The Film Daily (1919)

Sunday, July 6, 1919 sM^ DABL.Y Screen Version of Clyde Fitch's Play Lacking in Comedy Substance Marguerite Clark in "Girls" Paramount DIRECTOR Walter Edwards AUTHOR Clyde Fitch SCENARIO BY Clara Beranger and Alice Eyton CAMERAMEN. . . .Hal Young and James C. Van Trees AS A WHOLE Very light entertainment that is amusing only in spots. STORY Adaptation of Clyde Fitch's comedy which enjoyed a big success a number of ■years ago. DIRECTION Picture would have profited by speeding up. PHOTOGRAPHY Very good LIGHTINGS Pleasing, but not marked by any= thing unusual. CAMERA WORK Adequate STAR Is cute and kittenish, but in close=ups her expressions are not always attractive. SUPPORT Helene Chadwick and Mary Warren figure prominently iri support of Miss Clark; Harrison Ford registers as the leading man. EXTERIORS Some pretty country scenes INTERIORS Only conventional sets required DETAIL Titles used to get laughs when the op= portunity offers, although most of the humor is of the elementary sort. CHARACTER OF STORY Best suited to women and young girls. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,459 feet TIMES have cliaugfd since Clyde Fiteli wrote "(Jirls." a light conied.v satire on young women who signed a declaration of independence freeing them from masculine domination. "Votes for Women"' was a comparatively feeble cry in those days and it was less usual to find self-sufficient girls doing their own thinking as a matter of course. To say that the story seems old-fashioned might be going too far; but certainly as it -comes through in picture form, it lacks the dash, the humor and the smartness that made the stage work such an outstanding success. At best, this Paramount production starring Marguerite Clark uniy take a place among fragile, incon sequential photoplays, making its chief appeal to the very young or the very old. It is a harmless, rather pretty picture with occasional laughs for those who laugli easily, but between the comedy moments are many others that come dangerously near to being dull. There is enough action of a kind, l)ut too frequently it does nor serve to really advance the plot, which contains little suspense. One knows almost from the start that it is only a question of time before the three members of the man-hating league, who jab pins into a sa^^dusi doll, representing "man,"' will surrender, and the incidents preceding their capitulation seem a bit over-drawn and wearisome. Naturally. Director Edwards saw to it that Miss Clark figured in close-ups more conspicuously than her co-workers, for that is a privilege of the star, however much a story may tend to equalize the characters. As a matter of fact, the plot of "Girls" gives Mary Warren and Helene Chadwick a prominence almost (qual to that afforded the leading players. Both of tiiese young actresses give capable performances, whereas Harrison Ford is, as usual, a leading man whose clean-cut personality has a strong appeal for women. The three girls, ilarguerite, Mary and Helene are living together In one room, having agreed to abide by the statement printed on the transom over the door, "No Man Shall Cross This Threshold." But Harrison, having innocently aroused the jealousy of a husband on the floor above, escapes from the upper room and violates the sanctity of the feminine seclusion by entering the girls' quarters through a window. Moreover, he refuses to leave until he is sure of making a safe getaway. Marguerite expresses her opinion of men in unmistakable terms, but this doesn't prevent Harrison falling in love with her and conducting a courtship under difficulties. Some of the most attractive scenes in the picture are staged at a country place where the two accidentally meet and the indomitable suitor makes the most of the opportunity to soften the girl's views regarding men. Then he gets her a place as secretary in his office without ?ilarguerite knowing the identity of her employer. Meanwhile, ^lary and Helene are developing; love affairs of their own and in the end there is nothing left but for the leader of the man-haters to follow suit. The cast includes Lee Hill, Virginia Foltz, Tom Ricketts and Tlu)mas D. I'ersse. Try to Arouse Interest by Emphasizing Fame of Original Stage Comedy Bo.x Office Analysis As light entertainment, best adapted to a matinee crowd in a neighborhood theater, you probably can handle this picture successfully. Make a special bid for the patronage of women film fans, among whom Miss Clark unquestionably has a loyal following. In matters of production. "Girls" is up to the mark and even if the story doesn't touch any high comedy points, it isn.'t the sort of a film for which you need feel apologetic. Capitalize as much as possible on the fame of Clyde Fitch's stage play which suiiplies the groundwork "for the picture. The name of the phiywright. coupled with that of Miss Clark, should have an appreciable drawing power even outside of the habitual picture-going crowd. If "Girls" exiv was presented in your town, either by a road company or in stock, it would be records and recall the per for the Exhibitor well to dig back into the forma nee. I'roviding you are in list, you might address you saw Clyde Fitch's the Blank Theater. 'W lierfornmnce or not. Clark in the equ;illy the famous play." Catchlines: "See no Man — Hear no Man — Kiss no Man. That was the creed of three members of the anti-man league until the right man came along. See Marguerite Clark in the screen version of Clyde Fitcli's famous comedy. 'Girls'." Or. "What do you supi)ose liappcntd to three pretty little man-haters? See Mar-uerite Clark in Cnde Fitch's comedv, •Girls'." the habit of working cards to this effect : connnl.v when it was 'hether you witnessed you will want to see Ma entertaining photoplay ve a mailing "Possibly played ai the stage guerite siou of