The billboard (May 1920)

” MAY 29, 1920 The Biliboara The Billboard Reviewing Service “ROMANCE” nited Artists, starring Doris Keane Reviewed by W. STEPHEN BUSH ‘The exzellent work of the star and tho geonine pathos of the theme are the great fiwte of this play. Its unusual longth {ene bonr and 25 minutes) is @ drawback fod maker if difficult to place om the aver. ago pegram. THE STORY IN GKELETON FORM. ‘Ao Italian opera singer visiting New York ts greatly adulred by a Young clergyman, who prises wurriage to her, He does not ‘kuow Dat the Wouan liws lived In an fllett relation ‘ship with an elderly vestryman of his church, The woown, who bas been the victim of lreumstance and poverty in her early youth, reeiprecates the affection of the clergyman. She realizes. however, low utterly apart te her splere of life from hls, and, tho she wavers ‘Pog between. ber Inclination and what ehe feels tw be ber duty, whe Gnally decides not to ‘cept the clergsman’s proposal of marriage. Hig {ofluence upon her Hfe, however, bas been parlfylng and wholesome, and she spends the yest of her life free frum immoral entanglemente. 7 ‘THE CRITICAL X-RAY ‘The excellent work of Doria Keane, ‘who Hires 2 mest finished and touching impersonatos of the Itallan opera singer, and the welldeveloped theme of pathos’ are the great merite jot the plas. ‘Thruout the feature characteration reached an unusual degree of excellence. ‘The ‘direction was likewise meritorious. The great drawback of the feature is its un‘wuil length. A feature must be of extraonil nary quillty if it Is to entertain the andience beyond the period of sn hour. ‘This feature rms clo to an bour and a half. It seems gute porrible to reduce its length by a ttle {aticlous cutting. ADVERTISING POSSTBILITIES ‘The art and fame of Doris Keane and the rat success of the wtage play both here and abretd may be emphasized with good effect. BALANCE OF PROGRAM Short end snappy subjects are advised. ENTERTAINMENT VaLUB ’ Good. JES’ CALL ME JIM” A Goliwyn production, starcing Wit) Rogers Reviewed by W. STEPHEN BUSI ‘The best Will Rogers has done, A good story, well acted, ‘NIB STORY IN SKELETON FORM A rich man cheats an inventor out of iis Wetests and has him confined in a himstle asylum. He escapes with the sid of a peor -Bomtalneer, this part belng taken by the ar, The iaveutor recovers his health and rea — MUSLIN BANNERS 3x12 FT PAINTED IN 4 COLORS PREPAID WE MAKE a SPECIALTY of DISPLAY CARDS AND BANNERS FOR EVERY PURPOSE SAMPLINER ADV. CO. «x. 729 SEVENTH AVE:, NY. se MOVING PICTURE BUSINESS ie Small Capital Starts You * TYPHOON FAN COMPANY] 343-347 Wet sath St, Wott Sith St. Mow, Yorks M. Ye 00, brings action agairst his despoller and ‘Wins, Rogers aids bim and in the last act marries a young milliner, whom he has long adored on the quiet. THE CRITICAL X-RAY ‘This ts the best work done by Will Rogers. ‘The part in this feature was exceptionally well suited to bim and he quickly won the favor Of bis audience. A Jct of funny titles, which mado hits with the crowd in the Strand. Good ‘supporting cast. Excellent exteriors. Boy actor pleased the audience, ADVERTISING POSSIBILITIES See press sheet. BALANCE OF PRoGRa\t ‘Will mix well with any program. ENTERTAINMENT VALI the Coast are held op ty the redskins, but Dorang rides mp in time to save the daughter from s horrible fate. When de is captured by ‘tho poste be 1s convicted at his triut, but the Governor grants him au Smmediate pardon; Molly and he are united and prepare a home for tho orphaned children, THE CRITICAL X-RAY the greatest appeal made by this picture 1s those scenes wherein the hero saves the children 9nd in his clrmsy way administers to thelr wants. Stealing a cow and giving milk to the Daby at Srat hand caused many a lavgh and Attracted ermpathy for the man whose heart Wastrimming over with good nature. Also the ‘religious revival in the woods wus attended with Decidesly good, many chuckles of amusement, oering a relief from the more stremnous moments of exciting “ONE WAY TRAIL” battle and chase of the fugitive. Mr, Farnum Story by Chariea Mortimer Peck, directed 6y Fred