Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

SPECIAL CAST IN SISTERS (AMERICAN RELEASING) V refreshing little home drama that will appeal to audiences seeking clean, wholesome entertainment, and those of artistic tastes. Adapted from Kathleen Norris' novel and directed by Albert Capellani. Five interesting reels. This International Film Service Co. >roduction deserves a special niche of its own in the hall of better films. It is a simple, straightforward little tale that will impress and please every rightminded, clean living individual and "Sisters" is a picture every exhibitor can invite the whole family and the family minister to see, without giving offense to the most skeptical. The smooth running story culminates in one or two fine dramatic climaxes and you "feel good" all through at having seen it. The play features Seena Owen, Gladys Leslie and Matt Moore, but many other jgood players appear in the cast. Joe King was excellent as Martin Lloyd, and Robert Sellable scored with his Justin Little, a small town lawyer. Seena Owen's carefully shaded portrayal of the courageous girl, who fought her own sister to hold her husband, was a splendid piece of work. Miss Leslie was convincing as the frivolous sister. Cherry, and Mildred Arden a pathetic figure as Anne Little, the cousin Cherry Strickland is in love with Peter Joyce, a scholarly young bachelor. Her cousin Ann Little's beau is Martin Lloyd. However. Martin falls in love with Cherry and she, thinking she is in love with him, marries him. Anne then marries a young i lawyer, and Alix Strickland and Peter are left alone none having suspected Peter was deeply in love with Cherry. Peter goes cn a long trip around the world "to forget." Finally he returns and Alix and Peter, to escape their mutual loneliness, get married. Then Cherry leaves Martin and comes to Alix's home. Peter sides with Cherry when Alix tries to patch things up and get Cherry to take a sane view of married life. Martin appears and tries to get Cherry to go back with him. That night Alix accidentally overhears Peter and Cherry planning to go away together the next morning. She sits up all night and intercepts them. Martin is injured in a logging camp and Ab'x's diagnosis of her sister's real feeling is instantly proved true when Martin is brought home. Peter, humiliated and humbled by the splendor of Alix's courage and the greatness of her love, decides that the only decent thing he can do is to go away and leave her free. She tells him that no one can free him from his promise once made as solemnlv as the marriage vow and she tells him "If life holds anything for either of us, we'll find it here — together." MARION DAVIES IN BEAUTY'S WORTH (PARAMOUNT) A study in style, an intensive one, with a made-to-order story that gets better as it develops. Superb mountings and flawless photography in themselves sufficient to the footage. Marion Davies in a clean cut delineation of character. Robert G. Vignola's direction an asset. Six reels. "Beauty's Worth," a Cosmopolitan production, will be watched steadily from opening to closing scene. By sheer eye appeal the splendidly photographed settings and costumes insure this attention. In view of a rather obvious story and subtitles that seem not to belong to the narrative this mechanical excellence is important. Marion Davies in "Beauty's Worth." (Paramount) Marion Davies and Robert G. Vignola give good account of themselves, the former endowing a difficult character with realism, the latter developing the picture steadily and getting every ounce of potential effect out of situations available. Forrest Stanley and Hallam Cooley are best in support, the latter making his villain a little more impressive than the former's hero. June Elvidge falters at times in the execution, of a thankless role. A host of extras enact exactly the gathering of snobs they are supposed to represent. Prudence Cole, played by Miss Davies, is introduced as a Quaker girl reared by two severe maiden aunts. She is permitted to visit the Garrisons, mother and grown son, at an ultra fashionable resort, where her precise mannerisms make her the center of amused attention. Young Garrison, whom she had hoped to marry, all but ignores her. Cheyne Rovein. artist and thinker, senses the girl's position and selects her for the leading role in elaborate charades which he stages, designing costumes and coaching her as to conduct. On this night she outshines her critics, wins the adoration of the men and the enmity of the women, and the dallying Garrison returns to pay her court. The following morning she refuses him and promises to marry Rovein. TOM MIX IN UP AND GOING (FOX) A really excellent drama, done with all the verve and energy at Tom Mix's command. There is plenty of suspense, much excellent acting and typical Northwest scenery. Directed by Lynn Reynolds. Five reels. Tom Mix is called upon to do many strenuous things in "Up and Going" from playing a stiff game of polo to vanquishing a villain under water. But as he collaborated with Lynn Reynolds in writing the story he deserves no sympathy. He wished the many stunts upon tiimself. As a picture though, it is about as interesting a piece of screen fiction as has come from the Fox studios in some time Mix puts pep into his acting and with the naturalness of his supporting cast, the strong appeal of the settings and the beautiful rugged out-of-doors stuff, it is a thoroughly enjoyable film. Mix is cast in the role of David Brandon, son of a wealthy Englishman who seeks excitement— and rinds it — in Northern Canada. There are several fights that are about as rugged as ever were staged and especially good is the underwater battle. Eva Novak is winsome and pretty as Jackie McNabb, a little Canadian lassie; Carol Holloway well cast as Marie Brandon and the other parts well played by William Conklin, Sidney Jordan, Tom O'Brien, Pat Chrisman and Paul Weigel. The story is in five parts with a prologue. i he Brandons live in the North woods — in St. Jacques — where the little FrenchCanadian mother cooks for her husband and rears her child, David. Albert Brandon comes into a fortune and they go to England to live. A few years elapse and Marie, the mother, returns to St. Jacques, she having been divorced by Albert. She marries Basil DuBois, a former sweetheart, who is in the whiskey smuggling business with Louis Patie. David is jilted by an English girl and he yearns to travel. He goes to Canada, joins the Northwest mounted police and in the course of duty is assigned to St. Jacques territory. He finds his comrade. Sergeant Langley, killed and starts on the trail of DuBois and Patie, who have left incriminating evidence behind. Catching up with them, he finds Jackie McNat>b being forced to accompany them, because she knew DuBois shot Langley. David not only captures the murderer, but finds that Marie is his mother and lackie is his childhood sweetheart. Will Produce New Series William LaPlante, producer of Metro's "Fightin' Mad," has secured the film rights to six books from the pen of a prominent author. The series will be published through Anchor Film Distributors, Inc., of which Mr. LaPlante is an officer.