Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

February 11. 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 67 BIG BOY WILLIAMS IX ACROSS THE BORDER (AYWON) Here is a Western full of snap and vim, good riding and hard fighting, intermingled with which is sufficient good clean comedy to make it an unusual picture of this type. The latest of the -'Big Boy" Williams series, directed by Charles R. Seeling for state rights distribution, should prove a good attraction tor exhibitors whose patrons like good Westerns. It is exceptionally well directed and well photographed, some of the desert shots being of remarkable beauty. "Big Boy" Williams, the big, good natured cowboy delineator, is a rider par excellence, and in this picture he is given splendid and many opportunities to indulge his penchant. He portrays the part of a fence rider by occupation and a fighter by choice, and of course, as all screen heroes do, he emerges from his many scraps without a mark to disturb his Jack Dempsey-like beauty. The inevitable heroine part is taken by Patricia Palmer, a little actress who gives promise of gaining for herself a real name in pictures. She is sweet and convincing at all times and as a rider of cowboy ponies she is not a bad second to the star himself. The story is laid near the junction of four states in the desert country. At this point a band of outlaws make their headquarters while they prey on the surrounding ranches. The leader of this band is also the sheriff of one of the counties and with this immunity from arrest by the legal authorities, the gang is emboldened to further depredations, finally kidnaping the heroine, with whom the pseudo sheriff has fallen in love. The heroine, of course, is rescued by the hero, the entire gang finally being rounded up after many thrilling adventures, and everything ends happily as they do in all good Westerns. BEBE DANIELS IX NANCY FROM NOWHERE (REALART-PARAMOUNT) One of the first and one of the commonest themes for sentimental screen drama. Old plot is worked out in good old-fashioned way. Five reels. Directed by Chester M. Franklin. This is old formula Xo. 37. The one where the rich city fellow discovers the poor mountain girl, who is being illtreated by her foster parents. He takes her to the city, where she blossoms out into a beautiful society bud, then returns to her mountain hut because she doesn't want to ruin his prospects socially by marrying him. Thence the city fellow follows — finds her in the clutches of the villain — whips the latter and runs off with her to the nearest parson. The story was written by Grace Drew and Katherine Pinkerton, but it shouldn't have taken a Pinkerton to discover that plot. Bebe Daniels is the poor mountain girl. Nancy, and looks very stunning in her city clothes. Edward' Sutherland plavs the wealthy youth. Jack Halliday; Vera Lewis is Mrs. Kelly, Nancy's foster mother: Tames Gordon is Kellv, and Myrtle Stedman and Albert Lee, Helen Holly and Dorothy Hagen round out the cast. The story is not one which will grip the attention of exacting audiences, although it may attract Bebe Daniels fans. The backgrounds are quite appropriate and the photography is without any noticeable fault. WILL ROGERS IN ONE GLORIOUS DAY (PARAMOUNT) A comedy built upon occultism. A decided novelty from a photographic standpoint, showing the earthly peregrinations of a lost spirit which finds an earthly habitation and causes considerable trouble. Lila Lee gives good support and James Cruze makes the most of the material given him. Five parts. Will Rogers and Lila Lee in "One Glorious Day" (Paramount). "One Glorious Day" is long on novelty and short on story. It has a certain amount of fascination in the clever handling of the "spook" Ek, who is in every scene, and there is real artistry shown in the camera work. The character Ek' is a grotesque looking figure supposedly a conception of a spirit without a body, which, restless to get on earth, comes down and has many interesting experiences. The beauty of the photography and the naturalness of action and expression of Lila Lee will appeal to all, even though the idea of one so young being deeply in love with a pronounced old book-worm, such as Rogers portrays, is asking almost too much of anyone. The role of Professor Botts suits Will Rogers to a "T" up to a certain point — where he becomes an aggressive, fighting demon, whips a gang of politicians, wrecks a cabaret and knocks out the villain. There is an exceedingly long chase scene where Ezra races madly from town to the home of Wadley, the villain, falling over hedges, jumping on top of taxis and doing other eccentric tricks. John Fox. a clever youngster, plays "Ek." the lost spirit. George Nichols is Pat Curran. a politician, and Emily Rait is Mrs. Mclntyre. mother of Molly. Lila Lee plays Molly. Professor Botts is a meek, shy man who loves Molly Mclntyre but is too backward and dignified to tell her so. The professor tells the spiritualist society, of which he is the chairman, that he will go into a trance, leave his body and appear in their midst in spirit form. When his spirit leaves his body, "Ek," a spirit with fighting propensities, enters the bodv of the professor. The changed professor then arises, shocks the entire town by his changed self, whips several scheming politicians, gets slightly intoxicated, saves Molly by thrashing Ben W adley, a scoundred who had designs upon Molly, and then returns to the study, where the overtaxed body faints. The spirit "Ek" leaves the body and the distracted spirit of the professor in great delight, again enters its fleshly form. Ezra rinds that Molly loves him and doesn't remember anything that has happened while "Ek" inhabited his body, not knowing of that change, and blames the entire affair on a bottle of bitters, a tonic of which he took an exceptionally large dose on that day. He is nominated for mayor, finds perfect bliss in his romance and all ends happily when he takes Molly to his heart. WILDERNESS TALES (EDUCATIONAL) Scenics have been just scenics ever since they made the first bid for popularity on the screen, but it remained for Robert C. Bruce to conceive something new in this form of picture which greatly enhances the entertainment value. The new departure is a series of remarkable scenics around each of which is interwoven a story with an interesting plot and played by capable actors. There are ten pictures of one reel each in the series, three of which were given a trade showing last week in New York. The first of these is entitled "And Women Must Weep," and shows many beautiful sea. cliff, beach and fishing village shots. The story is of three fishermen sailing away from their village with wives and children bidding them farewell on the beach. Then the fishing village is shown with the wives anxiously w-atching out over the sea for the return of their loved ones. Later is shown a storm at sea, followed by the finding of two bodies washed up on the beach. While two tearful wives grieve over their dead, the third wife searches the shore, and the final fadeout shows her keeping sad vigil on a high promontory looking out over the angry waters. The picture is beautifully done from every viewpoint, and shows good direction and a careful selection of cast. The second of the series is called "The One Man Reunion," and the third is "Missing Men." The series is made for Educational distribution, and with the first three as a criterion, it is safe to say that Mr. Bruce has given the screen an innovation that will make these scenics a strong attraction to any program. FALSE ALARM (FOX) Chester Conklin in two reels of tried and true comedy situations with but a modicum of real laughs. It was directed by Erie Kenton and tells of a broker who loans a pretty married woman a sum of money on a fire insurance policy. He then changes his mind and wants his money back. Unable to secure it he sets fire to the house so he can collect, and then cripples the fire department. He finally is chased through a long pipe hanging over a precipice from which lie drops onto a springboard and wins a fancy diving contest. The last stunt is well done. The business of jumping out of a window into a lifenet, to find it has been removed to another window, has been worked before.