Canadian Moving Picture Digest (May 1925-May 1926)

Page Six | CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Critics Enthusiastic in Praise of “The Keeper of the Bees” Gene Stratton-Porter’s Novel Circulation Provides Patrons for Screen Presentation. T. PAUL, Minn., like every other city in the United States, liked J. Leo Meehan’s film version of Gene Stratton-Porter’s famous novel, “The Keeper of the Bees,” and the critic on the St. Paul Press expressed himself in no uncertain terms when he said, the morning after the opening: “A low, sweet song—a tale beautifully told and a gripping one! That is “The Keeper of the Bees.” The work of the youngster (Gen Stratton) is outstanding. New to the pictures, there is none of the sophistication that makes you want to reach up on the screen and spank the brats. Nice little kid of the tomboy type. Her handling of the bees beats anything any of the screen Fauntleroys ever tried to do. Robert Frazer as the disabled soldier is convincing and Clara Bow does a character bit to perfection. The old bee master is beautifully done by Joseph Swickard.” During the run of the picture at the Capitol, Dallas, Texas, the critic on the Dallas News commented: “The picture version of “The Keeper of the Bees” is a thoroughly sincere piece of work in which the author’s little grand-daughter, Gene Stratton, contributes a surprisingly fine performance. . . . sequences refreshing because they have been produced in an unconventional fashion by a director with every detail of the novel at his fingertips and his entire being saturated with the sentimentality with which the author’s name has been synonymous. The most interesting portrayal comes from little Gene Stratton who is a clever trouper. . . . Alyce Mills makes a perfect Gene StrattonPorter heroine.” “Law or Loyalty” Reviewed to Please Majority of Fans Motion Picture News in Nov. 14th Issue Calls Davis Feature “A Northwest Mounted Police Tale that Gets Melo Punches Across and has Considerable Pathos as well as Human Touch.” The following review on “Law or Loyalty” was published in the Nov. 14th issue of Motion Picture’ News. It sums up the quality of this Davis feature released through Vital Exchanges and is but one of the many quality pictures Vital are releasing. AWSON HARIS executes a smart triple play here, figuring as author and director, as well as filling one of the principal roles in the picture, and does remarkably well in each instance. It’s no small feat to take a hero of the Northwest Mounted Police and build a round him a story with a semblance of originality that holds its interest throughout, for this particular trail has been wellnigh trodden into mush by the countless writers who have dragged scenarios along it. But this is just what Mr. Haris has done, for “Law or Loyalty,” while the old idea of love versus duty is utilized, is good drama, rich in suspense, pathos and thrills and entertaining right up to the final shot. The direction is capable and the versatile Mr. Haris contributes a character sketch of Pierre, the hero’s buddy whom the former is obliged to arrest, that is extremely appealing. Robert Walker registers well as the mounted cop, Dolores Dorian is O. K. in the heroine role and the support is nicely balanced. THEME. Northwest melodrama. Mount ed policeman does his duty by arresting — wartime comrade who saved cop’s sweetheart by killing assailant. Buddy freed by jury. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. Attractive scenery. Swift action. Good work of principals. Romantic lure. Scene where Pierre kills actor. Pierre’s arrest. Fine climax. Go gl EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Title tells story, play it up, stressing “duty versus love and comradeship” idea. Boost as Mounted Police yarn with strong human interest. DRAWING POWER. Good wherever they want melodrama with sentimental urge. SUMMARY. A Northwest Mounted Police tale that gets melo punches across and has considerable pathos, as well as human touch. Will please a majority of fans. THE CAST Pierre Santoi.............. Lawson Haris Jeanne Dupre............ Dolores Dorian David French............. Robert Walker “Timber Wolf”....... Richard Sutherland Grandpere Dupre.......... James Stevens Captain Thorne.............. Ray Brooks Judge Gary................ Thomas Price Pete Jones................... George Fox Author and Director, Lawson Haris. SYNOPSIS. Jeanne Dupre goes to join her lover, David French of the Northwest Mounted Police. Arriving at her destination, David has gone away on duty. The Factor of the post makes insulting advances to her and is killed by Pierre, a Frenchman, who escapes. Pierre meets David, recognizes him as a former warcomrade. David is compelled to arrest Pierre, but pleads for his buddy in court. Pierre is freed. Jeanne and David find happiness together. e “The Searchlight” The Classic, heralded as Cobalt’s palace of amusement, opens its doors on Monday, Dec. 14th, with; Mr. Arthur R. Barrett as manager. Messrs. Arthur R. and Horace O. Barrett are the promoters of the Silver City’s home of distinctive pictures. The Censor Board of Nova Scotia at Halifax has been, it is reported, dissolved and new members will be selected. No complaint as to services of this Board has been reported, but perhaps Nova Scotia is of the opinion that “a new broom sweeps clean.” What about Ontario, is our Censor Board a permanent institution? Complaints have been numerous, shall we be obliged to enumerate them, or will the situation be investigated by the proper authorities? Who runs this Censor Board, that is the question which is most serious in connection with its position “To be or not to be.” I note that the State of New York, Buffalo and Albany have written Mr. Hays suggesting an affiliation. HoightyToighty-God Almighty! How can we perform the miracle of making the blind see? Why affiliate? Just let your own association die and become members of the Hays’ association. You will all get along as well from a mixing standpoint as oil and water. You will be the “watered stock” upon which the oily crowd will wax fatter. Perhaps when you are gathered in the organization, they will like in Canada, tag the name of exhibitor on to Hays’ organization. So far, with perhaps the exception of the Famous-Piayers Theatre Managers, no exhibitors have become members in Canada. You see the Rubes here are interested in growing wheat, and not developing “goats.” Local Stunts Provided For “Phantom of Opera” Manager Leonard Bishop of the Regent Theatre, Ottawa, employed a number of special stunts for the presentation of “The Phantom of the Opera” during the two weeks starting November 28. All day long a huge “Phantom” captive balloon floated from the roof of the Regent which is on the main downtown street intersection, and, at night, a large Government searchlight was used to throw a beam of light on the floating sphere, giving a ghostlike effect. Liberal use was made of still photographs in many of the local stores and windows and there was also plenty of newspaper advertising. Mike Wilkes of Toronto, special of the Canadian Universal Films, Limited, assisted Manager Bishop in arranging the local stunts. P. J. Nolan, owner of the Rex Theatre, Ottawa, Ontario, has been waging a big campaign for municipal honors being a candidate for the Ottawa Board of Control for 1926. Mr. Nolan served as an alderman of the city for several years.