The Film Daily (1918)

Thursday, July 25, 1918 s!i^ DAILY Interesting Meller With Excellent Cast and Good Twists Nell Shipman and Alfred Whitman in Vitagraph "A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT" DIRECTOR David Smith AUTHOR Wallace Irwin SCENARIO BY F. R. Buckley CAMERAMAN Charles Feeling AS A WHOLE Intelligent direction, several good twists in story and a very capable cast, make this an interesting program offering. STORY Has a rather improbable but nevertheless interesting basic idea and is made entertaining by treatment and players. DIRECTION Developed characterizations and gave us good suspense. Allowed a few minor slips but they don't jar. PHOTOGRAPHY Generally very good LIGHTINGS Got some effective bits and lighted star to advantage. CAMERA WORK Intelligent STAR Beautif uF and convincing SUPPORT Very good; Whitman's work was great and Juan de la Cruze played with a reserve that was commendable. EXTERIORS Many beautiful shots INTERIORS. . . .Satisfactory. Mine interiors very good. DETAIL Interception of letters was not made quite clear and planting of agreement and locket was rather unnecessary and killed sus= pense somewhat. CHARACTER OF STORY Entertains and contains nothing objectionable. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,266 feet THIS turned out to be a much better story than the first reel indicated, and because of the way it has been handled and the well selected cast I think that most folks will consider it a very interesting offering. We had several good punches in the latter part of the production, and although they killed off the willun rather conveniently at the finish, the incident was very well handled and I don't think many will criticize it. They started this off with Hero Alfred Whitman leaving his fiancee to take a position as a mining foreman in the west, it being agreed that they will marry when he makes his fortune. In a feud between two rival mines, Hero is injured and while he is convalescing, Patricia Palmer falls in love with him and out of jealousy, intercepts the letters between Hero and Shero and writes Shero that Hero has been killed. During Hero's absence, Juan de la Cruze has been courting Shero, and she. thinking Hero dead, consents to marry him. Not understanding why Shero has not written, Hero leaves for the east where he arrives just in time to see his sweetheart leave the church as the bride of de la Cruze. Shero sees him and swoons while Hero, despondent, returns to the mine. Previous to this it had conveniently happened that Hero had rescued de la Cruze from drowning, in return for which he had given Hero an agreement stating that he owed him his life and would be ever at his command. Shero, very unhappy in the knowledge that the man she really loves is still alive, determines to find him, and leaving a note for her husband to that effect, starts for tiie west. She finds Hero at the mine and explains about the letter telling her that he was dead. Just as they embrace, de la Cruze. who has followed Shero, enters and pulls a gun on Hero. Hero reminds him of his agreement and he keeps to his word, asking that he may be allowed to paddle them across the river in the canoe, as a last favor. During the trip across, the canoe capsizes and willun is drowned. We have a very effective bit where Hero rescues Shero from the swirling rapids and we finish with a clutch. The business preceding willun's fall off the ferry was well done, but would have been more convincing if we had seen him actually fall into the water. Juan de la Cruze. as the semi-heavy, made his role effective by keeping the character within bounds. Others who appeared were Jake Abraham. Hattie Burkirk, Jack Wetherby and Al Garcia. This Will Stand a Little Boosting. Play Up With Catchlines The Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor This has been made interesting by the players and treatment and would satisfy generally as a pleasing program offering. Miss Shipman plays with a sincerity that makes you believe it and Alfred Whitman is very good as the Hero in a role that was a real test of dramatic ability. You might stir up some interest in this by wording yours ads along the following lines: "Are you a man of your word? Would you risk death to make good on a promise? See -A Gentleman's Agreement'." "What would you do if you returned to your fiancee after a long absence and found that she had married another, thinking that you were dead? See 'A Gentlema n"s Agreement'." "If you loved a man but married another, thinking him dead, what would you do when you learned that he was still alive? See 'A Gentleman's Agreement'." "If a man had at one time saved your life, would you offer him yours in return if he demanded it? See 'A Gentleman's Agreement'." Yon might bill this as "The story of a man who had a principle and lived up to it — at the cost of his life. I would make some fuss about Miss Shipman in advertising this for she certainly does some excellent work throughout the offering.