Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Jun 1921-Apr 1922)

Ray Lewis Reviews “‘Conflict,”’ ‘“The Sheik,”’ “The Three Musketeers” HE Three Musketeers,’’ al though released at Loew’s Wintergarden a few months ago, played its first picture house in Toronto, The Regent, the week of Dee. 5th., to capacity. If Fairbanks never does anything further in pictures he ean rest on his laurels with his interpretation of D’Artagnan and his presentation of ‘‘The Three Musketeers.’’ Fairbanks is particularly suited to this dashing, smashing, rollicking soldier-role; and he dashes and smashes through it with the usual Fairbanks style added to which is a bit of romantic flavor which colors his performance with a suggestion of restraint and poise. The few love-scenes were played with just enough tenderness to impress Fans that Doug. could be an ‘‘honest to goodness lover’’ should he care to concentrate on Romantic Roles. The sets and the general environment of ‘‘The Three Musketeers,”’ the attention to detail can best be summed up by stating that this picture was most satisfying to those who are already familiar with the story and the dramatization. Many members in the cast could be given special mention if space would allow. Productions of this kind and we have been particularly blessed this season with many outstanding features, cannot but help to erase the sneers of those who look upon Motion Pictures with questioning brows. Even the censors are being faced with a problem. So many good pictures there is no room for censure; and our brother agitators are agitated because there is nothing in these Motion Pictures, which are creating so much talk, to agitate about. * * @ ‘Conflict’? played at the Allen, Richmond St., the week of Dee. 5th. to splendid success and was acclaimed by all who saw it, big crowds at that, ‘‘a corking good picture.’’ ‘Conflict’? is just melodramatic enough to please your gallery as well as your more select audience. Priscilla Dean is admirably suited to her part, while the cast throughout shows exceptionally fine balance with several parts standing out as distinct characterizations and helping substantially in giving to ‘‘Conflict’’ the suecess it has achieved. Of course the big ‘‘punech’’ of the pieture is the ‘‘riding of the logs’’ by Priscilla Dean, who performs this truly daring feat in an attempt to save her sweetheart, who is rapidly Go being carried away on the flood to the precipice o’er which the water falls into the churning waters beneath. But although a big climax makes a picture from its advertising angle, the feature punch in ‘‘Conflict’’ is not its only big scene. It has many thrilling moments which lead up, as should be in pictures which are properly constructed, to the master-climax, the thrilling culmination of a series of exciting events. The exhibitor who plays ‘‘Conflict’? cannot go wrong. The advertising angle stares right at you and the pleasing quality is always with you, : ‘““The Sheik’’ Paramount, starring Agnes Ayres and Rudolph Valentino I have seen twice; and I could see it again, still enjoying the refined physical beauty of Agnes Ayres and that displayed in her work. Rudolph Valentino shares equal honors. His is a dashing personality and magnetism, coupled with a plentiful share of good looks. He is an ideal Sheik, the prototype of the romantic figure which brings to our mind the ‘‘perfumes of Arabia’’ and the desert charms. Since the presentation of ‘‘The Sheik’’ girls and wives, unabashed and unafraid, have expressed a longing that some Arab Sheik might run away with them, while boys and married men have discreetly or indiscreetly, it depends upon your conception of a married man’s limitations, been expressing a longing desire to be out on a desert with Agnes Ayres. One gentleman was heard to rather warmly ‘exclaim, ‘‘ Anywhere if only with Agnes Ayres.’’ What is the answer? Crowded houses of both sexes. It is good to find that there is still enough romance in the world to make conventionally inclined persons talk a bit foolish under the right influence. ‘‘The Sheik’’ appears to be the right influence, it is a vision of loveliness accentuated with thrills. The atmosphere was so perfect, thanks to the superb direction, that one was carried away into the very oasis where this love-theme was born and fulfilled. The love-scenes fiery, intense had within them that indescribable pearliness suggested in the landscapes of Corot. Here at last is an adaptation of a book which satisfies. To the writer it is an exemplification of the ‘‘perfect picture’’ and gle should prove the exhibitors’ oasis fu-nishing sustenance over many a stretch of that which is only sand. eee 66 VER THE HILL,”’ William O Fox’s phenomenal picture success which is meeting with such deserved and marked success throughout Canada, played to 150,000 persons in one week during the presentation of ‘‘Ovet the Hill’’ at 26 theatres in Detroit during the week of Nov. 26th. The picture will again play Detroit in January where forty theatres have booked the pic ture. e @ e William S. Hart, Paramount star, was married in Los Angeles to Winifred Westover who has been appearing in Selznick productions. eee ‘“‘Our Mutual Friend,’’ an adaptation from Dickens’ novel is being presented at the Lyric theatre, New York, at $2.00 top prices. Wid Gunning is handling the production and it looks as if this Dickens’ story is in for a run, eee ESSRS. McMillan and SimpM son, managers of the Apollo theatre, Guelph, have booked ‘‘Conflict,’’ Priscilla Dean’s Universal-Jewel for the opening attraction of their new theatre, ‘‘The Castle’’ which opens on Monday, Dec. 26th. ‘‘The Castle’? has a seating capacity of a thousand and will use a full orchestra. Messrs. MeMillan and Simpson, when interviewed by the Digest, stated that they have released every foot of Universal Film the Canadian Universal have handled. They will still operate the Apollo which has been under their management for the past ten years. Canadian Moving Picture Digest, 27 Jarvis Street, Toronto, Can. Gentlemen :— Enclosed please find a gd ’s subscription to your Will you kindly mark the enclosed list of pictures 1, 2, 3, etc., according to their power to please and their box office value. _ Yours truly, CELTIC HALL By A. C. Chisholm November 12, 1921. ACC/M — EXHIBITORS — Digest Advertisers Are Supporting Canadian Enterprise SUPPORT THEM Page Three