The Film Daily (1924)

THE uiay, November 2, 1924 ■^P^ DAILY 11 le Who Gets Slapped" Producer: Louis B. Mayer 'iribiitor: Metro-Goldwyn Whole.... FORCEFUL AND /dSORBINGLY INTERESTJiG STORY EXCELLENTLY RNDLED; CONTAINS UNISUAL DRAMATIC THEME. IS GENERAL APPEAL, ibWEVER, MAY NOT BE WIVERSAL. . . Lon Chaney further proves cmarkable ability for unusual icterizations. Does excellent in the title role. Others subordinate but capable peraiices are contributed by pret\orma Shearer, John Gilbert, Marshall, Marc McDermott. of Story. .. .Drama, from the play of the same name by lid Andeyev. "He Who Gets ipped" caused much comment ^len it appeared as a stage play ' gained still further fame as its dway run extended. Now s Louis B. Mayer's screen proion, adapted from the play and ling closely to it. The picture ~ the play full justice due, in t[ main, to the skilfull direction c Victor Seastroni and the rer rkable ability of Lon Chaney. '•f theme deals 'witli l?fe and as seen through the eyes of . " a clown who capitalizes on -sorrow by amusing crowds daily 1 the circus, merely by being s pped. The origin of his act, the tgedy that led him to it, and the sTsequent unhappiness endured He'" when he fails to win the of a pretty circus rider — all tk and a great deal more is dealt a to the spectator in a manner is unusual, interesting to a • e and compelling because it is Hflerent. The philosophy of the joys, the heartaches — r before have they been so rly, so imaginatively pord. And with it all there is a I possibility that even as splena bit of entertainment as this not be conspicuous for its earnpower. Tiie general public, average picture audicnfe, will . fail to appreciate its fineness. 'l)peals to the finer intellect iighout. It has a delightful ■^tory, very beautifully told and ramatic moments carry convicand force. "He Who Gets lied" is well out of the ordinary should merit the praise of those I want something new. o Office Angle.. — ..Certainly decs success but whether or not !1 get it is another matter. itation If you cater to a tele that has expressed a wish something diflcrent in photoentertainment — stories that away from the regulation fori brand, and if you want to something really worth while"He Who Gets Slapped." ion. .. .Victor Seastrom, highly iiiendable; many very excellent lies. r Leonid Andreyev ^io Carey Wilson director Cedric Gibbons raman Milton Moore a;raphy Very good , t^ France fth 6,600 feet "Is Love Everything?" Producer: Murray W. Garsson Distributor: Asso. Exhib. As a Whole.... ANOTHER CASE OF A PRETTY WEAK STORY NICELY DRESSED UP WITH GOOD LOOKING SETTINGS, LAVISH DISPLAY AND SOCIETY ATMOSPHERE. Cast .... Alma Rubens verj' decorative. Particularly well photographed in this picture and very prett}' in some close-ups. Frank Maj^o handicapped in role of rejected lover. It doesn't give him a very broad field. H. B. Warner makes the most of a sacrificing-hero role. Others Walter McGrail, Lilyan Tashman, Irene Howley. Type of Story Domestic drama. "Is Love Everything?" written and directed liy W. Christy Cabanne, offers little in the way of variation. It adheres pretty well to the beaten track. There is a heroine confronted with that ever old and alwa3'S new query of "which man should she marry." In this case the one she loves neglects her and the one she doesn't love adores her and has loads of money besides. Naturally she marries the latter because her mother happens to be financially embarrassed. It takes quite a long way, and -a roundabout manner, to reach the solution of the girl's unhappiness. And probably the story does deserve the credit if containing somewhat of a surprise. It is more or less expected that the girl will evenluall)' realize that her husband is wholly worthy of her love and that she will give it to him. But instead, following a fairly dramatic sea episode in which a wreck is not ' too realisticall}^ staged, she finds herself still in love with the man she didn't marry. The husband, thought dead, returns and finds his wife in the arms of the other man, decides he has fought a losing battle, and disappears out of her life. Cabanne iias provided elegant atmosphere, lavish setting's and injected plenty of visual appeal to make up for a fairly weak story. Box Office Angle Stands a fair enough chance of satisfying, especially where they favor those fancy, dressed up society dramas where the poor girl marries for money. Exploitation. . . .If you want to. start a controversy over the question of marriage for love or marriage for money, the title gives you a good lead and should work in nicely with catchlincs and teaser ads. Distribute throwaways reading: "Ladies, Attention! Are you contemplating marriage? If .so see "Is Love livcrytliing?" at the blank theater and possibly save yourself from the same mistake as Virginia Carter." Play, up' the names of Alma Rubens— using stills in the lobby; also of H. B. Warner and Frank Mayo. Direction — W. Christy Cabanne. satisfactory on the whole. Author W. Christy Cabaniu' Scenario Raymond S. Harris Cameraman Walter Artlun and Pliiliji .