User Reviews

This latest five-reel Bluebird, "The Reward of the Faithless," is not, like the fabled bluebird, for happiness. It is a heavy dramatic offering whose somber plot depresses while its very dolefulness fascinates and holds the interest captive. Most of the scenes are laid in Russia. Although the photoplay ends as happily as could be expected under the circumstances, there is a tragic strain that can be heard above the final song of great happiness. The picture convincingly proves the tradition of the family of one of the characters to the effect that great happiness can come to a member of that family only through great sorrow, and we see most of the sorrow, but little of the happiness. The story has the saving grace of a degree of originality, and was written by Magnus Ingleton. Wedgewood Nowell and Betty Schade head an excellent cast. Upon these two and Claire Du Bray falls work that brings into being their every iota of dramatic ability, and they never once fail a situation, some of which are quite difficult of interpretation. A good characterization is done by William J. Dyer. Nicholas Dunaew proves himself adequate, as does also Richard Le Reno. The picture has received careful and artistic production by Rex Ingram, some of the lightings being especially effective. Photography throughout is excellent. There are several points in the story at which plausibility is considerably stretched. For instance, the adventurer's wife apparently dies when the man and the one-time woman of the streets, who has been taken into the home, fail to give her prescribed pills. We see the wife in her shroud, and believe her to be dead. But she isn't. She comes out of her comatose trance when her first lover mourns at her side. – The Moving Picture World, February 10, 1917