Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

April 8, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 75 SPECIAL CAST IX FAIR LADY (UNITED ARTISTS) An intensely interesting story, locale in Italy and New Orleans, founded on Rex Beach's novel, "The Net," with Betty Blythe and a capable supporting cast. Melodramatic, but authentically so, will hold interest from start to finish. Directed by Kenneth Webb. Scenario by Dorothy Farnum. Photography by Harry Stradling and Edward Paul. Presented by Whitman Bennett. Length, five reels. Like all of Rex Beach's stories, "Fair Lady." based on his widely read novel. "The Xet," seems constructed for picture purposes. Full of action, with a logical, albeit, melodramatic story, it is interpreted by an excellent cast, headed by the attractive Betty Blythe. capably supported by such well-known players as Thurston Hall, Robert Elliott. Gladys Hulette, Macey Harlam, and Effingham Pinto. Florence Auer, as the Spanish duenna, Lucrezia, gives an excellent performance. The story opens in Spain, with Countess Margherita (Betty Blythe) preparing for her wedding with Maruffi (Thurston Hall). One Cardi, head of a powerful band, whom no one knows by sight, forbids the bans. Maruffi laughs at the many warnings. An American. Xorvin Blake (Robert Elliott) has fallen in love with his friend's fiancee, and Lucrezia, the maid, knows it and resents the fact. The night of the wedding, the groom's party is attacked, he is killed, as is Lucrezia's father, but Blake escapes. When he brings news of the tragedy to the bride, she scores him for escaping when her lover was killed. She swears vendetta. The story now shifts to Xew Orleans. Blake still loves Lady Margherita, but little Myra Xell Drew's father hopes that one day his pretty, daughter will marry Blake and his money. Myra Xell prefers Count Modena. because he can be so romantically jealous. There is a band of Black Hand thugs operating in Xew Orleans, who seem to be guided by a superior intelligence. The chief of police rather suspects Modena and another nobleman. Count Martinello. The latter is making love to a Spanish lady, who is really the lovely Margherita under an assumed name, searching for the slayer of her lover. Blake meets her at Myra Nell's party. Myra's grandfather comes upon Blake and Myra in close conversation and takes it for granted they are engaged and makes the announcement to the dismay of Blake, delight of Myra Xell (as it makes Modena furious) and the surprise of Margherita. The Chief of Police gets word from Italy that Gian Xorcone, under an assumed name, is working on the docks in New Orleans. Blake can identify him as the actual assassin of Maruffi. He does so, there is a fight, and Gian is captured, but refuses to disclose the identity of "Cardi." Martinello makes love to Margherita and a ring he is wearing catches in her scarf and she sees the seal of "Cardi," confirming her suspicions. With Blake's aid she locates him, Blake orders .his, arrest, his men interfere, there is a lovely Rex Beach-style fight, Cardi escapes, but after a wild mob chase led by Modena and a hand-to-hand encounter between Blake and Cardi. Lucrezia finallv avenges her father by killing Cardi. saving her mistress from the blood of the vendetta. Of course Blake and the countess are united. It is well handled, the New Orleans atmosphere being most satisfactory, and the entire cast doing good work. It should prove a strong box office attraction. SPECIAL CAST IX ANY NIGHT i AMALGAMATED STATE-RIGHT ) A simple, yet dramatic story of a crook who reforms because of the love and faith of a wife. It has a certain amount of appeal and should please where photoplays of this type find favor. An excellent cast and careful direction by G. M. Anderson bring out the human interest of the story. Five reels. This Amalgamated Producing Company production, adapted from a story by Charles Munson, works up to a fine dramatic climax in the final reel, where a surgeon who is about to perform a delicate operation on a child, suddenly finds the lights turned off and is confronted by a burglar. How he persuades the burglar to hold his light so that it will shine in the child's face, and then the crook discovers it is his own child, gives the picture its big punch. The story is well told up to this point, as far as the continuity goes, but there is a tendency to draw out the early scenes in the rescue mission, where a minister