\nnand Photography Good Locale Country Estate Length .Aabout 6.000 feet Charles Hutchison in "Turned Up" Wtn. Steiner — S. R. As a Whole . .NOT A NEW IDEA IDEA IN ANY OF ITS FIVE REELS. JUST THE OLD HOKUM ABOUT THE HERO WHO DISPLAYS A SECRET SERVICE BADGE IN THE CLIMAX. HAS LITTLE ACTION. Star.... Has had far better vehicles than this. Gives him hardly any chance to get over his athletic stunts. And those he does aren't all the real thing, especially the stunt where he swings from one building to another. The "buildings" are obviously scenery. Cast.... Otto Lederer overacts most of the time as one of those "master mind" crooks. Craufurd Kent. Charles Cruz and Mary Milford make up the rest of the cast. Type of Story .... Crook melodrama. Scenario writers have done much to prove that a bank is a very dangerous place in which to work, if a young man is in love. There's always a chance of a rival arranging a shortage in his accounts and thereby putting him out of the running. It happens again in "Turned Up," a Charles Hutchison feature that is far behind some others that the star has offered. It hasn't the speed nor the thrills of "Hutch of the U. S. A." or several other Hutchison releases. The plot is an old fashioned one. There isn't a moment of suspense liccause you know just what's .going to happen next. Hero Hutchison is the goat for about four and a half reels while the master mind and his crew prepare for a grand haul. But you haven't the least bit of fear for hero. He is bound to turn over the band to the police and display his detective l)adge while the pretty blond heroine registers surprise. But she is the only one who is surprised. Bruce is framed by a bank executive who happens to use the bank as a clearing iiouse for stolen bonds. The bank executive is also Bruce's rival for the hand of Betty. After the regulation routine in which hero is threatened with death and all Ihe other thrill intenders. the gang is exposed. Follows the clinch. Box Office Angle Not a particularly good number. F,ven a poor, conventional iilot can be excused now and then if it provides action and thrills. This doesn't. Exploitation. .. .Doesn't warrant any noise. May slide in without diflinihy on a double feature program but won't stand the strain as a single feature. The fans that want and expect action and thrills of Hutchison are going to be disappointed with "Turned Up." Star's name may bring them in if that's as far as you have to figure. Judge accordingly. Direction I'rederick Cliapin; no originality. Author James Chapin Scenario Frederick Chapin Cameraman F.rnest ^filler Photography Fair Locale City Length About 5.000 feet Irene Rich in "This Woman" WamC'r Bros. As a Whole... RATHER DRAGGY AND UNINSPIRED STORY WITH CINDERELLA THEME. GOOD DIRECTION AND FINE WORK OF STAR LIFT IT CONSIDERABLY. Star. . . .Irene Rich gives a thoroughly good performance in her first starring vehicle, which however is not equal to her talent. Her emotional work is splendid. Cast. . . .Marc McDermott by far the best of a cast that includes such good box-office names as Creighton Hale, Clara Bow, Ricardo Cortez, Louise Fazenda and Frank Elliott. McDermott's characterization of a famous operatic impressario goes far towards making the picture enjoyable. Type of Story One of those Cinderella themes in which the penniless but "straight" heroine goes through many difficulties but when she is on the] point of collapse is saved and succored by a famous impressario who declares her voice that of an artist. "This Woman" has been adapted for the screen from the novel of the same name by Howard Rockey, which was published last year. It runs rather long, drags somewhat and concerns itself only with the heroine's fear that her benefactors will discover that she has served a jail sentence — innocently, it is true — but on the charge of vagrancy. Of course, it all comes right in the end and she finds permanent shelter in the arms of Stratini, the operatic mentor. However the work of both Miss Rich and Marc McDermott is so good as to make the unfoldment of the picture enjoyable. And this is saying a good deal. The balance of the cast also are well selected with Louise Fazenda and Creighton Hale doing some excellent comedy bits. Box Office Angle. .. .Good direction and work of star ma.v outweigh the rather f^at story. Should be speeded up, however. Exploitation. ... Feature the fact that this is Irene Rich's first starring vehicle. Play up the good names in the cast. You might also mention Phil Rosen, the director, as having made ".Abraham Lincoln." Tie-ups with book stores for window-displays of the novel should be easy. A novel idea that put over a good effect at the Piccadilly. New "York, was to have a woman singing in the wings at the point in the picture where the starving girl sings outside the house where the musical conductor is visiting. The Cinderella angle may please your women patrons, so vou might talk about this. Direction. .. .Phil Rosen; very good, but runs too long Author Howard Rockey Scenario by Hope Loring and Louis Leighton Photography Excellent Cameraman Lyman Broening Locale Large city Len^rth 6,840 feet