Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

56 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 29, 1922 DIGEST/ PICTURES of. tAeWEER THERE'S an old saying, used among showmen for years, "It's always a good season for a good show." And astute theatremen know this still holds good. Poor pictures mean poor business. The people know what they want and will take no substitute. Therefore, it behooves every manager to be on the lookout for the best in screen entertainment and he can find no better guide than the reports of his fellow showmen in "What the Picture Did For Me" department of this publication. These are written for the benefit of exhibitors by exhibitors who have lost or made money on certain pictures. Every good picture nowadays is making money for both the producer and exhibitor. The public is quick to respond to a good production and many exhibitors who cannot find suitable new material, are cleaning up by repeating assured successes which previously occupied their screens. It is becoming more and more difficult to foist inferior pictures upon the public as the exhibitor who attempts it learns to his sorry in depleted box office receipts. The exhibitor who has the welfare of his patrons at heart will not try it. It does not pay. — J. R. M. "THE MAN FROM BEYOND" (Houdini Pictures Corp.) has the audience appeal of a serial crowded into six reels. The star is seen at his best, performing the feats for which he is famous throughout the picture. The story is frankly melodramatic and deals with reincarnation. Burton Kings directed. "THE SLEEP WALKER" (Realart-Paramount) is a sometimes interesting story told in the meticulous style of juvenile fiction. Constance Binney is its chief asset. Jack Mulhall, Bertram Grassby and Cleo Ridgely seem handicapped by arbitrary direction. There's at least one good exploitation angle, which the title indicates, but it is doubtful if the picture will stand a great deal of pressure. "THE FACE BETWEEN" (Metro) is an adapted Justice Miles Foreman story with Bert Lytell playing a dual role. The story concerns a self sacrificing son who is banished to an isolated spot by an irate husband. Not a very logical or convincing story. Directed by Bavard Veiller. "ARABIAN LOVE" (Fox). This is a colorful tale of the desert in which a romance evolves about John Gilbert pictured as an Arab, and Barbara Bedford, a white girl, who is captured by an Arabian band. It holds a good amount of interest and Gilbert and Miss Bedford give excellent portrayals. Five reels in length. "OTHER WOMEN'S CLOTHES" (Hodkinson) presents Mabel Ballin in a trite story of New York, concerning a niodestc's assistant who is discovered by a wealthy young man dressed in fine clothes in his mother's boudoir. Miss Ballin is attractive and plays her role with unusual skill. The piece has many effec tive bits of direction and the lighting effects are wonderfully well handled. "TOO MUCH BUSINESS" (Vitagraph) is as amusing a screen comedy as has appeared in some time It is a romance of business life, written by Earl Den Biggers, and the crisp, humorous subtitles combined with the snappy action and excellent character studies put this one in a class by itself. A seven part attraction that should prove a good box office drawing card. "A PASTEBOARD CROWN" (Pathe). A stor> of a wealthy girl reduced to poverty who seeks success on the stage. Well acted and richly produced with the principal drawback being the weakness of the stor) toward the finish. Five reels in length. "THE RED PEACOCK" (Paramount) in interpretation, direction, photography, and the star's work is one of the best foreign-made pictures on the market. It stars Pola Negri in a somewhat familiar role, being another version of "Camille." It was directed by Pair Stein. Five reels. "THE MAN UNDER COVER" (Universal) is at. unusually interesting crook story, with the likable Her bert Rawlinson in the stellar role. It was adapted fron a story written by a prisoner in Arizona penitentiary and real cleverness is displayed in developing the stor\ upon the screen. Tod Browning directed it with adroi skill. "THE WOMAN HE MARRIED" (First National presents Anita Stewart in a sparkling, convincing am thoroughly enjoyable drama of society life. It has beei lavishly mounted, well directed and Miss Stewart score: in the role of an artist's model married to a man o wealth. She is given splendid support by Darrell Foss Shannon Day, William Conklin, Charlotte Pierce an< Donald MacDonald. "THE FIRST WOMAN" (R-C Pictures) is ai odd pot-pouri of drama and comedy, with a corned) twist at the finish that saves it. It is the old, old ston of a chorus girl and a wealthy playwright who is trickec into giving the leading part in his play to a coined) queen. It was written and directed by Glen Lyon. "MONEY TO BURN" (Fox). This is a pleasing comedy-drama in live reels with William Russell in I likable role as Lucky Garrity on whom fortune alway smiled. It holds the interest and makes good entertain ment of the light variety.