The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

200 The Educational Screen touch. The tale is an unusual one, neces- sitating imagination on the part of the audience, but it was, with The Miracle Man, the best of the selection. (A film possible for certain communities. In no case, for child consumption.) Male and Female. Like its absurd title, it was rather an absurd picturization of Barrie's dramatic comment on the caste system. (Not de- sirable for any use; a poor production of a great play.) BEYOND THE ROCKS (Famous Play- ers). Advertised as having in its cast the screen's "two greatest lovers" (Rodolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson), the picture fell flatly on the eye! The gentleman in question evidently loses some of his strength and subtlety when not playing to Alice Terry's genius, or perhaps it was due to non-Ingram direction. There were great moments, due more to the story itself, for it has a commendable thought of fine loyalty behind it, and to the excellent work of Alec Francis and Mr. Bolder. The story moved indifferently and the "two greatest lovers" were graceful. More cannot be said. (Community and church uses, providing committee censorship functions first.) REPORTED MISSING (Selznick). An interesting venture into new fields— rather an attempt to put material akin to Stephen Leacock's on the screen. That it failed miserably was due to a lack of sens- ing that wonderfully delicate line between the sublime and the ridiculous, the horrible and the funny. The "Nearer My God to Thee" scene became serious enough to con- flict with the tone of the ridiculous that it should have maintained; the race of speed- boat and aeroplane became too convincingly melodramatic to allow the farce of the speeding row boat to be effective. The big negro's predilection for chinamen, on the other hand, and his terrible treatment of them in the free-for-all did keep the line between the horrible and the funny. (Tm unsuccessful for school or community use\ THE ORDEAL (Famous Players). An absurd story which wastes the beau! of Agnes Ayres and the skill of Conra] Nagel. (Good for no use other than an in different theatre run.) BOUGHT AND PAID FOR (Famou Players). The picture chosen to celebrate the firl birthday of one of Chicago's biggest houses Miss Ayers was not only beautiful, bu real and believable. Mr. Holt did his usua steady best, but he had an ugly part 1 portray. In fact, the tale was obsolete 1 its vulgarity. Fortunately, even the poo* taste of this century made that possible Walter Hiers is a born comedian. (Itn possible for the school man.) THE CRIMSON CHALLENGE (Fa mous Players). An occasional wild west tale is very ac ceptable, particularly when the sting of it ugliness is taken away by a delightfull; boyish star. Miss Dalton made a nice tom boy and, later, a convincing western Joai of Arc who, in the secrecy of her roorr wept because she realized she was only girl and quite alone! (Not adaptable fo school use, but harmless entertainment fo a community program.) THE GREEN TEMPTATION (Fa mous Players). The lure of a jewel, surrounded with th| attendant detective and mystery tale, make cheap feature stuff or good melodrams The Green Temptation falls safely in th second classification, due largely to th very careful restraint and, at the same timi delicate roguery of Betty Compson, th magnificent character work of the capabl Kosloff and that something about Mahlo: Hamilton that pleases and even overcome his tendencies to jerk himself into attitude; (The nature of the material makes thi film a purely theatre production, not adapt able to church or school. Certain com munity programs might accept it for, in