addresses the poor misguided people of the slums. However, an exceptionally strong cast has been assembled to interpret the various roles and this is a point no exhibitor should overlook. Tully Marshall plays a crafty, sniveling underworld character, Jerry Maguire, in a convincing manner; Robert Edeson makes a strong, forceful figure of Jim Barton; Lysle Leslec is pretty and appealing as Mrs. Barton, and Robert Bebiliss. an excellent child actor, is Bobbie Barton. The Rev. John Matthews is played by Gordon Sackville. and William Courtleigh is the surgeon, Dr. LeRoy Clifford. Mabel Worth plays the part of the doctor's wife. The picture is being distributed by East Coast Productions, Inc. The Reelcraft Pictures exchange is handling it in the Central West. Jim Barton's wife. Anne, finds solace in the teachings of Rev. John Matthews in his little rescue mission. Here she finds encouragement in her efforts to have her son Bobbie grow up into honest manhood, in spite of the bad example set by his father, who continues to associate with his old partner in crime, Jerry Maguire. Maguire plans with Jim to rob a wealthy physician's home. Anne overhears their plan and goes to warn the doctor. Her child strays into the street and is struck by the physician's automobile. They hurry to Dr. Clifford's home with Bobbie and he decides an immediate operation is necessary to save the child'; life. At the critical moment in the operation the lights are extinguished by Jim Barton and his companion Maguire. whe have entered through a window. As Dr. Clifford goes to find the trouble he is confronted by the burglars. He pleads with them to give him light, and Jim holds his electric torch so that he can finish the operation. It is then he recognizes his own child. Anne arrives to warn the doctor and is overcome at finding her baby there. Bobbie is saved, however, and Jim Barton reforms. SPECIAL CAST IX YANKEE DOODLE, JR. (M. J. BURXSIDE PROD.) This is a picture so much out of the ordinary that it will undoubtedly prove one of the best state right attractions of the season. Acting, direction and photography is of the best and the story, while light, is an intensely interesting one. Six reels. "Yankee Doodle. Jr." looks like a big winner. Devoid of sex and domestic problems, and filled with rapid-fire action relieved by good clean comedy, this wholesome American story comes as a great relief from the usual run of picture plays. The production, which was ably directed by Jack Pratt, runs smoothly and rapidly from one interesting and exciting adventure into another. The settings are remarkably finely done and the handling of the mob scenes in the attack of the palace is especially worthy. The titling by Ralph Spence is snappy and adds no little to the value of the picture. The story is of an indolent son of a wealthy fireworks manufacturer, who is finally forced by his father to go to work. He is offered a job traveling for his father's firm and is given until six o'clock the same day to accept. In order to decide what territory he shall cover he jabs a pen into a whirling globe. The pen point sticks in that portion of the map showing a South American republic noted for its many revolutions, and after packing his samples the young man starts. Arriving there he finds a revolution in progress and after forcing his way into the presence of the dictator, he gets his first fireworks order. Later he comes into contact with the beautiful daughter of the former president and decides to help him regain his control over the republic. Then follows a series of exciting adventures which finally result in the return of the old regime to power, after a thrilling battle in which the enemy is routed by American fireworks. A huge celebration is planned by the president who orders that all who come with fireworks are admitted free. This booms the fireworks business and the young man wires home for carloads of goods. The final scene showing the great fireworks display is exceptionally effective and some startling effects are achieved. As the young fireworks salesman, J. Frank Glendonn proves himself to be a good actor and he gives the part of a real personality. Zelma Morgan is charming as the daughter of the president. Others in the cast are E. M. Kimball. Victor Sarno, Sidney D'Allbrock and Jack Pratt. "Holds the interest well all the way through. The atmosphere is also realistic." Harrison's Reports o n "The Sheik's Wife."