The Educational screen (c1922-c1956])

200 The Educational Screen The Theatrical Field {Continued from page 195) [64] HAPPINESS AHEAD (First National) Colleen Moore is going in strongly for the dramatic, and doing not so badly, although she doesn't forget that she is primarily a comedienne, and so has her comic moments. She plays a small town high school girl who falls in love w i t h a handsome crook from the big city. Prison, faithful little wife, reformation — you know the rest. But with Edmund Lowe and Lilyan Tashman also in the cast, it was bound to be well done. {See Film Estimates in this issue.) [65] THE PATSY (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) Marion Davies' best in a long time, in which she plays very naturally and humanly the younger daughter in a family which has always been dominated by the elder ditto. Her father, however, entertains a sneaking partiality for her, and when she finally rebels, Pop backs her up all the way. Marie Dressier and Del Henderson as the parents are a treat, and Jane Winton is amusing as the elder sister. Orville Caldwell and Lawrence Gray are the necessary men. For no apparent reason, Miss Davies interpolates some imitations of various other stars, including Lillian Gish and Pola Negri, but as they are surprisingly clever they are highly entertaining, and the fact that they have nothing whatever to do with the story goes by the board. {See Film Estimates for May.) 166] EASy COME. EASY GO (Paramount) Not so good as the best nor so bad as the worst, boasting Richard Dix as its main attraction. And where Richard is, there also is a little sunshine. As a radio broadcaster out of a job, he makes a prolonged and futile effort to return to its owner a stolen wallet he has come across, his philanthropic endeavors being consistently interfered with by the thief who stole it. I said the main attraction was Dix, but I have a notion to take that back and say that it is Charles Sellon, who is perfectly delightful as the elderly crook. {See Film Estimates for June.) [67] DRUMS OF LOVE (United Artists) Paolo and Francesca in Spanish settings becomes a little dull and artificial under the sentimental hand of D. W. Griffith. Lionel Barrymore could have been more efifective if the obvious unreality of his make-up as a giant hunchback had not too greatly handicapped him, but even with that drawback, he is the whole show anyway. Mary Philbin and Don Alvarado are fervid as the lovers, but do not go much below the surface in their characterizations. {See Film Estimates for June.) [68] THE HAWK'S NEST (First National) Milton Sills, Doris Kenyon, Montagu Love, Mitchell Lewis, Stuart Holmes, Sojin, and a multitude of gangsters, white and yellow, go to make up a very blood-and-thundery tale about FOR SALE: Two Zenith Model E projectors, with lamphouses, one Stereo attachment, tripods, extension cords, two spare 1000 ft. reels, two 1000 W. 110 V. and two 900 W. 30 V. Mazda Proj. lamps. Equipment good as new. Ideal for school, college, Y. M. C. A., Club use. Cost $690; will sell for $400. Address Wyman Enterprises, Ltd., 86 Prospect St., Little Falls, N. J. New York's Chinatown Mr. Sill.-first appears in one ot those make-ups dear to the heart of the actor — twisted nose, battered ear, deeply scarred cheek. Later, however, he is permitted to become again his own handsome self. Mr. Love, as usual, is the other participant in the big fight which, in this case, wrecks a Chinese cabaret. Oh, you'll just love it! {See Film Estimates in this is^ sue.) 169] LADIES OF THE MOB ( Paramount ) The vivid Clara Bow is notably successful in the dramatic role of a gangster's sweetheart, the gangster himself being well played by Richard Arfen. The story is exciting enough, but has been so padded that it drags frequently just where it should speed ahead. There is a lengthy prologue that could be omitted altogether without being missed. Otherwise it's a good picture. {See Film Estimates in this issue.) [70] DRESSED TO KILL (Fox) Edmund Lowe again performs smoothly as one of those lovely crooks. We are given inside information on just how crooks work, and are treated to a demonstration of a daylight holdup, all of which should be invaluable to anybody wanting to go into that line of endeavor. And the moral of it is "You can't win," with Mr. Lowe dying elegantly in the gutter, of a few dozen bullets presented by the .gang he doublecrosses. Mary Astor is mixed up in it, too. {See Film Estimates for May.) [71] HAROLD TEEN (First National) The lovelorn hero of the comic strips is delightfully done by Arthur Lake who is the real Spirit of Seventeen. Everybody and everything you've laughed over in the papers is there, including Lil