Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

Mav 20. 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 65 DAVID BUTLER IN \CCORDING TO HOYLE (WESTERN" PICTURES) V role which admirably suits this smiling, easy-going. broadshouldered actor. Excellent types in small town story which depicts the rise of a hobo to a young man with an object in life. Produced by Louis Burston. directed by W. S. Van Dyke. Story by Lottie Horner and Clyde Westover. Scenario by John B. Clymer. Arthur T. Todd cinematographer. The David Butler pictures are rapidly vercoming in story and acting the lacidity which marked some of his •irlier releases, and in this one espec.Ily he has been surrounded with definite .pes who are allowed to register their \vn gags and bits of business. In many oints it is the best Butler picture to ate, having a strong underlying meloramatic plot which culminates in a lase. Greater stress for comedy effect lould have been laid on this chase how.er. It is played as a straight chase I two robbers, but the effect is nullified \ reason of the audience knowing the ,)bbers got only an empty wallet. A le opportunity for a hokum chase was .erlooked here. Specific mention should made of the even, velvety photog phy.' Lottie Horner and Cylde Westover ,rote the story and they seem to have iuged the star's capabilities to a nicety. )hn B. Clymer wrote the continuity, he picture' is inclined to be jumpy in >ots, as though extraneous action inter)lated on location had to be cut at the udio and was found to be difficult to iminate. Helen Ferguson enacts the part of oris Mead and does fairly well with a ther colorless role. The love story . pretty much overshadowed by the laracter actors, Sam Allen, Buddy oss and Harry Todd, who are typical lall-town rubes, and their characterises have been well developed. They .ther a harvest of laughs. "Boxcar" Simmons is tramping the i I road ties enroute to nowhere when om a car window there blows a set of inted rules telling how to become a 'ccess in life. The idea rather appeals Simmons and he sets out to live by em. changing his hobo garb for better 3thes. for, as the rules specify "God >lps those who help themselves." Simons is mistaken tor a millionaire ming man. Dude Miller i Fred .1. Butler) d Jim Riggs (Harry Todd) set out to 11 him a rock-studded farm. Simmons scovers that Doris Mead (Helen Ferison) and her brother Jim (Phil Ford) re previously swindled by the slickers. * "salts" the ranch and the slickers y a large sum to buy back his option, inking it is a rich silver mine. Simons turns this money over to the girl d her brother. The slickers, on findis' they have been thwarted, crack the tel safe and steal Simmons' wallet— iich contains only the rules for success, nee safely away the slickers open the diet and find and read the last rule. >nce you get a good start — keep •mg." CONWAY TEARLE IN THE REFEREE (SELZNICK) A man's picture. Fast moving, logically developed story cf the prize ring, based upon a "Red Book" story by Gerald Beaumont. Continuity by Lewis Allen Browne. Directed by Ralph Ince. Length five reels. If any story or picture could persuade those opposed to prize fighting that the game is clean, this Conway Tearle vehicle is the one to do it. A short introduction shows John McArdle. a boy of about fourteen, and his mother. The boy is absolutely honest and manfully willing to take punishment for a misdemeanor. By the time he is grown, he is known as Honest John McArdle. and in a hotly contested fight wins the championship, middleweight class. Conway Tearle as a youth of twentyfour makes certain demands upon the imagination, but otherwise he fills the role satisfactorily. Gladys Hulette plays the sweetheart, and brings to it her fresh ycuthfulness and the naturalness that characterizes her work. "Janie's" father is Steve Roberts (played by Anders Randolph), a wealthy sporting man. When the big fight is over John hastens home to his adoring mother and the girl. There is good stuff in here where the uplift society calls to condole with the mother on the "disgrace" of having a son who is a professional fighter, and the mother's pride in that same son. Janie goes to her father and tells him she and John have something to say to him. Roberts is unwilling that his daughter marry a professional fighter although he likes and respects John. He appeals to the latter's sense of fair play and John agrees to let Janie go on a trip abroad that her father has planned and to say no more of love until she returns. The day she sails John is not there to say good-bye