The Film Daily (1924)

THE 12 humor. The film provides good entertainment. Karlton, Philadelphia BULLETIN — * * * very slow in action and dull in theme. * * * Through at least two miles of reel, tht climax is hinted at, is forecasted, and when it finally comes — well, it isn't just what is expected. INQUIRER— The picture is staged with fine taste. * * * NORTH AMERICAN— A splendid cast raises what is an ordinary story into something distmctly worth while. ♦ * * PUBLIC LEDGER (MORNING) — De Mille has brought out the best in his actor and actress, given permission for each to act naturally. As a result, "The Fast Set" is full of delicate shadings, illusive humor, and intelligent sophistication. PUBLIC LEDGER (EVENING)— Alfred Menjou as Ernest Steele, the bachelor who makes many happy for a time with his invariable line, completely overshadows both Elliot Dexter as the novelist and Betty Compson as the wife. Zasu Pitts, as the "scarlet woman," contributes a fine bit. RECiORD — Although there are many things that may be said in commendation of the film, the almost total lack of action and the absence of any scene that resembles a climax have made the play only moderately successful in its film version. Missouri, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT-* * * proved disappointing. A star cast, and a capable one, could not offset the note of improbability that crept in. Miss Compson is lovelier in this film than she has ever been. * * • Menjou, our idea of the perfect movie villain, is as suave and cynical as formerly, but his very sophistication * * ♦ surfeited us. Elliott Dexter plays the unseeing husband in a mechanical man POST-DISPATCH— The picture has the usual luxurious indoor settings of pictures that are supposed to portray society, with a display of champagne and fine gowns. STAR— Cecil B. De Mille and Betty Compson take the laurels, if any, for "The Fast Set." * » ♦ "The Female"— F. P.-L. Piccadilly, Rochester DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE—* * * It's a nice movie if you can believe it. We couldn't. HERALD — * * * while it is by no means an exceptional picture it is by far the best on the local screen this week, and offers Betty Compson, a screen actress of no mean ability, opportunity to give us a very pleasant interpretation of the part of Dalla, the tiger's cub. * * * TIMES-UNION—* * * The film is carefully directed and excellently costumed, staged and cast, so that it makes pleasant enough recreation for an hour or so. » * * "Find Your Man" — Warners Rialto, Washington HERALD — Rin-Tin-Tin, this wonder dog, keeps the audience ♦ * ♦ thrilled and interested. • ♦ * "Fools in the Dark"— F. B. O. Delmonte, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT—* * * a crude piece of workmanship. Starting out as a mystery play, it detours into comedy, slapstick, adventure and ends with an improbable explanation. STAR — There is a girl, her fortune, and the guardian, a timid lover, and the villain. If you can not figure this out for yourself, see the picture. It is good. "Forbidden Paradise"— F. P.-L. McVickers, Chicago POST—* * * It is seldom that the striking quality of a photoplay is cleverness, but that seems to be the outstanding feature of this production. It is the virtuosity of Ernst Lubitsch, his astonishing skill at making pictures "talk," at manipulating his material, which makes this picture a delightful thing to watch. I was less impressed by the performance of Madame Negri, not because she did not play with her usual skill, but because the role did not make any great demands upon her. * * ♦ "The Girl in the Limousine"— 1st Natl Central, Washington TIMES — * * * a sprightly film version of Avery Hopwood's former stage hit. ♦ • * amusing play. * ♦ ♦ "The Greatest Love of All" Fenway, Boston TRAVELER— The pathos of the tale is relieved by touches of broad farce, especially in Beban's interpretation. "His Hour"— Metro-Gold. Lyceum, Mirmeapolis JOURNAL—* * * is a light romance produced with intelligence. King Vidor has subdued Mrs. Glyn's turgid passages and the result is a brisk and unusually good picture. There is only one real situation in it and sex attraction is, as might be expected, the basis but the whole thing is done with restraint. * ♦ ♦ TRIBUNE—* * * a typical Glyn story done in a typical Glyn way. * * * "Hot Water"— Pathe Walnut, Cincinnati POST — We feel very brave announcing * * * "Hot Water" * • * is not as good as some of his (Lloyd's) previous productions nor as funny as a lot of pictures in which other less popular comedians have appeared. "Hot Water" is full of laughable gags of the old-acquaintance variety. Rialto, Los Angeles (Week Ending Nov. 1) RECORD— All the world loves to laugh. But when laughs come in bunches, accompanied by skillful acting and clever