Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

60 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 4, 1922 MARY MILES M INTER IN TILLIE (REALART) A picture that is primarily story and will please or disappoint as the story meets or fails to meet with approval. Extended stage popularity of the play argues for the former. The star's role is severe and her acting rather than her beauty scores. The locale, a Mennonite settlement, is important. Frank Urson directed. Mary Miles Minter in a scene from "Tillie." (Realart) "Tillie," the stage play, was an enduring success as a vehicle for the accomplished Patricia Collinge. Mary Miles Minter, with curls and smiles tucked away in a sob role, gives the character very satisfactory screen being. The picture is solid acting, most of which is good. The story is laid in a Mennonite village in Pennsylvania and most of the characters are Mennonites. Consequently many colloquial words appear in subtitles. These, with unfamiliar customs depicted, add to rather than detract from the entertainment value of the picture. Noah Beery, as a stern parent, Alan Forest as a young author, Lucien Littlefield as a doctor of the old school and Robert Anderson as a rural swain and villain are prominent in support. Miss Minter is cast as Tillie Getz, eldest daughter of Jacob Getz, a brutal, driving father. Her Mennonite aunt leaves a will by the terms of which Tillie is to inherit a small fortune if she has joined the Mennonite church at the age of eighteen. A plot is hatched by the lawyer who drew the will and attempt is made to force her into marriage with Absalom, an undesirable youth, share in her fortune being the end. Through the kindly machinations of an old doctor the combined efforts of her father, the lawyer, Absalom and, innocentlv, the Mennonite elders, are frustrated and a happy marriage supplies the proper ending. BERT LYTELL IN THE RIGHT THAT FAILED (METRO) Another "Saturday Evening Post" story that provides Lytell with a likeable role. Prize fight well staged and the supporting company was well chosen. Six reels. Bayard Vcillcr directed this adapted J. P. Marquand short story and, considering the scarcity of dramatic incidents used in its telling, has made a very pleasing photoplay. There is a plentiful supply of short, crisp subtitles and the material is particularly suitable to Lytell's needs. There is a trifle dragginess to the action after the fight, and the picture if cut to five reels would no doubt be helped considerably. Lytell is cast as Johnny -Duffy, a prize fighter, who falls in love with a society girl, Constance Talbot. He breaks his right hand in a bout and is forced to rest for three months. Johnny goes to Craigmoor, a fashionable summer resort, to be near Constance, and one of his hero-worshippers, a chauffeur, becomes his valet and tutor in correct social etiquette. Constance's father recognizes Johnny but keeps his secret until Johnny has whipped a cad who attempts to expose him and then the girl learns his true profession. They obtain her parent's approval and the happy ending follows. The fight is very well done and thereafter Lytell wears his hand in a sling. Virginia Valli makes a pleasing and pretty Constance Talbot, while DeWitt Jennings is a very real Talbot. Philo McCullough has a thankless role as VanTwiller. the caddish suitor for Constance's hand. Otis Harland has a small role and Bull Montana contributes an amusing bit as the "champ." SPECIAL CAST IN GYPSY PASSION (VITAGRAPH) Another foreign picture with a fairly original story, some pretty scenic effects and good acting. Adapted from Jean Richepin's gypsy story "Miarka, the Child of the Bear." A Louis Mercanton production. Six reels. This Vitagraph importation offers a fairly dramatic story, well acted and with some excellent settings. It has a rather obvious ending, but the fight between the villiain Louis and a pet bear is a well handled piece of business and there is something fascinating about the story that holds the attention to the final foot. The picture is well subtitled and the performances of the principals quite convincing. Romany Kate, a gypsy, and her granddaughter, Miarka, live in the abandoned ruins of an old castle, in the shadow of a modern mansion. The owner of the estate is making a study of gypsy life and writing a book 0:1 the subject. He has stolen a manuscript from Romany Kate's wagon which he is having translated. Louis the game keeper of the. place, seeks Miarka's hand, but Romany Kate despises him and plans to have her granddaughter marry the head of the gypsy tribe. Ivor, a nephew of their wealthy benefactor, also falls in love with Miarka. Louis accuses Romany Kate of setting fire to the mansion and she is locked up. He attempts to drug Miarka, but her net bear, Pouzzli, attacks Louis and kills him. Before he dies he confesses he stole from his employer and tried to hide his crime. It is then discovered that Ivor is in reality chief of a branch of the nomads and Romany Kate gi^es her consent to Miarka's marriage. Picturesque scenes showing the pilgrimage of the gypsies to their shrine add realism to the story. J. P. McGOWAN IN RECKLESS CHANCES (PATHE) Western railroad drama embellishec with a tale of romance that makes it a pleasing entertainment. Interesting scenes around a railroac yard, and a chase with a locomo tive give it a well-rounded-out suspense. Directed by J. P. Mc Gowan. Five reels. J. P. McGowan in a scene from "Reckless Chances." (Pathe) "Reckless Chances" compares favo ably as a Western thriller, with the add< lure of railroad scenes and railroad me In fact, the story is almost entirely railroad drama laid in the West. Tl tale of a superintendent's daughter in lc with a yard man who is accused of the is ably interwoven to form an interestii plot that ties up with happenings ai chases with a freight train and a loc motive. J. P. McGowan stars in the productii as well as having directed it. Dorotl Woods has the leading feminine role a' her work is entirely commendab Others in the cast are Andrew Waldn and Robert Walker. Terry Nolan (McGowan) is a wander who is giving railroading a tryout. I becomes involved in the theft of ore fre a car of which he has charge a-id is ; rested, but manages to escape. Wh escaping he rescues Nora Murphy, I daughter of the superintendent of t road, from a gang of suspicious char;' ters in the woods. He accompanies 1 to town and is given a job as yard m; The two fall in love with each other a plan to get married in spite of the p' tests of Nora's father, who looks W disfavor upon the union. He plans send Nora East to get her away fr. Nolan, but the two outwit him by ( taining a freight train, as his spec coach is about to depart, and with aid of a justice of the peace, who dropped from a bridge onto the mov flat car, the ceremony is performed the train, with her father following clos behind in another speeding train. Happily married, all is well until N and her father discover that Nolan is escaped prisoner wanted in connect with the missing ore. She leaves H and returns to her father's home, superintendent is notified that anot robbery has taken place, but informs I assistant that the joke is on the robb'. as he had hidden the gold in anot ' place. Nora overhears the assistant t ■• phoning his confederates the hiding pi of the gold and learns that he is the 1 leader of the thieves. She informs No who battles the robbers at the office, f ing the gold and effectively clearing own name.