Kelsey, Republie Photoplay Co. Reviewed by MATION RUSSELL is always seutle rnd enacts Durand with sn easy assurance, altho he can wide same ‘when occasion requires. Picturesque scenes of mountain ond canyon ‘and heary wooded country formed an admirable Dackground. ‘The Little tots w like veterans. The audience evidently enjoyel the showing, which stands tho test of time and dears favoratie comparison with present day Te A vivid melodrama of the Northwest mounted police, with lovo and romance Blending anfcely with genuine thrills. ES Brin ‘THE STORY IN SKELETON FORM SNTBRTAINMENT VALUB ‘Wanda Walker is a tsplcal gitlof the great Good West, winning a riding contest prize for her ability. A policeman is killed and Jack Hin. Jon, of the Northwest mounted police, 18 detailed to apprehend the murderer. He appoints ‘Wanda's father, Witiam Walker, a8 one of Dis deputies, bot fo shocked to leara that the man is am escaped convict. Ames, a desperate character, has a number of his kind in a lume der camp and they do all sorts of wicked stunts to kill Hanlon. Wanda nnrees him back to health and the cabin js attacked, By a desperate suse Wanda saves her Jorer, and an arriving Posse helps to clear up the trouble. Later Walker ie exonerated of the munter cherge, it developing that It was Ames’ who was the real ¢riminal, ‘The young couple then find thetr tappiness. ‘THE CRITICAL X-RAT ‘This might pass for a serial co ewift ant susfenseful is each climax, with plentr of Rew ideas to Doild for another reel, holding the interest by reason of its futense thrills. A very realistic saw mill scene ts a big show in itself and the hero bas so many amazing escapes and fights with such determination tat the sympathy of the audience is with hin from the start, Eélrthe Sterling is a bright-faced little ‘woman, greceful and agile, performing many feats of daring and courage. Jack Connelly xs + the hero does his sara of the work in @ con ‘ineing manner, . Tieturesque views of logeing camps and rough conntry At the story, which falrly Dristles with actioa, Not au expensive production by ‘any means, but one that will satlefy the aver~ age fan, ENTERTAINMENT VALUE Wun depend upon your class of patrons. “DURAND OF THE BAD LANDS” Story de M. F Justice, directed by Richant ‘Stanton, starring Dustin Faraum, five reels, Fox picture, Shown at the ‘Savoy Theater, New ‘York. Reviowed by MARION RUSSELL “THE SEA RAIDER” Starring Harry Morey. Vitagraph Picture, Five Reels. Reviewed by MARION RUSSELL Our popnlar star's role of fisherman wives him opportanity to handle a smack and schooner like a votoran, His robust personality pervades the story, which has Uttle depth. TAB STORY IN SKELETON FORM Stephen Hardy loves Bess Halcomb, daughter of & poor captain in Geallop Haven. He prepares 2 howe for her after the death of the father, but learns that his younger brother, ‘Tom, has betrased his trust, and he forces im to marry the girl. Embittered and hating all Romanits, Stephen Duss the schooner Trenton and puts to sea, Eventually reaching the port of New York, he saves a git! from committing sulelde off the wharf and gives her ebelter and food for the might om his boat. ‘Taking on a cargo of powder, he prepares to sail again and wend her, protesting, ashore. Her story of desertion and misery bas touched him deeply, and a feeling akin to love enters his heart. But sternly be dismisses. her, and: later his scalawag brother shows up droke and asks for a berth, Out at rea the gist is found asa. stowaway—and meeting ‘Tom her eecret is out. Enraged that the despoiler should’ wreck his dream of lore and home the second time, Stephen attacks his brother ferociously. Dating the struggle the lamp is shattered, and the schooner catches fire. ‘Tom leaps into the sea and is drowned, Stephen saves the girl, and when they Watch the exploded boat go down he realizes that the girl had risked her life for love of ‘him, and nds contentment at last, HE CRITICAL TRAY Not quite up to the standard of strong plctures made by Harry Mores, yet withal showing the Tersatility and adaptability of the magnetic actor, who ein always be relied