Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

February 11. 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 65 SPECIAL CAST IX TURN TO THE RIGHT (METRO) Here is a remarkable, smooth-running and entertaining adaptation of the famous stage play of the same name, directed by Rex Ingram in a manner that would stamp him a great director had he not made the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Photography is distinctive and the cast unusually good. Rex Ingram added new honors to his already enviable reputation as a maker of good pictures, through his direction of "Turn to the Right," a screen version of Winchell Smith's and John E. Hazard's famous play which ran for more than 450 days in a Broadway theatre. So cleverly is the film adaptation handled that the picture loses none of the humorously homely elements which made it one of the greatest of spoken play successes, but on the contrary is greatly enhanced as an entertainment. The direction is faultless and the photographic effect could scarcely admit of improvement. So cleverly is this delightful comedy-drama woven together that the rather hackneyed story becomes altogether new and interest holding. The casting is exceptional and Alice Terry, Tack Mulhall, Harry Myers, George Cooper and others with names almost as well known, are at their best. The story opens in a little Connecticut village, with Joe Bascom, only son of a poor widow, in love with Elsie Tillinger, daughter of the town's richest and meanest man. Deacon Tillinger. The deacon has more ambitious plans for his daughter, and the boy, discouraged, leaves home determined to make his way in life, return and marry Elsie. She promises to wait for him and together they plan a "dream house." In the city Joe falls in with a race track crowd and finally finds employment with Mr. Morgan, a wealthy race horse owner. He sends money home frequently and finally writes that he has saved $2,000 and is coming home. Seeing a chance for a final "killing" on the horses Joe wagers the $2,000 and wins $20,000. He is just collecting when he is arrested on the charge of having stolen $2,000 from his employer, the thief being 'really Mr. Morgan's son. Joe is sent to the penitentiary and there meets two crooks, Muggsy and Gilly, admirably played by George Cooper and Harry Myers, respectively. Finally all are released from prison, and Joe returns to his home in time to save his mother from being swindled out of her farm bv the deacon. In this he is aided by the two crooks, who arrive in the town via box-car and by chance, and many laughable situations attend the straightening out of the widow's financial affairs. The crooks are won from their crooked ways by the sweet charm of Joe's mother, and finally win for themselves the love of two sweet country girls. Through fortunate chance and some rather farfetched business ventures, Joe becomes rich, builds the "dream house" and everything ends happily for all concerned except the rich man's bad son. As Elsie Tillinger, the sweetheart of Joe. Alice Terry is always demurely sweet and charming. Jack Mulhall does probably the best work of his career as Joe Bascom, and as the mother. Lydia Knott is the same wonderful mother as in a number of her other pictures. While not one of the greatest pictures Metro has given the screen, it is safe to say it is on<> of the best. It is of the sort that one can see several times and always find new enjoyment. It will undoubtedly prove one of the best box office attractions of the season. MAX LIXDER IX BE MY WIFE (GOLDYVYX) Written, directed and acted by the star, this farce misses being funny by several hundred points. There is too much muchness to it and it is likely to prove tedious to those looking for something funny. Five reels. "Be My Wife" is good in spots, but the farcical humor is prolonged until it bores instead of entertains. A downtown theatre audience. Chicago, found occasion to laugh but once or twice during its unreeling. Many of the scenes are well handled, it is well produced and photographed, hut it would have gained considerably by being shortened a little. It showed evidence of too much padding. Then, too, the story is far from original. The same theme has served comedians since comedies were first born. Max is seeking the hand of Mary. He has a rival and Mary has an aunt that objects to him. He disguises himself as a music teacher, but "Pal" a dog discovers him. Max falls over a fence and becomes unconscious. He dreams he is married and cannot shake the aunt. There is a wife who suspects her husband of flirting and she retaliates by picking a few lovers herself. Just as the marital di..culties are settled Max wakes up. He then attempts to win the girl and impersonates a burglar in a terrific struggle with himself in an adjoining room, while his rival, the aunt and his best girl listen to the struggle. He steps forth "victorious" and wins her hand, as the crabbed aunt accepts him as her nephew-in-law. Alta Allen. Caroline Rankin, Viora Daniels, Rose Dione, Lincoln Stedman and Arthur Clavton are in the cast. KATHERIXE MacDOXALD IX THE BEAUTIFUL LIAR (FIRST NATIONAL) A light, though pleasing comedydrama with the beautiful Miss MacDonald in a dual role. A screen play without a villain. Nicely mounted and beautifully photographed. Length, 5,236 feet. Directed by Wallace Worsley. Adapted from the story "Peachie," byGeorge Marion, Jr. "The Beautiful Liar" holds a certain amount of interest and entertainment. It is a picture that will please MacDonald followers and will appeal to the majority of picture-goers because it is clean and wholesome. Miss MacDonald has a dual role and gives to each part a distinctiveness that is especially pleasing. The supporting cast is excellent, consisting of Charles Meredith, as Bobby Bates; Joseph J. Dowling, as MacGregor; Kate Lester as Mrs. Van Cortlandt, and Wilfred Lucas as Gaston Allegretti, an impetuous French hotel proprietor. Helen Haynes. a stenographer in a broker's office, yields to temptation and agrees to impersonate an actress, Elsie Parmelee. Her motives are pure, for in doing so she is able to save Geston Allegretti manager of a famous summer resort hotel, from discharge. And all that she is to get out of it is a two weeks' vacation at the hotel. She did not know that the actress, who was expected to go to the hotel, was to play a part in a piay, and she was on the verge of fleeing when she discovered that she was expected to do so. At that point, however, she discovered that Bobby Bates, with whom she had fallen in love, was to play the part of the leading man. That caused her to change her mind. The sudden return of the real Elsie Parmelee provided complications which neither Helen nor the others in the plot had anticipated. Eventually matters are straightened out and Helen finds true love and happiness. Miss MacDonald plays both roles — that of the stenographer and the actress. One of the amusing incidents from "Turn to the Right," a Rex Ingram production being distributed through Metro