"Eye for Eye" is one of several "lost" films made by Alla Nazimova during her peak years of popularity; a promotional trailer survives, along with some stills and recollections. "Motion Picture Magazine" (February 1919) began its review like others, recalling Nazimova's widely acclaimed performance in another film, released in early 1918, "Ever since we saw 'Revelation', one of the best pictures yet produced, we have anxiously looked forward to the new Nazimova releases. Her recent 'Eye for Eye' is merely movie, where 'Revelation' was a work of art. However, Madame Nazimova's lure, love of life, (and) vividness splash across the silversheet in as crimson a manner as ever, altho the material she has to work with is scarcely worthy of her spirit.
"The story is based on Henry Kistemaeckers' drama 'L'Occident', whose theme is 'East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.' But the, shall we say, sacrilegious scenario writers have ignored the basic theme for the proverbial last reel clutch of the hero and heroine. And so the drama; of the vivid, vengeful Arabian girl who saves a young French captain's life at the expense of being sold into slavery herself, becoming a dancer in a circus where she meets her French captain again only to discover that her relatives were killed by the French forces under his command; becomes taffy-colored stuff when the picture bounces the two into each others' arms, instead of parting, as in the original, with the realization that 'East is East '
"To see Nazimova in her oriental dance is a compensation for lack of originality in direction," concluded writer Hazel Simpson Naylor. She was referring not to director Albert Capellani, but to the picture's altered "happy ending" insisted upon by suits at Metro. "The New York Times" (December 23, 1918) agreed "Nazimova is one of the most completely accomplished actresses on the screen," and displayed "variety and intensity" in her "Eye for Eye" performance. "Charles Bryant as the Captain, E.L. Fernandez as a Bedouin stalwart, and Donald Gallaher as the Captain's nephew are most commendably conspicuous among the others in the cast," but, the adaptation produced a "photoplay of little merit in itself," according to the "Times" writer.
****** Eye for Eye (12/22/18) Albert Capellani ~ Nazimova, Charles Bryant, Donald Gallaher, Sally Crute
"The story is based on Henry Kistemaeckers' drama 'L'Occident', whose theme is 'East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.' But the, shall we say, sacrilegious scenario writers have ignored the basic theme for the proverbial last reel clutch of the hero and heroine. And so the drama; of the vivid, vengeful Arabian girl who saves a young French captain's life at the expense of being sold into slavery herself, becoming a dancer in a circus where she meets her French captain again only to discover that her relatives were killed by the French forces under his command; becomes taffy-colored stuff when the picture bounces the two into each others' arms, instead of parting, as in the original, with the realization that 'East is East '
"To see Nazimova in her oriental dance is a compensation for lack of originality in direction," concluded writer Hazel Simpson Naylor. She was referring not to director Albert Capellani, but to the picture's altered "happy ending" insisted upon by suits at Metro. "The New York Times" (December 23, 1918) agreed "Nazimova is one of the most completely accomplished actresses on the screen," and displayed "variety and intensity" in her "Eye for Eye" performance. "Charles Bryant as the Captain, E.L. Fernandez as a Bedouin stalwart, and Donald Gallaher as the Captain's nephew are most commendably conspicuous among the others in the cast," but, the adaptation produced a "photoplay of little merit in itself," according to the "Times" writer.
****** Eye for Eye (12/22/18) Albert Capellani ~ Nazimova, Charles Bryant, Donald Gallaher, Sally Crute
