Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

January 21, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 49 December J /, I g <? t iiiotion Picture Sews i January • I December 31, 1921 EXHIBITOR TRADE REVIEW 5. "THE LITTLE MINISTER! mjcecm^ousw <vm> Wheuttle ^minister wthoMi»gpi«ur«a«nofJ m. did acting,. be autu scarcely and dir«ca«* ^ Great Excellent Production Made From Barrie's Classir\ AMES M BARRIE'S celebrated itory (not the play) has beei This »■ The Little Minister made into a feature production by Vita graph, and it behoovrf every exhibitor to book it because of its excellent qualiti Some of those who have been showmen over a score of ye rill doubtless remember the three-reeler which Vitagraph mat roan the tame story. With the advance in technical equipment— nth an advance in the art of translating a story for the screen. th< •roducers have dooc extremely well by this charming doc am en Hach es entitled to classical honors. The lovable figure of Lady 3abbie, the quaint character of Gavin Dishart, the little minister, and he picturesque natives of Thrums — these are all given life and color/ •ere. \ Not even the stickler for truths will be able to find any flaw in thisi foducaon. From a technical viewpoint, the offering is nchly deco-. Tted. The thatched cottages, the simple interiors, the charming ' lackg rounds— these are all caught You become an actual partici 1 jam in this fragrant story of old-world sentiment and romance You 7 oHow the adventure of Gavin w th the deepest interest, even though N rom have been made familiar with the plot through the story or play. It carries the deepest sort of heart interest. There is sympathy for ' -ar.y every character. And when the soldiers surround the little nQage in order to compel the simple weavers to obey the laws of he country, you are stimulated with desire to be with them and help ±tm in some way. The minister tells the natives to find a way to i aeace But they rebel because of the insistent demands of the gypsy girl." Babbie, who eventually proves to be the ward of a neighborly baron. There is rich incident offered when Gavin uporaias the wicxea Rob Dow during church services. And you almost catch the spirit > ual inspiration as the young preacher finds a champion in his tormentor. The story revolves around this little circular town of Thrums. The walls are penetrated and you see a simple folk, deeply religions and eager to live their lives m their own way. It is a charming moment when Lady Babbie runs to the home of Nannie to discover whether her beloved is dead. She is betrothed to her guardian, but she willingly elopes with thr minister, and they are Kdience picture David Smith. Directed Vitagraph Production. From the Story by James M. Barrie. Scenario by C Graham Baker. Directed by David Smith. Cameraman, Steven Smith. Lensth. Approximately 3800 Feet. THE CAST lad/ Babble . •jano Disbar* I-ortJ Rio tool : . Bob Dow Nice Webster . . iJeaa ■ Dt UcQueem JMVib Dow apesio h * ...» SYNOPSIS Tillage of Thrum? con*« tbe . Alice Calbown James MorrUou Heorr Hebert Alberta Lm William UrCall Dorothy Wolbert Uaod Emery <>oraje Stanley rty ordaiaed nloivt ^being a eypsy camp * i*-amatic note, as Gavin disappointed baron. 1 ^ gure of Rob Gow ■ i * rainstorm is elo I I y»licity and charm | 1 xnt with naivete ^picture James | \ married according to gypsv nearby. The subw-" jy--**" jumps inw^— — ' _ A hit < Jsraei MsrnK? Hebert Alberts Lee 'J MiCall J -ro-ac Wa'ben \ Ersery I >■ 0 Oeorr. Smicy I t'.lichsra Dseiels 1 He»'» ure X Geo'** v„,»lc>» w B»' \\ oil . v«>v 1 11 1 el ScorTS \ nee"'" ... to"0"*1 .« cio1"* ta -n>* IS* > -Lady B»bb.t. -too«» " A„d « nothing h:„n mif* ,ot .uters to I she has M>*>^ scr«c w\ework \ ~B&***~& Scotch, bo«« T SV characters. on I ) . : th the whith r tl~« tuffliog .ot d customs po.-, . mannerisms to make \h|5o0,nind eho enjoy 1 SSw^Ss.rSS: II I tho. '-r^Thah' \" Oh»" AhU Lfct Eft 1 \ ,.»<>•. 0«"p vu>r j. » d \ vt,I.W' 1 DOt iPPholesc.me drama. / fthe^^^l Babbie" and l G> ^ ( ram storm, and „ th / -'^^Smnl'ln1^0 — > thrillmf is lost. :_u Times Mc ■TW 1 "5* * as-.-* jib"; > ^. t»tl I ■ 11 ?J t,,,,, V W 8°, «tl« I \M^h?o« Utt« V^^ l I And m the a uncovered, » ? , J » \ I i square mch ft ^ 4 he /> S enUy do»nt ^ousand.mJes. a< real acto | hoA gT»A To the Utile Scotch ... liano Dlabhrt Utile Bhbbie. the cjp«t prl. tuhkes fan »f his. bot when tbe •oM.er* htutl tbe town ihe is proteeled or him To ehleU bet from the •°U>« he pre tend* the Is bis wife. This ronttUutos msrrure In their country. Bst*.e 1« In reality Lsoy Bsbble. betrothed of Lord Rlntonl. Tbe lstter sets the dsle for their me r riser, bot Bsbble runs swsy. In s t»rn»r rain .101™ Lord FLntoai breaks a lesj sod is betm carried nwty by the rerins; rirer. Tbe LttUe Minister , swims oct to him and rescwes bin. He sod Bsbbie taaelrjsj me .r rsarrted in the cborch. Practically every essential of good photodrama is in The LittU AlmiBter. Vitagraph has selected A splendid cast, from the charming Alice Calhoun to tiny Richard Daniels. All of the quaintness and peculiar charm of the little Scotch town of Thrums pervade the picture, and not only is this manifest in the settings and costuming, but even to the extras, there is evidence of careful picking of types. Sir James M. Barrie's famuas story has been screened with unwavering faith to the original theme and all the good fortunes that may befall an author's work picturized, hare attended it It stands out as unique in that its interest begins in the first two hundred feet and in this respect good direction and splendid editing are combined to make a motion picture that should have wide popularity. There are thrills and there is heart interest. The love motive is delightful but never "gushy," and its climax is swift and pleasant. The flight of "Lady Babbie" to her sweetheart, when the report comes to her that he has been killed is the beginning of a sequence in which one of the wetest rainstorms in motion picture history has been screened. There is nothing puny about this storm. The players are drenched in it, and throughout this deluge the strongest dramatic action of the story is revealed.' Miss Calhoun quite delightfully pGiirays the hoydenish gypsy and her "Lady Eabbie" is as charming as Barrie wrote it Each new picture in which she is cast sees her in a new light 1 of stellar achievement. James Morrison is the "Little Xtinister." Few could so well characterize the very young dominie of the small Scotch hamlet as has Morrison. Not merely is he d=gjt»ntjwcl but he registers the minister's gentle kindliness and rT. . "^^filHessness incomparably well. William McCall contributes a fin in his part as "Rob Dow," and of said he owns a better understand: screen player than many grown at sciousness whatever. And whatet he possesses already. It is a mighty good picture. •A SSi i* *««tj <""" , •i ft**" • . .,„,» w /of^^abU^ldpr0v ,0\lie * «irt> •** J {1roo>i» e?et>' U«o»l Ut"' i.v»e * _ ttreuV" Tbe "T ,ieb / »"2L? *>^?< •3° -- »'--: ■--:/