Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

February 25. 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 61 SPECIAL CAST IN WHERE IS MY WANDERING BOY TONIGHT? (EQUITY PICTURES) An excellent photoplay based on the old song, with its theme of mother love unfailing. It is well cast, finely photographed and commendably directed. With proper exploitation it should prove a find for the box office. A very human story and one any exhibitor can play without fear of dissatisfaction. Eight reels. "Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonght" is another proof that "the Colonel's Lady and Judy O'Grady are sisters under the skin," and that Gopher Prairie and Broadway are different only in degree, "or this independent production, presented hy B. F. Zeidman, and distributed rhrough Equity Pictures, has more to -ecommend it than many of the loudly leralded super specials. First of all, it has sincerity of story and >f treatment. With only one or two ninor exceptions, the direction is comnendable for its restraint and naturalness. Cullen Landis, as the wandering )oy, is very well cast, his work being latural and convincing at all times. The nother, played by Virginia True Boardnan, is an appealing character and is a jleasant relief from the usual type of Creen mother, most of whom seem to .ave been born with gray hair. Her work •5 excellent, the only overdone bit being her rantic chase after the train. Ruth Patsy .liller is a very lovable sweetheart, while vathleen Key portrays the hard-hearted gold digger" admirably. The others in he cast are satisfactory. The story, by Gerald C. Driffy. opens n Christmas eve in a small town with he Christmas tree and services in the ttle church where Martha Beecher plays fie organ. Her young son, Garry, is the elight of her heart. His boyhood sweeteart, Lorna Owens, works in her stepather's store. Things run smoothly for he young lovers until a bit of Broadway, i the person of Yvonne Tyler, a dancer, trikes Paradise Valley and Garry falls aptive to the smiles of the city maiden. .Garry, after taking money from the safe f the old storekeeper, follows the dancer 3 the city. There comes period of good lothes, gay parties, presents and the ivor of Yvonne. Garry fails to write ome, but the mother keeps a light burnlg in the window, sure that her boy will Dme home at last to her whose love ever falters. The gay times end with ■ie arrest of Garry, being trapped by vonne into an apparent theft of the welry he has given her, his intention eing to make restitution for the stolen toney. He is sentenced to ten years in rison. The country sweetheart keeps lis knowledge from the mother. Garry is instrumental in saving the arden from an attack by one of the isoners and later there is a spectacular il breaking, with the warden carried off r the escaping men to shield themselves om the shots of the guards. The prisons escape on a stolen engine, and Garry, ter a thrilling fight, rescues the warden st in time to escape a collision with anher engine, which is one of the big rills of the picture. For this he is par>ned, and on Christmas eve, justifies his other's faith by returning to her and the ithful sweetheart. The photography by David Abel is exllent. The direction of J. P. Hogan and illard Webb is sincere and careful. Buster Keaton in "The Paleface" (First National) BUSTER KEATON" IX THE PALEFACE ( FIRST NATIONAL) "The Paleface" isn't up to Keaton's former comedies but it seemed to tickle audiences at the large Chicago theatre, last week, and anyway. Buster's poorest picture is away ahead of many of the other's best efforts. Keaton is as a rule original and his solemn mien gets a laugh where no amount of comedy hokum would. The story in the present instance is slight of plot and does not offer many opportunities for comedy situations. Buster is a collector of bugs and wanders onto the reservation of a band of Indians, whose land is about to be appropriated by a gang of land sharks. A long chase ensues, Buster finally hiding in a cabin where he makes himself a suit of underwear of asbestos paper and when they try to burn him at the stake he comes out unharmed. Initiated into the redmen's order, he leads them against the sharks and wins not only a complete victory but the hand of the daughter of the Indian chief. "Two years later" we see them still embracing each other in front of the tepee. (Two reels.) SPECIAL CAST IN FIND THE WOMAN (COSMOPOLITAN-PARAMOUNT) A well acted and thoroughly enjoyable mystery story that grips and holds the attention. Should prove a good box office attraction. Written by Arthur Somers Roche, the plot is well worked out and the continuity excellent. Directed by Tom Terriss. Six reels. "Find the Woman" is an excellent booking for any house. Arthur Somers Roche's stories adapt themselves readily to the screen and this is one of his best. It deals with the aspirations of a poor little country girl, lured to Broadway by the bright lights and a longing for a stage career. She finds lodging in a cheap theatrical boarding house, meets a man and his wife who know a booking agent and becomes involved in a murder mystery, when she visits his office and in repulsing him. he falls and is stunned. Another angle of the story includes a wealthy lady married to a worthless cur. Certain letters of her's fall into the hands of the same booking agent who attempts to blackmail a Judge, to whom the letters were addressed. She also visits the office where the man is later found dead and a piece of her gown is the only clue the police have as to the murder. In the attempt to unravel the mystery several others become involved and it is not clear to the spectator just who the guilty person is until the final reel when the wealthy woman's husband is trapped and confesses "his guilt. All parts are very well played. Alma Rubens giving a forceful and convincing portrayal of the lady with the worthless husband: Norman Kerry, in a small but well acted part as a habitue of a theatrical boarding house; Harrison Ford as an assistant district attorney; George McQuarrie as the Judge and Emily Fitsroy as the country girl. The production is up to Cosmopolitan's high standard in sets, direction and photography. The interiors of a wealthy home are fine examples of studio building without being too ornate and in marked contrast are the shabby tenements occupied by the poorer class. An excellent picture from every angle. CONSTANCE B INN FY IN MIDNIGHT (REALART) A pleasing little domestic drama with more than the usual amount of dramatic suspense. The Enoch Arden idea with a new twist. Story written by Harvey Thew furnishes Miss Binney with an excellent vehicle. Directed by Maurice Campbell. Five reels. "Midnight" gets your attention at the very start and holds it to the last. "It is the simple tale of a hasty marriage, disillusionment and a ghost from the past returning to haunt an indiscreet girl's later happiness. A well balanced story with a good deal of originality displayed in bringing out its dramatic points coupled with much clever acting. The story revolves around Edna Morris, daughter of an American Ambassador to a South American republic, who is inveigled into a hasty marriage with one George Potter, an attache of the embassy. The same day Potter is threatened with arrest for embezzlement and escapes by leaping into the bay. He is believed drowned. Edna's father resigns his post and they return to their American home. On the adjoining estate lives Senator Dart and his son. Jack. Edna falls in love with Jack and their engagement is soon announced. Potter returns and attempts to blackmail Edna's father. Mr. Morris forbids Edna's marriage to Jack. The} elope, however, and are married at midnight. L'pon her return to her home she finds Potter's body in the library. The butler clears up the mystery by stating he shot the man in the dark, thinking he was a burglar, and a bullet from Potter's gun imbedded in the face of a clock showed the tragedy occurred ten minutes before twelve. An excellent drama in every way. Constance Binney is delightful in the role of Edna Morris: Jack Mulhall a most pleas