His name is... Rothschild There are no old women in Milton Rosmer’s movie. True, among the actors there is one, to put it mildly, not quite a young person - the mother of the main character, but this elegant, well-groomed lady can not be called otherwise than a lady of the age of elegance.
In the center of the narrative is a charming vagabond nicknamed Papa (this word is actually put in the title of this picture), who will not exchange his freedom for any material benefits. But the paradox is that his name is Francois... Rothschild. And, as it turns out, he does not belong to the famous family of bankers. However, the consonance of surnames becomes a key event of the plot - for the most part adventurous, but it nevertheless has a place for lyrical and even philosophical moments.
All these components are organically and delicately combined in a single “palette”. George Arliss (by the way, who played a year before the release of Rosmer’s film the real Rothschilds – Mayer and his son Nathan), whom the director trusts to embody the image of Dada on the screen. A person with a kind, sensitive to other people's troubles soul and a heightened sense of self-esteem. But the main thing is endowed with a rare ability to admire the inner purity, nobility and principledness of a young woman accidentally encountered on the path of life, to rejoice in the beauty of the surrounding world, which in his understanding is more expensive than any money.
It would seem to be a truism. But the character of Arliss conveys it to us sincerely and without any pathos.
There is no other way for this artist. Perhaps that is why any role pleases the audience.