gags, speedy action and hilarious situations, they are more than ever in demand. That is what Harold Lloyd is giving in his new comedy. ♦ ♦ » TIMES — * * * enough laughs crowded into its reels to supply two ordinary comedies. But, of course, Harold Lloyd never makes an ordinary picture. Each one is extraordinary in quality and amount of honest-togoodness merriment that enlivens every mch of film. * * * Strand, Minneapolis TRIBUNE—* * * Containing plenty of lively action, the plot revolves around the unwelcome mother-in-law who insists on visiting her daughter during the honeymoon. The situations are as original and unexpected as in any of the other Lloyd vehicles. * * * Imperial, San Francisco (Week Ending Nov. 1) DAILY NEWS—* * * freshens up a num her of old jokes about mothers-in-law, new automobiles, and a husband's shopping troubles that amuse his admirers vastly. They are thronging the Imperial at every performance. * ♦ * New Grand Central, West End Lyric and Capitol, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT— The comedy itself is funny, with Lloyd it becomes a laugh classic. Based on the old gag of the interfering mother-in-law and two other motherin-laws of the sweetest little wife on earth, Lloyd and his antics make the telling seem new. POST-DISPATCH — Harold Lloyd went into the misty past and dug up the motherin-law joke as the rather weather-worn peg on which to hand his latest comedy. * * * STAR — "Hot Water" Boasts the usual Harold Lloyd laugh-getters, with a few new comedy stunts. "Husbands and Lovers" — 1st Nat'l Allen, Cleveland NEWS — ^"Husbands and Lovers" is a real good picture. One or two of the subtitles have a jarring efifect, but the intimate touches, the moments of suspense and the human elements through the entire eight reels hold the interest and keep one moving along with the characters. PLAIN DEALER— What a picture Stahl would have made had he forgotten the burlesque idea and turned Stone into a man's man at the moment he became intoxicated after the family break. • » * But Stahl didn't ; he turned his excellent drama into silly farce. It is beautifully set throughout and I recommend the first six reels (of the eight) to you as something just as well done as Lubitsch ever did or Chaplin did with his "Woman of Paris." TIMES — The theme has been somewhat overworked in the last two seasons, but it is handled very amusingly in the present production, and is made far more entertaining by a capable cast. The less seriously the picture is taken, the more entertaining it is. As a Hgfit do mestic comedy, it ranks well among the season's offerings. "The Iron Horse"— Fox Woods, Chicago AMERICAN — Grandeur of the subject was caught handily in "The Iron Horse" and is vividly conveyed to you with fierce energy, under which even the thick shell of hardened cynicism will split and fall away. In its reproduction of this colorful chapter of American history, this picture is a notable achievement. HERALD AND EXAMINER—* * * one of those rare long pictures that seem short. It runs like a Rolls, this lively epic of thr building of the great western railroads, bumping only here and there on the plot, which is somewhat courduroy. JOURNAL — Here is a picture worthy of letting the home-fires get along by themselves for a while * * * Everyone should see it, and no one who does see it will ever again travel in the snug comfort of his Pullman without thanking his stars there's an iron liorse to ride behind NEWS—* * * the "Iron Horse," * ♦ • is a far, far better picture than Griffith's "America," and while not as dramatic, is more accurate than "The Birth of a Nation." POST — John Ford, who directed the picture, knew what he was about. He handles his material expertly, in skillful movie fashion with plenty of action and lots of laughs. * * * It is a picture well worth the making and certainly worth seeing. TRIBUNE — Scenery, Indians, acting— everything about "The Iron Horse" satisfies. One can quite understand how this photoplay was three years in the making. It's a wonderful piece of screen engineering, and I reckon we'll all of us just have to take off our hats to Mrs. John Ford, director. "The Last of the Duanes"— Fox Reade's Hipp, Cleveland NEWS — * * * filled with western atmosphere and as a picture it gives both Mix and his famous horse Tony, ample opportunity to step right out and perform for the folks. PLAIN DEALER— There are tricks and thrills galore here; two beautiful feminine principals and a hearty breath of the good old open spaces. It is an admirable picture. "Her Love Story"— F. P.-L. Family, Cincinnati POST — It's strange how and why hardboiled souls take the romance of "Her Love Story" » * * seriously. It's a highly imaginary yarn about an imaginary country, imaginary castles and imaginary heroes and heroines. "Madonna of the Streets"— 1st Nat'l Rialto, Omaha BEE — Petit and charming Alia Nazimova * * * unforgettable Milton Sills * * * "Manhattan"— F. P.