and she is terribly hurt. At the same moment John is being carried to the hospital, having, wrecked his car and himself to avoid running down a child. It is found that he is so injured he can never fight again. After some difficulty he opens a billiard room but finds he is pressed for money. He also referees fights. Janie returns but John, lacking money, does not seek her. A fight is arranged between "The Phantom" and "Canada Dick." The Phantom holds the championship and is offered a fortune if he will foul Dick and give him the fight. Steve Roberts has bet a fortune on Canada Dick. They must get a referee who will call the foul. Honest John McArdell. naturally. Roberts sends Rudy Metzer to John and when Rudy asks John what he will do if he sees a foul. John replies. "Call it. of course." Rudy then tells John he is to receive an extra twenty-five thousand. This puzzled him until his faithful satellite tells him the game is crooked. The day of the fight the two leather-pushers plainly show they are stalling. John warns them to fight or he'll call them. He finally stops the fight, calls all bets off and when the champion objects, knocks him out. Roberts calls that night to tell him he. Honest John, is the cause of Roberts losing fifty thousand dollars, for he had told Janie the fight was crooked, and that John knew it and yet was refcreeinar it. and Janie had bet him twenty-five thousand John would not referee a crooked game. Her father, taking the odds two to one. stands loser, but a willing one. since he is convinced that John is after all the man he wants his daughter to marry. SPECIAL CAST IN HUMAN HEARTS (UNIVERSAL) A very good and unusually dramatic film has been achieved in this picturization of the popular stage play. The screen drama has all the grip and heart appeal the famous stage play had. House Peters is excellent in the leading role and is accorded fine support. Directed by King Baggot. Eight reels. Here's a play that will appeal to the basic emotions of almost every theatregoer. It is an artistic and thoroughly convincing piece of screencraft and the old Hal Reid drama that thrilled thousands each night is destined to arouse new interest in the tens of thousands who will see it upon the screen. Few plays of years ago won greater favor among theatre patrons and it is safe to say it will repeat this success. There is distinct box-office value to the title as it was used for years by countless stock companies and is perhaps one of the best known melodramas of the decade. House Peters in the role of Tom Logan was excellently cast. He put the necessary force and conviction into his work and was altogether pleasing throughout. Russell Simpson was the austere, severe "Paw" Logan, while Gertrude Claire played the role of "Maw" Logan. George Hackathorne had the difficult role of Tommy, the half-wit son and little Mary Philbin was an ideal Ruth. The principal role, aside from House Peter's clever interpretation, that of Barbara Kay. was entrusted to Edith Hallor. and she was convincing and likeable throughout. Ramsey Wallace was cast as Jay Benton, while Emmett King was the Governor. Many of the familiar lines of the play were used as sub-titles and the scenes of the old blind mother pleading for her son's release from prison and the final reunion of Tom and his wife, are effectively and deftly directed by Mr. Baggot. The story, briefly, concerns Tom Logan, assistant to his father in his blacksmith shop, who falls in 'ove with Barbara Kay. a notorious character who plans to fleece him. Against his father's wishes, however, Tom marries her and they have a child. A former pal of Barbara's — Jay Benton — is released from prison and comes to see Barbara. Tom's father discovers them together, there is a scuffle and a shot and "Paw" Logan is killed. Jimmie. the half-wit brother, runs to the village and spreads the news that Tom has killed his father. He is tried and convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Barbara moves to the city with her child and lives with Benton. Tom saves the warden's life and his sentence is shortened. Upon his release Barbara returns to him and there is the usual happy ending. There are many amusing and well drawn types of country to-wn characters and the photography and lighting is excellent. New Barthelmess Film Charles H. Duell, president of Inspiration Pictures, which is starring Richard Barthelmess in a series of productions for First National distribution, announces that Mr. Barthelmess' next starring vehicle will be "The Bond Boy," by George Washington Ogden.