Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

\ AGNES AYRES— JACK HOLT IN BOUGHT AND PAID FOR (PARAMOUNT) A William De Mille production of the play by George Broadhurst, scenario by Clara Beranger, with Agnes Ayres, Jack Holt and Walter Hiers, makes pleasing entertainment, with consistent continuity and logical development characteristic of William De Mille. Five reels. Perhaps rather strong meat for houses catering exclusively to family patronage, yet the story is so nicely handled, it cannot give offense. An excellent cast interprets the famous play by George Broadhurst, Jack Holt being particularly well adapted for the part of Robert Stafford. Agnes Ayres gives a satisfactory performance of Virginia Blaine, although in the sequence after her marriage she seems to have but one expression and that not particularly becoming. She is far more attractive when she smiles. Robert Stafford, self-made millionaire, finds to his own surprise he is in love with a girl at a hotel switchboard. She is flattered by his attentions but is not in love with him, when she consents to marry him. Her sister, engaged to James Gilly (Walter Hiers), is eager to have her :onsent, since it means comfort and luxury for all. Stafford is very patient with his wife and she at length learns to love him. Two years pass with but one ploud to her happiness — Stafford's drinking. When intoxicated he forgets the consideration due his wife. On a night when her sister Fanny (played by Leah Wyant) and Jimmie have been to the ppera with Virginia. Stafford comes home intoxicated and when his wife repulses Him, breaks in her door. . Ashamed and repentant the next day he tries to make amends by presenting his wife with a diamond bracelet. She refuses it reminding him that the night before he nas told her she was his, "bought and 3aid for." She tells him she is going to eave him unless he promises never to irink again. He will not make such a Promise. She leaves, Robert telling her ie will come to her when she sends for lim, and she assuring him she will never io that — he must come to her. Jimmie oses his two hundred a week position ind Virginia has to go to work. Jimmie inally takes matters into his own hands ind telephones Stafford that Virginia ■vants him. Stafford, lonely and eager for ^conciliation, flies to Virginia. The iruth comes out but Stafford tells her he las given up drink and understanding :omes much to Jimmie's relief as he gets >ack his coveted job. Beautiful photography, a well-contructed story, good characterizations, .nd a cast that work intelligently make his a typical William de Mille producion. It is a play for adults, however, lthough care has been taken to avoid ny unpleasant suggestive situations. VERA GORDON IN YOUR BEST FRIEND (WARNER BROTHERS) Delightfully human story with a rich vein of laughter and pathos revealing Miss Gordon in a strong character role, supported by an excellent cast. It is clean and wholesome and should prove to be a strong box-office winner. Written and directed by Will Nigh, and produced by Harry Rapf. "Your Best Friend" with Vera Gordon, is a strong human interest story with a delightful entertaining vein that registers laughs, a wealth of pathos, and affords the star a splendid opportunity for a realistic characterization. There is more characterization and humaness than a complicated concoction of hokum. As the kindly, sympathetic widow, Miss Gordon reveals anew her ability as an emotional actress. She is seen as the lovable Mrs. Esther Meyers who is thrown into the maelstrom of two socially ambitious women who endeavor to climb the social ladder at her expense. One happens to be her daughter-in-law, and the other the mother of the daughter-in-law. Belle Bennett, as the misguided daughter-in-law and Beth Mason, in the ro'e of the society-crazed mother, both gave excellent portrayals. Harry Benham played capitally the role of the faithful, but ambitious son, and Dore Davidson, brought no end of laughs with his qjaintly humorous characterization of the trustful family bookkeeper. Stanley Price was sincere and effective in the few scenes in which he was seen. The story transports Mrs. Meyers from a modest home to one among the elite of West End. Here she sees her daughterin-law and the latter's mother squandering her hard-earned savings on gay parties and teas. When she tries to mother her little niece, or when she tries to become part and parcel of her son's household, she is snubbed and rebuffed and called old-fashioned by her daughter-inlaw. Her son, Harry, confesses to absconding with a bank's funds. To save him from jail, and incidentally to save the reputation of her other son, Robert, whose ambition is to become district attorney, Mrs. Meyers gives up all her money and pawns her jewelry to make good the loss. Back to her former home goes Mrs. Meyers. It is here that the final realization of her true worth dawns upon her daughter-in-law and the mother and there is a happy reconciliation. BEX TURPIN IN STEP FORWARD (SENNETT-FIRST NATIONAL) Mack Sennett may have made a funnier short comedy than this but it is pretty difficult to recall one. Ben Turpin greets the audience at the first closeup and is on the screen almost continuously throughout the entire footage and it is Ben at his best, with a typical Sennett cast in support. Turpin is cast as the motorman-conductor of a one-man street car and there is a continuous procession of laughs, with the usual number of Sennett thrills for good measure. VERA GORDON in a scene from "Your Best Friend," a Warner Bros, production made by Harry Rapf, and directed by William Nigh.