NOVEL ON THE FILM

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1919, Page 16

NOVEL ON THE FILM

WOMAN .WRITER'S COMPLAINT.

Miss F. Tennyson- Jesse, in a letter to tho editor .of the London Times says:— "Sir, —Is there no way of protecting the masterpieces of English fiction from the onslaughts of kinema companies? There is at present a version of 'Adam Bede' going the round of the picture theatres. It issues from the 'International Exclusives (Ltd.), and the scenario is the work of Kenelm.Foss. This travesty of a great book. While reaping nil the benefits attaching to it, by advertising itself under the same name, yet does' not hesitate to tamper with the very essence of the original conception. In this film version Hetty Sorrel's child does not die—that might make Hetty unpopular with the audience and would preclude any chance of a happy' ending. "For this new 'Adam Bede' does 'end happily.' Hetty places tho child where gypsies will rescue it, which they accordingly do. She is arrested and tried for the murder of, her child, two men having seen her bending over a lake with it in her arms, and, even in the absence of any proof, such as the finding of the body might constitute,- is condemned to death. In an affecting scene in her- prison cell wo are shown Hetty joining tho hands of Adam and Dinah ! This is surely enough to make the real Hetty, with her resentment, her fierce, child-like egoism, turn in the pages of the book, but worse is to come. Arthur Donnithorne. returning to England, pastes up notices promising tiie gypsies a reward if they will give up the child; and the gypsies, reading the notice on a tree trunk, ride to the foot of the gallows, babe on arm, just in time to save Hetty. The proof of identification apparently consists of a knitted woollen sock to which Hetty has the fellow.

"But worse —or-should we say better? —is still to come. The story ends with a double wedding. Adaru and Dinah are married on the same clay that Arthur Donnithorne leads Hetty to the altar— in all the pomp of white satin and joyous attendants. One presumes that a reception followed at which the baby was the guest of honour. The only thing missing is any indication as to where the couple spent their honeymoon, or whether -their providentially restored offspring accompanied them. It only iemairis for us to see a 'film version of David Gopperfield,' wherein Steerforth marries Little Emily, with Mr. Littimer as best man. Or an improvement on 'Romeo and Juliet' in. which an emetic is administered to tho lovers, and the MoulftSjuw tied D^pnlntii IUI3 oyejirtasur.- co»y.aJ4ss£en.tL_ forma. "-