Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1922 - Mar 1923)

January 20, 1923 EXHIBITORS HERALD 51 R E V I E W S SPECIAL CAST IN THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR (FOX) This Fox special makes mighty interesting entertainment. There is action, suspense and a succession of thrills that will hold any audience. Adapted from the old melodrama this film is exceptional in many respects. It is well acted, well photographed and carefully directed. Six reels. Directed by Jack Ford. Presented under the conventional title The Face on the Barroom Floor." which ikes one back to pre-Volstead days. this tory of the love of a great artist for a eautiful girl and his fall from grace, in n attempt to shield another, makes uite pleasing entertainment. It has lany dramatic moments, is presented in human light and throughout the acting above the average. The production is high class and di?ctor Jack Ford can be congratulated >r his excellent work. It has the general ppeal of fine melodrama, plus well iosen types of players who play their oles with finesse and understanding, he atmosphere of an American coast >wn is wonderfully well preserved in •ts and backgrounds. There are several highly dramatic Dints to the story, notably the escape om prison, the dive from the cliff, the ath of the lighthouse keeper, the storm sea and the rescue of the lost ship, hese are but a few of the big thrills, he subtitles are well done and add much the enjoyment of the picture. Henry Walthall, as Robert Stevens le famous artist, heads the well ballced cast. Walthall is in his element this sort of a role and does splendid ork. Ruth Clifford renders him fine pport as Marion Von V'leck-Trevor, alter Emerson plays the brother, Dick on Vleck. Alma Bennett, a particularly etty girl, is Lottie and Novel McGreg>r is Governor Rankin. Robert Stevens, famous artist, meets arion Van Vleck, while in Paris and lis in love with her. He follows her America and they become engaged, hile Stevens is painting a picture of a |etty village maiden posing on the rocks, ck Von Vleck. Marion's brother, beImes infatuated with Lottie, the model, heirhe returns to college Dick deserts pttie. Stevens is accused and Marion leaks her engagement. Lottie drowns rself in the sea and the artist is forced | leave town. He is accused of theft d serves two years in jail. He escapes th other prisoners, after saving the vernor's life. Landing upon an island | comes upon the keeper of a lightuse, ill with fever. He nurses him back health after saving a ship from disaster. ie governor pardons Stevens when he turns to prison but he continues to drink. An itinerant artist comes into the saloon where Stevens is drinking, and taking his palette, Stevens draws the face of his sweetheart upon the barroom floor. At this moment Marion and the governor enter, Stevens is forgiven and the two lind happiness together. Bebe Daniels and Lewis Stone in "The World's Applause" (Paramount) BEBE DANIELS IN WORLD'S APPLAUSE (PARAMOUNT) A fascinating story of the life of an actress who unwittingly becomes involved in a murder mystery which almost brings about her downfall professionally. Lavishly presented, very well acted and directed in William deMille's best style. Length, 6,528 feet. An original story by Clara Beranger provides Bebe Daniels, Lewis Stone. Kathlyn Williams, Adolph Menjou and others with a suitable vehicle in which to display their talents. There is good story interest for the most part, with good surprise value and considerable dramatic suspense in the contest of wits between the detectives and John Elliott and his sister. Lewis Stone plays the role of Elliot and gives an unusually convincing and consistent characterization. The director, author and producer are to be congratulated upon securing Mr. Stone's services for this part. Miss Daniels appears in the role of an actress who is a hound for publicity, and the moral of the story shows how ready the public is to condemn these children of the stage. Kathlyn Williams has the role of Elsa Townsend. wife of an artist in love with the little actress, who in a fit of jealousy kills her husband. A difficult role, but played with restraint and conviction. Adolphe Menjou is the artist. Bernice Frank was the maid; Mayme Kelso, secretary to the actress, and George Kuwa, valet to Townsend. James Neill was Elliott's valet, while Brandon Hurst played James Crane, owner of a string of newspapers. Corinne d'Alys, popular Broadway star, poses for Townsend while he paints her portrait. On the day he is to display the painting he gives a party at his studio. As the guests assemble, Mrs. Townsend comes to the studio, discovers a valuable pearl headdress which her husband is to give Corinne, and the portrait of the actress. In a fit of jealousy she strikes him down and leaves the studio with her brother, John Elliott. The discovery of the dead artist throws suspicion upon the members of the party. Corinne telephones to her affianced husband Elliott and he succeeds in convincing the police that she is innocent. Crane takes a hand in the investigation, however, and dogs Elliott's footsteps. A confession from Mrs. Townsend finally clears Elliott and the little actress, and she no longer seeks the world's applause, but is content to settle down with John. HOOT GIBSON IN KINDLED COURAGE (UNIVERSAL) A Western story with rather a novel twist to the plot, pleasing love interest and good atmosphere. Its biggest asset is the work of the star, who is well suited to this type of story. Will make good entertainment for most audiences. Directed by William Worthington. Five parts. In this story by L. R. Brown we have Hoot Gibson as a small town boy, down in his luck and intimidated by the town bully. Following a particularly trying day he jumps on a freight train and leaves Sand Junction flat. How he is credited with the capture of two bank robbers and given a deputy sheriff's badge and later really captures a desperate bandit and his gang, while assisting a little Eastern girl to find her errant brother, makes up the balance of the interesting tale. He then goes back and whips the bully, which puts plenty of punch in the final reel. You'll like Gibson as Andy Walker. The story is well handled, there is considerable dramatic tension in the contest between the bandits in the "haunted house" and the deputy, and it is the type of picture that will appeal to the majority of picture-goers, regardless of whether Gibson is their favorite or not. It is not a Western in the strictest sense of the word, as it contains no hard riding, shootings, etc., with which Hoot Gibson has been associated of late. Just a pleasing, interesting and mighty entertaining little story.