The Film Daily (1924)

THE •^m DAILY Monday, November 3, ]^924 Newspaper Opinions "The Alaskan"— F. P.-L. State, Minneapolis JOURNAL—* * • Meighan plays as well as usual. • • • It is remarkable only for the beauty of the exterior scenes, the glimpses of mountain summits and of deep gorges being unusually good. "Circe, the Enchantress" — MetroGold. State, Cleveland PLAIN-DEALER— They have fashioned it into the customary bizarre-set affair, introduced many of the well worn situations and left it to Miss Murray to strut her stuff which is a little better than usual but not always in her usual good taste. PRESS— There is one fine thing in "Circe, the Enchantress." That is the scene in the prolog where the mythical siren turns her gentlemen friends into pigs. The moment in which this magic transformation is visualized is highly effective. TIMES — The story is taken from a tale by V. Blasco Ibanez, and has the virtue ef holding interest. La Salle Garden, Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * a typical Mae Murray production — colorful, lavish and bizarre, with scenes of unusual luxury, with gay dances in which scores of darmgly dressed women participate and with Mae cavorting before the camera with all the dash ana pep she formerly displayed on the stage as a Ziegrfeld show girl. "The City That Never Sleeps"— F. P.-L. Missouri, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT — A jazz theme treated different is "The City That Never Sleeps" • * • James Cruze's direction makes the picture an outstanding one. POST-DISPATCH— This is an artificial and unskilfully constructed melodrama with some big scenes and fine photography. TIMES — The result is a picture loaded with those sure-fire elements that delight the heart of the film fan — ^jazz, pathos, comedy, lavish setting and gorgeous clothes. "Dante's Inferno"— Fox Monroe, Chicago NEWS — It is evident that the producers realized they were aiming at entertainment for the American public. • * * The picture is likely to send some of those who see it to the books of Dante, and that, we might say, is a merit. "Daughters of Pleasiure" — Principal Capitol, St. Louis GLOBEDEMOCRAT— Monte Blue promises to be a real villain for a time. Marie Prevost is the impertinent but a girl typically her "mother's daughter." Clara Bow is better in her role of the convent chum than we have ever seen her POST-DISPATCH—* * * A jazzy melodrama. • • • "Feet of Clay"— F. P.-L. Regent, Rochester DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE—* * * the effort to tell Margaretta Tuttle's original tale in terms of motion picture photography is the director's own idea and undertaking. That he has succeeded in accomplishing his purpose with some measure of distinction is evident; but that he has made the multiplicity of distressing incidents, which compose the almost unending series of climaxes and anti-climaxes, believeable is questionable. HERALD — Rod La Rocque does some good work, Robert Edeson, in part is fine, Ricardo Cortez suffices. Vera Reynolds and Julia Faye, well, let us be kindly, for indeed what could even outstanding actors and actresses do with a drama which includes a gentleman's foot bitten by a shark; a young society matron plunging to her death from a high window and the attempted taking of the gas route to his great reward by the aforementioned young gentleman. TIMES-UNION— It is merely a sumptuous spectacle which constantly shifts so that there is continually new interest. "The Fighting Sap"— F. B. O. Moon, Omaha BEE — ^We wil say that it is speedy and packed with melodramatic punches, and there isn't a dull moment. WORLD-HERALD— The picture carries high speed action and suspense with several good fights and some thrilling rescues. "Find Your Man" — Warners Alhambra, Milwaukee SENTINEL — Rin-Tin-Tin is a good actor and with the possible exception of Strongheart, has no rival among the canines on the screen. * • * WISCONSIN NEWS— Though the plot * * * is cut from the same piece as so many melodramas * * * Rin-Tin-Tin, the dog marvel, saves the procedure from becoming commonplace with a remarkable piece of acting, nothing short of uncanny. "The Fire Patrol"— Chadwick Gifts, Cincinnati POST — * * * blood and thunder is sweetened by a counter love plot. The picture shows care in production and is interesting enough for its type. TIMES-STAR — * * * genuine melodrama, but it has considerable human interest appeal. James Kirkwood and Alma Reubens labor mightily to make the picture real, and they are not exactly successful, notwithstanding the autocratic censor board. NORTH AMERICAN— A typically American version of English high life, with its purchased titles, bought women and discaurteous