upon to: give & conscientious performance mo matter bow medvere the material supplied him. Tn this instance he doiuinates all ecenes with grim vigor, while a sympathetic heart is ever felt beneath ‘the rough manner of the soured seafarer who had Been cheated of lave and home when he hellered Almost the entire action oce Evidently a relesuo, but has an abundance of dramatic interest: well played by the star and clever company. THE STORY IN SKELETON FORM Durand {s an ontlaw with a price upon his heat, He i made out by tie ebcrit und citlit £0 secure. rene worse than what he really is, Indians mpon the water or thereabonts, and for this fniansaete n Pioneer wagun parts, and Durand reason gives a different aspect to the uenal rou ‘of outdoor pletures. ‘The burning of the echooner and its attendant thrills are finely handled, with detail and atmosphere of a correct nature, THE WOMAN'S POINT OF VIEW ‘The interest centering. about the hero, wo aust lock to the unraveling of his sorrows to supply our entertainment, which at Dest is arrives in thue to rescue two lttle chihiren and n infant in arms. Nineteen poople had been intel, thelr Belongings burned by the redekina. sand $8 accured of the crime aml the rewant ‘Mie capture 4a doubled, Molly of the Gore Roneh has been befriended by the outlaw aud she now recelras the children and mothers them, ‘The Governor and iis daughter traveling to Power’s Projectors Always Reliable NICHOLAS POWER COMPA Nincte Goua Se Now Youn. ‘While there is a lot of riding and shooting . a delight and performed: somewhat tame. We mise the big, vital punch so much a part of this star's activities. ‘Tho ‘women of the cast were decidedly negative, SUITABILITY Down East eections would appreciate this type. ~ ‘TO BALANCE PROGRAM Something ofa farcical nature, L INTERTAINMENT VALUB “Bair, “THE BUTTERFLY MAN” Story by George Barr McCutcheon, directed by ‘Yaa May Park, produced by Gasnier, re Jeased thra Robertson-Oole, starring ‘Lew Cody ‘Reviewed by MARION RUSSELL ‘This is a tuttLfrattl-wrist-watch-lounge i sort of picture, which ix repellent to the normal man and should disgust women of common sense. Has nothing ‘to recommend it to the average public ex cept some very attractive sottings, lawn parties and children’s dancing picturesqueJy arranged. Fortunately the basic theme of this grafting, indolent, he-vamp story does not represent 1i ‘THE STORY IN SKELETON FORM Sedgewick Blynn is the idol of fashionable ‘womet, who vie with each other to win his attention, He makes love to all of them in a sly, subtle way, inclnding 2 married woman, ‘Mrs, ‘Trend, who nearly wrecks her husband’s ‘nd Ulttle daughter's happiness by her infatuation, ‘The mother and sisters of Sedgewick sacrifice all they have for the butterfly wretch, ‘who takes all and gives nothing in retam. A foolish adolescent—Bessie Morgan—almost elopes with the creature, who 1s only after her money, but iz saved bya stern father, who expores the honey-stealers escapades with other women. He is deserted by all and goes to ‘weep over his miother’s death. THE CRITICAL X-Ray Of all the sickening mess of sentimental stuff ‘this i the limit. It’s bad enough to see foolish ‘women wasting time in the vamping’ business, but when 2 strong, healthy man spends his life grafting on others, taking his mother's savings to strut about in ‘fue clothes, conceltedly and smugly’ gloating over the many poor singed moths who have fallen to his blandisbments, ‘why then the public bas Feached the end of its endurance. Even foolish young girls are pro‘voked at this type of male, and, a mentioned above, the picturization of such a charucter can not awaken interest—nor does it amuse. Boredom was the expression the audlence wore at = recent showing of this film, which lacks dra RELIABLE LIGHT UNIVERSAL MOTOR CO., —— THE ART OF ACTING FOR THE SCREEN AND STAGE ‘By FRANK B. COIGNE. Beer Tas cae ate on ea ayments. Catalog fren = MON~ ee ante Se toute mteoue SOUTHERN EXHIBITORS: scroll errthing tact Joa Sate Get qo Bape Pieg‘ted Fim Serco fom “Dintee Stator eee THE GOceN Featune senvice, 80-38 Potter Bide Breleatam Alden,