The sets and the photography of The Patriot are rather ugly, but the acting and the direction are wonderful, and seem to prove -- what has sometimes been denied -- that the movies are able to compete with the serious spoken drama in its own field.

Mr. Emil Jannings in the part of the mad Tsar uses the precise observation of the modern actor, but only to increase the fantastic element of his part.

Many elements combine to give The Patriot a valid claim to greatness, much as that word has been abused in cinemania.

When you are really logy from seeing reel after reel of tasteless movies, it is flying in the face of gratitude to find fault with a picture so superior in every way as The Patriot.