone. For while Alice Terry is beautiful to see in the white wig and brocaded satins and laces of the heroine, she is given few emotional opportunities. Lewis Stone corroborates his splendid reputation as an actor in the conniving and unpleasant role of the noble. And Ramon Novarro in the title role does finer things than he has ever done before.
All in all, Rex Ingram, has done well with "Scaramouche." It will probably stand as one of the best pictures of the year. "Scaramouche" stands out brilliantly in the procession of screen offerings; but it does not point the way to any cinematic Utopia.