Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

60 EXHIBITORS HERALD February 25, 1922 MAURICE FLYNN IN SMILES ARE TRUMP (FOX) A railroad melodrama, written by Frank L. Packard, not always convincing but containing enough action and fist fights to make up for the story's shortcomings. Flynn has a good personality and is a capable actor. Directed by Geo. E. Marshall. Maurice Flynn in "Smiles Are Trump" (Fox). "Smiles Are Trumps" will probably meet with approval in the majority of theatres, because of its rapid action, and the clean story. It reminds one of the old railroad stories that occupied our screens several years ago to the exclusion of society and "mother" stories. The acting in most instances is weak, but the whole production of its type is good. Maurice Flynn deserves better vehicles than this. It does not give him any great chances of showing his ability as an actor, and he is capable of much better things. Flynn is at all times natural and acts easily and naturally. Ora Carew appears opposite the star and is appealing in her role. Herschel Mayall is the best of the other types. He appears as Manning. Myles McCarthy is Selvin the villain. The picture is in five reels with a lengthy chase between two locomotives on parallel tracks at the finish. It is a poor title for this type of story. Flynn is cast as Jimmy Carson, assistant paymaster on a railroad. He becomes unpopular with John Selvin the paymaster and an Italian foreman named Martino, because he threatens to expose their thefts. A number of fights follow, and the villain runs off with Marjoric Manning, the railroad vice-president's daughter. James Manning follows with Jimmy on another locomotive and an exciting chase follows in which Jimmy swings onto the flying engine, knocks the villain out and saves the girl. MISS DU PONT IN THE GOLDEN GALLOWS (UNIVERSAL) This adaptation of a Victoria Gallant's story offers nothing that is particularly new in the way of plot as a vehicle for Miss du Pont. It embraces some pleasing angles in sets and photography but otherwise runs at an even and unexciting tenor for the five reels. Directed by Paul Scardon. "The Golden Gallows" is a story of an actress whose honor is questioned by her lover when a man-about-town leaves her part of his fortune. The incidents leading to a revelation of the truth fail to arouse any great amount of suspense. The fact that the star has a leading role in Universal's big special "Foolish Wives" is a feature which can undoubtedly be used to good exploitation advantage. In the supporting cast are Jack Mower, George B. Williams, Douglas Gerrard, Edwin Stevens, Eve Southern, Elinor Hancock aTid Barbara Tennant. The part of the suspicious lover played by Mower is overdone at times, and Miss du Pout's work is not on a par with the acting of which she is capable as demonstrated in "Foolish Wives." Willow Winters, an actress, rises to fame when her opportunity comes through an accident to the star. She is courted by two men, Leander Sills, a notorious man-about-town and Peter Galliner, son of an aristocratic Boston family. Sills is shot by a former sweetheart and makes Willow Winters his beneficiary. The action is misconstrued by Galliner who renounces her, believing that sinister relations had prompted Sill's action. Sill's attorney has a letter which reveals the truth of the situation but which he holds back, in an endeavor to win the favor of Miss Winters. During the absence of Galliner the actress cultivates the acquaintance of his mother and wins her favor. At a reception at the Galliner home she learns of the letter which the attorney has and promises to come to his office to get it. Galliner returns in the meantime and goes to the attorney's office where he finds Miss Winters holding the lawyer at bay with a revolver. The letter revealing the true feelings existing between Sills and the star is found and Galliner is convinced of her innocence. TOM MIX IN CHASING THE MOON (FOX) The average picture-goer will not find much plot back of "Chasing the Moon." It is a series of Mix stunts loosely connected, which, however, manage to convey a good deal of interest. Directed by Edward Sedgwick. Six parts. "Chasing the Moon" is pure comedy and not at all convincing as a story but the various Mix stunts arc well done and the athletic Fox star doesn't depend upon a "double" to put over his stuff. The story was written by Edward Sedgwick and the star, and it is overburdened with facetious subtitles. It isn't a story that makes much of an appeal except in so far as you are interested in the various antics of the star, and doesn't come up to the recent Mix offerings. Appearing opposite the star is Eva Novak, as Jane Norworth and the sweetheart of Dwight Locke, the part played ■by Mix. He is supposed to be a pampered son of wealth with so many motors, houses and clothes he doesn't know what to do with himself. He accidentally scratches his hand and becomes infected with a deadly poison invented by Milton Norworth, Jane's brother, a chemist. A professor who has the only antidote for the poison is en route to Russia and thence Dwight hies himself. An attempt is made to kidnap him and hold him for ransom in Russia, but he evades the conspirators by jumping off and on a moving train, finally unmounting a Russian on a passing horse and riding away. In the meantime his sweetheart has learned that the poison is harmless, and if he takes the antidote it will kill him. She goes to Russia, and then follows him to Spain, as he follows the professor. The professor is too deaf to understand him when he catches up with him and Jane arrives in time to save his life. Excerpts from many of Mix's latest photoplays are used to depict the activities of Dwight Locke, including a scene or two from "Sky High." The train stuff is too long dragged out. SPECIAL CAST IN THE CALL OF HOME (R-C XTCTURES) Story weak and not very original, being a series of misunderstandings that finally terminate in a happy ending. The big flood scene at the finish is quite effective. Directed by L. J. Gasnier, from the novel "Home" by George Agnew Chamberlain. (Six reels) There is nothing really outstanding in this latest Gasnier production, aside from the well staged flood climax. It was made from a scenario prepared by Eve Unsell and no doubt follows the book from which it was adapted fairly close. Therein lies its weakness. The story lacked originality of theme or plot. The opening presents a newly wedded couple, Gerry Lansing and Alix his wife, who take up their abode in a small town,' Red Hill, the former home of Lansing. Alix meets Alan Wayne, a close friend of Gerry's. She soon grows tired of the slow, country town and induces Gerry to move to the city where Alan works. Alan asks her to elope with him. Misunderstanding her husband's neglect, she consents, but changes her mind before the train leaves the station. Her husband, thinking she has left him for good, sails for Peru at once, where he becomes interested in irrigation of waste lands and is successful. He marries a native Spanish girl, who was saved from death in the rapids of a stream, and later when Alan appears, he learns that Alix is blameless and is waiting for him at home with her son. A flood sweeps tin valley and the Spanish girl is drowned, leaving the way clear for Gerry's return, to his wife. Irene Rich gives a fairly convincing performance as Alix, but does not photograph well in all the scenes. Gasnier lias introduced several scenes with children in the early part of the story that do serve to advance the story and add considerable to the footage. Ramsey Wallace is well cast as Gerry Lansing. Leon Bary plays Alan Wayne Norma Nichols is the Spanish girl and Sidney Franklin a priest. The scenes depicting Peru are much better than the earlier scenes of village life. A scene from "The Call of Home" (R-C Picture*) ■