Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

60 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 29, 1922 One of the dramatic scenes from "A Pasteboard Crown," a new Playgoers picture, distributed by Pathe. SPECIAL CAST IN A PASTEBOARD CROWN (PATHE) Excellent acting, beautiful photography and rich sets are outstanding features of this Travers Vale Production, a tale of stage life, adapted from a novel by Clara Morris. These factors uphold the story which falters towards the finish after well sustained interest in the earlier footage. Directed by Travers Vale. "A Pasteboard Crown" is the story of a once wealthy girl who seeks a stage career after her family has been reduced to poverty. Something has been lost, either in adaptation or direction for, from an excellent start the climax reached fails to hold up to expectations. This is not a serious handicap, however, as the various roles played by such persons as Evelyn Greeley, Robert Elliot, Gladys Valerie, Eleanor Woodruff, Jane Jennings, Dora Mills Adams and Albert Roccardi are given excellent interpretation. The title of the production, it is apparent, is one that arouses interest and readily lends itself to exploitation. The picture contains the rich embellishments of a society drama combined with the natural interest that attaches to a story of stage life. The story. — When Sybil Lavvton's father takes his life following a disastrous turn of the stock market, the girl determines to make a name for herself on the stage rather than marry the rich William Bulkley who is old enough to be her father. Through the instrumentality of Stewart Thrall, an actor, she obtains a tryout with a road company in the west where she encounters many of the difficulties which it has been predicted she would find. She finds the show managers vulgar and unkind but refuses to give up. While with the company she helps revive the manhood of Jim Roberts, a derelict actor who has been going the downward path since his wife deserted him years ago. He becomes her continuous friend. Later she is given the opportunity of playing a leading part in a Shakespearian play through the aid and coaching of Thrall. The two fall in love with each other. The fact that Thrall is a married man leads Roberts and Miss Lawton's friends to mistrust his sincerity and a cablegram is dispatched to his wife in Europe to come home. She arrives at the opening of the play in which Thrall and Miss Lawton are starred and in her box in the theatre is seen by Jim Roberts who recognizes her as his wife. Believing Thrall had lured her from him he shoots the actor on the stage. The wound is not serious and when he has recovered Thrall is presented with a letter from his wife stating that she had divorced him abroad. He and Miss Lawton are then able to carry out the plans for their mutual happiness. What becomes of Jim Roberts and Thrall's divorced wife fs not known. BUSTER KEATON IN COPS (FIRST NATIONAL) The opening subtitle of "Cops" gets a laugh. Paraphrasing the films that quote from famous authors, it states "Love laughs at locksmiths! — Houdini." From then on it is a series of ridiculously serious situations, involving a man refused by his best girl until he has "made a big man of himself." He decides to go into business and buys a horse and wogan for $5, loads up a lot of furniture he has purchased from a crook, who didn't own the stuff, and while driving down the main street with it, interrupts an immaculate parade of policemen. An anarchist tries to blow up the parade but the bomb lands in Muster's lap and when it goes off the chase starts, which is some chase, with hundreds of extras, all dressed in regulation policemen's uniforms, participating. Away above the average for a comedy and one that represents considerable outlay in producing. Don't miss it. It is clean and will fit in with any program. WILLIAM RUSSELL IN MONEY TO BURN (FOX) This is a story of the stock market with a dash of humor that rounds it out as excellent entertainment Russell in a light and pleasing role that he carries well. Hallain Cooley contributes an interesting part as the butler. Directed by Rowland V. Lee. Five reels. "Money to Burn" from Sewell Ford's story "Cherub Divine" is good comedydrama entertainment of the variety that will appeal to audiences with the coming of warmer weather when the public's fancy naturally turns to the lighter form of amusement. It concerns "Lucky" Garrity, a man who was born with the proverbial horseshoe around his neck — and lucky persons prove quite interesting as a general thing. There is much excellent photography, some funny happenings in a house that is supposed to be infested with spooks and the usual exciting broker office scenes. William Russell as "Lucky" Garrity having "cleaned up" on the stock market and followed his streak of fortune with gay dinner parties, chorus girls and the like, decides that he is tired of all the glamour and gaiety. He purchases a country mansion from a real estate friend and goes there to rest up. Here things start to happen immediately upon his arrival. Unknown spirits turn mysterious lights off and on, sinister beings flit in the shadows and he is about to leave when he discovers a young woman in an upper part of the house. She and her father are the former occupants who were due to have moved. Garrity persuades her to remain as his guest — the two become friends. The young lady despises gamblers and Garrity accepts her challenge that he cannot remain away from the stock market for a week. In his absence the opposition starts hammering down his stock but he refuses to call off his vacation until he is accused of being yellow by his associates. Then the girl urges him to go to the aid of his friends and he returns to the thick of the fight and wins. His luck apparently deserts him when he returns and proposes and learns that the young lady is already married to Count Vecchi whom she deserted a few hours after her marriage. He is stumped momentarily until he discovers a prowler about the house whom he believes to be the Count. This, however, proves to be the count's secretary who has been blackmailing the wife of his former employer since his death. All of which makes everything happy for Lucky Garrity. William Russell in a scene from "Money to Burn." (Fox)