The Film Daily (1924)

THE ■c^mk DAILY Sunday, November 2, 192^ HERALD-TRIBUNE—* * * It is quite an interesting film and, we like especially the wav. Burnside lets unimportant people walk between the star and camera. Eric von Stroheim used to do this, too, and it makes a picture occasionally seem like a slice of life. Dix is very attractive ♦ * » But, either the part of Mary * * * was a very bad part for Jacqueline Logan, or Miss Logan was very bad for the part. The combination of Jacqueline and Mary meant nothing at all. There were some extremely weak spots in the plot * * * MORNING TELEGRAPH—* * * "Manhattan" is an old-fashioned melodrama, obvious perhaps, but with a good amount of sustaining interest. The saving grace of the production is its comedy and in reproducing this elusive element on the screen. Burnside has shown himself at his best. » * * * * * Dix * ♦ * makes a most pleasing impression. With the right kind of stories he should have no trouble registering definitely as a star. Miss Logan does nicely opposite him. * * * POST — A fight with a real punch to it features "Manhattan" » » * Richard makes good, decidedly. If ever a story and an actor were made for each other the combination would seem to be "Manhattan" and Dix * * • SUN — * * * This actor is deserving of better treatment. * * * "Manhattan" gives him a chance to do nothing but pose and pose again. Evidently it is the hope of Paramount that he will develop the drawing power that is now held so securely by the capable Thomas Meighan, whom he greatly resembles. If this is to happen he will have to have better scenarios directed by R. H. Burnside » * * TELEGRAM — * * * The cast is an exceptionally strong one ♦ * * ,, ^^ But the best of it is the story itself. Not that it is by any means a new or tremendously revolutionary one, but it has been handled by its makers with an expert and enlivening touch. The elements of screen favor are so well portioned out. There is humor where humor will be most effective, romance where romance can best bear the strain, and excitement of a terse but con tinuous sort. * ♦ * WORLD — * * * a sound, workable movie melodrama of commonplaces, with no distinguishing mark whatsoever. ♦ * * * * * the fist fight in the dive is done with a little more vigor than is the case usually. All the players seemed to be up to the job set out for them, but Mr. Dix did seem a little bit silly trying to make out a characterization as a young rounder in the beginning. The photography is of the very best, and I have no doubt the film will hold the interest of the average person. * * * Out-of-Town "The Alaskan"— F. P.-L. State, Minneapolis TRIBUNE — * * * typical Curwood— action, suspense and romance. A feature of the production is its background in the mountains of British Columbia and Alberta. "America" — United Artists Washington, Detroit TIMES — * * * is serving as a magnet that has the crowd standing in line at the box oftice. "The Border Legion"— F. P.-L. Strand, Cincinnati POST — This Zane Grey story has rather a keen edge. * * * * * * Rockliflfe Fellowes, in the bandit chief's role, makes him a person to be remembered longer than the hero, as portrayed by Antonio Moreno. It is not Tony's fault. Grey writes his villains more strikingly than his heroes. TIMES-STAR — * * * it will prove an interesting and entertaining film to those who like Westerns. "The Border Legion" is frank and unadulterated melodrama. ♦ * * Granada, San Francisco (Week Ending Oct. 25.) BULLETIN— The picture fairly sizzles with action, and there is a treat in store for those who like the virile variety of melodrama. * * * RockclifTe Fellowes • » * dominates the entire picture almost to the exclusion of every member of the cast. CALL AND POST—* * * there's more to this film than scenery and plot. There's considerable horsemanship and a lot of real rough stuff, and if you like that sort of thing, you'll miss much if you don't take in this show. CHRONICLE — * * * comes from the hands of a new director, William Howard, and is a good piece of work. Howard has chosen lovely scenic vistas for many of his scenes, and there are several rides that Griffith might have done. Just now Howard is better at mass design than in story telling. EXAMINER — * * * leaves one with the impression that he has been viewing actual