-L. Tivoli, Washington TIMES—* * * This Dix film is certainly a knock-out, and if only Washington movie fans who hanker after red-blooded he-man stuff (which includes practically everybody) could be persuaded to go out to the Tivoli and enjoy it, there'd be full houses ♦ » * "Married Flirts"— Metro-Gold. Loew's State, St. Louis GLOBE-DEMOCRAT— "Married Flirts" is a trite title for a cynical bit of wellhandled film business * * * STAR— A deft play, "Mrs. Paramor," became a clever picture when Pauline Frederick was cast for the lead in "Married Flirts." TIMES — The theme of Vance's story rings so true to life that it gives everyone something to think about. Credit is due Julia Crawford Ivers for her adaptation and Robert Vignola for his direction, but then they had something to work on. * * • Pauline Frederick plays "Mrs. Paramor" with an ease and surety that is particularly interesting. "Merton of the Movies"— F. P.-L. Madison, Detroit FREE PRESS—* * * delightful entertainment which promises to repeat on the silver sheet what it has attained before the footlights. NEWS^It is just as much Hunter's picture as it was his play. * • * "Merton" is a household institution by now and you should see the movie by all means. It is one of the season's real delights. State, Minneapolis TRIBUNE—* * * Mr. Hunter undoubted^ ' has established himself as one of the fort"most character actors of the cinema. li Viola Dana is seen to advantage as Flig^ and a popular cast contributes competoW support. * * * ■ "H "The Mine With the Iron Door"-,.^ Principal Modern and Beacon, Boston ^ TRAVELER — The picture was made amis' the gorgeous scenery of Arizona. It is aft' exciting melodrama, with all the familiar' characteristics of the author. I "The Navigator"— Metro-Gold. Alhambra, Los Angeles , (Week Ending Nov. 1) RECORD—* * * Buster has a wealth ' new and original gags which are extreme funny and kept the audience in gales laughter. * * * "Never Say Die"— Asso. Exhib Granada, San Francisco (Week Ending Nov. 1) BULLETIN—* * * The story is w, suited to MacLean, who appears as a youi man who is told he has poor health. * * His experiences with the would-be heirs foi the basis for many humorous situations. * * CALL AND POST—* * * abounds wii funny situations and clever bits of hok and thrills and even blood freezing situatioi as when MacLean, blindfolded, walks bai and forth on a narrow parapet twelve storii above the street. ♦ ♦ * CHRONICLE—* * * starts mildly bi has a whirlwind finish with a "whiz" i a chase. MacLean is an agreeable cha] but he must watch that smile of his, whi( is getting to be almost as cast iron as ti of the other Doug. ♦ ♦ ♦ EXAMINER—* * * the film version tt something vastly funnier. The little touchs of Nat's characteristic humor are not there, and all who remember the play as it wai jresented on Ellis street will miss them. Douglas MacLean, however, makes audiencgt shout instead of smile • ♦ • i DAILY NEWS—* * * is one of the mo«| amusing farces we have seen on the screettf Audiences at the Granada chuckle and gaP faw until they are too tired to laugh any more. * * * "Her Night of Romance" — 1st Nat'l Chicago, Chicago HERALD AND EXAMINER— * * * delicately done, rather witty, and its slight pl<>l is braced by the interesting performances Q| Miss Talmadge, Mr. Colman and Alb« Gran. State, Cleveland NEWS — * * * good, clean entertainme for the entire family. And that's more tl one can say about a lot of pictures. PLAIN DEALER— * * * returns Cof stance Talmadge to her popular role — that ol a comedienne — and Miss Talmadge does better and has better material to work with in this bright and amusing farce comedy thM she has had in a couple of years. « "Sandra"— First National ^ Stillman, Cleveland h NEWS — If you read "Sandra" in bow form, you'll scarcely recognize it. * * * BE has been given the movie vandalistic treafc ment which results in the mutilation of 80 many worth while stories for picture purposes. * * * Mis LaMarr w<;ars beautiful gowns, but her performance is not above the ordinary. PLAIN DEALER— Miss La Marr's work seems to have been done by the tick of the studio metronome. Every move she maket has been done in cadence, which in this case is very slow time. Some of her near vampish acting is fairly-amusing. Bert Lytell deserves bettre material. TIMES — The usual fate of a tragic novel in the hands of film directors has befallen "Sandra." * * • the story has been distorted from its gloomy ending so that "all'l well that ends well." .^ Barbara LaMarr is alluring as Sandra but inclined to be over-dramatic and relies too much on the conventional gestures and outbursts. ^