snobbery, is the Fox offering. "The Gaiety Girl"— Universal Merrill, Milwaukee SENTINEL— They have cast Mary Philbin ideally. * * * King Baggot has given the production a picturesque mounting and the acting is almost flawless. WISCONSIN NEWS—* * * Mary Philbin finds plenty of chances to act and makes use of them. • * * In addition to the beautiful artistic sets, the dramatic meat and suspense of the story, there is an unusual climax. « • * Fox, Philadelphia BULLETIN — James Kirkwood and Alma Reubens lead the hardworking cast that makes the photoplay a success. Its plot is sligtly weak in spots, but all in all, it is an unusually good and well-acted motion picture. INQUIRER — In spite of the limitationi of a plot that at times becomes decidedly thin, an excellent cast saves * * * "Gerald Cranston's Lady," from being classed as "another one of those problem pictures." "Her Love Story"— F. P.-L. State, Boston TRAVELER—* * * it is for those who like to weep, softly and sentimentally * * * The glittering Gloria * * • now strikes out on a new tack and essays an ingenue. « » * Never has she looked lovelier than in some of her close-ups * * * she draws carefully the difference in facial expression between the young girl and the mature woman. « • « Ohio, Indianapolis STAR — ^It must be admitted that th« plot of "Her Love Story," is notably lacking in novelty and punch, but nevertheless the film holds the interest of the audience throughout. * * * The picture is saved from absolute mediocrity by the work of Miss Swanson as the queen, although as the princess she fails to live up to the amount of beauty required for the part. "Hot Water"— Pathe Orpheum, Chicago HERALD AND EXAMINER — Harold Lloyd is one of the two greatest comedians before the camera, but he is not funny enough to remove the coffin trimmings from the mother-in-law joke. JOURNAL — Remembering "Grandma's Boy' 'and "Safety Last," one figures Lloyd has not bettered his story this time, even if he has improved his antics. NEWS — The laughs of the audience come with the ripping regularity that testifies the piece is popular and will hold the adherents of Harold to his place among them. "In Every Woman's Life"— 1st Nat'l Strand, Milwaukee WISCONSIN NEWS—* * * delightfully different picture. "Madonna of the Streets"— 1st Nafl The Chicago, Chicago AMERICAN— • * * the picture seem., neither as real, as human, nor in its big mo ments as powerful as you might wish. * • • a curiously elusive production. HERALD AND EXAMINER— On the whole, "Madonna of the Streets" is splendidly done. It has the mood and its drama ' carries you along from one tense .seem I to another. Milton Sills gives another o( i his convincing portraitures in the minister In fact, I thought he was slightly 'oettti than Nazimova — 'and that's a good deal. TRIBUNE— The popular Milton SUls anr the capricious Nazimova make a starrirj team which will probably gain the respeci ' of the box office men and the approval o! a great number of movie fans. i Capitol, Detroit | FREE PRESS— This actress (NazimoTi;| is much given toexaggeration * * * am; at times she overplays to such an extent thai' the effect she is striving for is totally los' * * * But for the most part Nazimova iii thoroughly likeable and convincing. ( TIMES— Milton Sills and Alia Nazimov;' make an ideal combination. • * * * * * The forced happy ending mars \\ otherwise highly interesting story. However, it's the public that controls the box office. , Wisconsin, Milwaukee j SENTINEL— Once again Alia Nazimov' flashes across the screen, this time literjll "trailing clouds of glory" for outside c "Revelations" she has done nothing bette for the screen. * » • * * * Edwin Carewe directed the picfur and has given it a real London atmospher, and a capable supporting cast. WISCONSIN NEWS— Unusual is »h! heroine ♦ * * and it is only fitting tmj Nazimova • * * should come back to ttl screen in such a part * * * Nazimova alwaj'| was a bit unusual. ' "Manhattan"— F. P.-L. McVickers, Chicago AMERICAN^Director Burnside has to' this light yarn very well. I "BARBARA mm: HAS SENSATIONAL OPiING AT BEACON THEAIHE, BOSTON Faul C. Mooney, Vice President, Producers Distributing Corporation New York Oct. 30, 1924 "Congratulations on 'BARBARA FRIETCHIE' which opened to the biggest day's business in the history of the theatre. The gross for the week's business was most gratifying and our patrons went out one hundred per-cent pleased. Newspapers praised 'BARBARA' very highly. Your pictures are not only good, but are registering at the box-office." Jake Lourie BEACON THEATRE, Boston PRODUCERS DISTRIBUTING CORPORATION Foreign Distributor: Wm. VogeL Distributing Corp. SEASON 1924-1925— THIRTY FIRST-RUN PICTURES