happenings instead of fiction incidenS. NEWS — * * * a glorified "western." "Bread"— Metro-Gold. Sun, Omaha BEE — Touching the intimate personal sides of everyday life, it provides an absorbing story and sustains the interest until the final flicker. * * * Mae Busch does excellent work as the heroine in a role that is hard to portray, as does Robert Frazer. WORLD HERALD— This is a play that the whole family can attend. There is nothing about it to shock sensibilities and its theme is founded on the age old story of the struggle for existence — the battle for bread. "Butterfly" — Universal Hippodrome, Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER— The picture has no big punches. It varies between tear and lethargic drama with the lethargic type predominating. * * * * * * Miss Clifford brings to it a suiprising charm and sweetness. Laura La Plante * * * is Universal's new star, but her work is shadowed by Miss Clifford's part and performance. "Captain Blood" — Vitagraph Metropolitan, Baltimore AMERICAN — There are goodly sights in this picture of the sea, and amazing. Most amazing are the lace ruffles. NEWS — "Captain Blood" is an excellent production. SUN — * * * a tale of the sea and a good one at that. "Christine of the Hungry Heart"— First National Strand, Omaha BEE — * * * From the moment the first scene is unfolded the spectator is caught in the subtle undercurrent of emotion he feels is stirring the characters. * ♦ * Florence Vidor's portrayal of "Christine" is splendid. WORLD-HERALD— It is fortunate that Florence Vidor was cast in the role of Christine. She presents a most sympathetic and convincing portrayal of the storm-tossed heroine. * * * * * * next to the star little Dorothy Brock * * * makes the greatest impression. The direction by George Archainbaud is excellent. Likewise the photography. The production has been given a beautiful setting. "The City That Never Sleeps"— F. P.-L. Tivoli, Washington POST — The story is a forcible satirical stroke directed at the youth of today. STAR — There is nothing very new or very plausible about the plot. It is another I3I0W at the world's modern youth. "Dangerous Money" — F. P.-L. Karlton, Philadelphia INQUIRER— The scenes are excellent, some of them being laid in the Italian lakes which give the necessary romantic background to the story. PUBLIC LEDGER (MORNING)— Bebe Daniels in her first starring vehicle, "Dangerous Money," does excellent work. She doesn't rely on beauty alone to put across her interpretations. "The latter seem to be carefully thought out and in complete control, the result being intelligent acting. * * * California, San Francisco (Week Ending Oct. 25.) BULLETIN— Bebe Daniels has just the type of characterization which has made her so poptxlar. * * * the story is clearly told and moves smoothly to the end. CALL AND POST— The photoplay is of the better sort, clean and appealing. Even if it were not particularly notable, the acting of Bebe Daniels and Tom Moore would have been sufficient to put it over. CHRONICLE — Bebe Daniels gives as fine a performance * * * as any screen actress has put forward in many months. NEWS— This is Horatio Alger and "The Man from Home" and half a dozen other popular romances rolled into one. It serves the purpose for which it was made fully and in spite of the banality of the narrative, enables Bebe Daniels to indicate a further step in her development as an actress of considerable expressiveness. Tom Moore fulfills the conventional requirements of his role. "Dante's Inferno" — Fox Monroe, Chicago AMERICAN— Hades takes a back seat to nothing in the picture. It is the picture. And visiting it is a weird and engrossing adventure. HERALD AND EXAMINER— If the customer takes "Dante's Inferno" ♦ * * seriously, all well and good. If * * * he takes it as a lavish bore at whose expense he can compose jokes to his heart's content and show his sweetheart what a devil of a wit he is, why all well and better I * » * I don't believe that Mr. Fox built this production without figuring on * * * their laughter, I think it's the foxiest picture he ever made. JOURNAL — Considering the offering from the standpoint of a director's restive brain, it is thoroughly keen. The wavering, waving arms of the torrid souls in their hot place is magnetically done. TRIBUNE— This depiction of Dante's poem * * * is grotesque enough to interest any one who likes that sort of thing. It's a long way from being a great picture, but it is a novel one. Arcade, Philadelphia PUBLIC LEDGER (EVENING)— There is a slightly modern story, which serves as the peg upon which to hang the elaborate pageant of Dante's pilgrimage among the tormented souls condemned to a violent and burning inferno. The note of horror has been taken from the famous Dore illustrations and been fantastically carried out, achieving some degree of credit. INQUIRER — It is a picture which will please many, offend few and give moderate entertainment. "Daring Chances" — Universal Isis, Philadelphia STAR — 'Jack Hoxie in the livest, rip-roaring bit of excitement he has ever staged. "Empty Hands"— F. P.-L. New, Baltimore NEWS — The picture is one of daring situations and contrasts. "The Fast Set"— F. P.-L. Fenway, Boston TRAVELER — * * * since the lines were the play's best feature, they have been crammed into "The Fast Set" until it is nearly all reading matter. Elliott Dexter, Betty Compson and Adolphe Menjou have the leading roles, and of these, Menjou is the only one who seems to know that "Spring Cleaning" was a comedy. Allen, Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER— All too infrequent can the reviewer praise subtitles in a p: ture This is one time when he may sho ' * * * that, gentlemen, when you write tit! pattern them after these. "They are she pithy, often trenchant, and many of tti are deftly satirical and humorous. • • • Highly recommended as adult enterta ment. Apollo, Indianapolis STAR — The dramatic moments in the pi have been very well preserved in the picli and owing the the excellent work of \ DeMille, who apparently spared no <&■ to make the screen version even better the stage play, the story stands out \ among the society dramas of the day. ml I i "Hot Water"— Pathe Orpheum, Chicago AMERICAN — Smiles, chuckles, laughs ♦ * * testified to the abilities of and his confederates as funsters. POST — * * * * as a whole, may vek quite so elaborate as some previous L|i offerings, but it is backed with clever 1 and it is funny from start to finish, fi typically a Lloyd picture, with his W, teristic type of humor, and that is n ing it highly. It is one picture whicfr can confidently predict will give you a gl inely good time. "Husbands and Lovers" — 1st N* ^ Walnut, Cincinnati | POST— Husbands * * * will be a bit 11 careful to show enthusiasm for their « if they heed the moral of this film. The photoplay is a distinct improver over all other recent film releases in metry. It is the eternal triangle at its TIMES-STAR— * * * an agreeable prise for one who expects the usual mediocre pictures in which a husband, and lover are featured. "In Every Woman's Life"— 1st » Park Mall, Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER— This production is played, a saving grace, in its major with the exception of Stuart Holmes. * The other fault in this picture is tha situations are a little far-fetched, and director shows that he is not a greater ( tor than he was actor. * * * Virginia Valli is a satisfactory and a most decorative heroine. Strand, Milwaukee SENTINEL—* * * its chief clain distinction are the intelligent work average cast and a splendid mounting, J ing life among the super-wealthy. * "In Hollywood with Potash and ] mutter"— 1st Nat'l Circle, Indianapolis STAR — Those who saw the first I and Perlmutter film, all about cloak} suits, and who were a bit disapoint it, will be pleasantly surprised witl present picture for it is as clever and and punchful as the first was common Stanley, Philadelphia BULLETIN— With only the faintes « line of a co-ordinate plot, "In Holl: « with Potash and Perlmutter" * * * ne% fc less has but few moments that are notjl with scenes rich in humor. There is too much dependence on tions from Glass' written words fo mor. Lillian Hackett is an honest litt' ress • ♦ * whose efforts are a bit ove owed by the work of such a master a ney. Slightly used, complete with 3 lenses, 2 finder lenses, 5 magazines, Thallheimer Iris, 2 cases. Bell and Howell Tripod 170° Shutter. EXCEPTIONAL BARGAIN MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS CO., Inc. Bryant 6635 118 West 44th St., N. Y. C. U. S. and Canada Agents for Debrie u