Exhibitors Herald (Apr-Jun 1922)

52 EXHIBITORS HERALD June 3, 1922 FLORENCE VIDOR IX REAL ADVENTURE (PATHE) Henry Kitchell Webster's story makes fair screen material. The unconvincing main theme is saved by freshness and naturalness of Miss Vidor's performance and excellent support accorded her. Directed by King Vidor from scenario by Mildred Considine. Five reels. she becomes famous as a designer of stage dresses. Her husband follows her to' New York and a reconciliation follows a complete understanding between the two. A little later a little stranger arrives at the Aldrich home which is the "real adventure'' in Rose's life. Florence Vidor in "The Real Adventure." (Pathe) There is undoubtedly a public for this type of screen play, depicting the unhappiness of a young wife who shares her husband's love but not his business life, but the majority of present day cinema patrons will have little sympathy for the main character — the wife of a successful lawyer, who leaves her husband because she is awed by his brilliancy and goes out into the world to earn her own living. The main source of appeal is Miss Vidor and she contributes her usual splendid performance. The characterizations are all good, the settings are in keeping with the play and throughout the production is excellent. The story is based upon an overdrawn situation however, and there is evidence of considerable padding. Miss Vidor is called upon to act the role of an impetuous, headstrong girl, who on her honeymoon dashes out into a snow storm, because her husband devotes an hour to a law book. Later when her husband ridicules her for attempting to study law, she leaves him to become a chorus girl in New York. Miss Vidor is much. too sensible looking for the role, but she tries valiantly to put over the part. Clyde Fillmore as the attorney-husband renders her admirable support. Nellie Saunders, Lillyan McCarthy, Phillip Ryder complete the cast, as Mrs. Stanton, Portia Stanton and a stage director respectively. There are several unusually good exploitation angles and a tie-up with department stores displaying dresses would aid considerably in attracting attention to this story of the home and the stage. The scenes of the play are laid in Chicago and New York. Rose Stanton quite accidentally meets Rodney Aldrich, famous as an attorney, when a conductor rudely accosts her for her fare on a street car. It is love at first sinlit and following a brief courtship they are married. Rpse becomes cross at Rodney on their honeymoon at his mountain lodge, when he turns to a law book. lie saves her from the florin into which she runs in her rage. Later in the city she determines to leave him and goes to New York, where as Doris Dane. JACK HOLT IN NORTH OF THE RIO GRANDE (PARAMOUNT) A robust Western, teeming with action. Jack Hclt as a very good bad man. Bebe Daniels natural as a dusky-eyed Senorita. Alec B. Francis a believable priest. Will Walling a fair villain. Exnert riding, shooting, etc.. anH capable direction by Rollin Sturgeon. Length, 4770 feet. A logical story, well stocked with actionable incidents is worked out against eye-tilling but authentic background in "North of the Rio Grande." The picture gets off to a swift pace in the opening scenes and increases tempo steadily to the end, a melodramatic and effective one. Cattle rustling, horse stealing, revenge and a murder figure as mainsprings of the action, yet each villainy is firmly predicated and no loose corners offer foothold for obstreperous objectors. The production is altogether excellent and admirably qualified to satisfy, the demands of the modern picture public. Jack Holt has the big role, son of a murdered ranchman who seeks revenge. Charles Ogle is briefly effective as the parent. Bebe Daniels gives good accoun' of herself as the daughter of the murderer, portrayed fairly well by Walling. Shannon Day imparts dash and conviction to the wholly acceptable character of a dance hall girl. Members of the Paramount stock company discharge the lesser obligations in satisfactory manner. The vengeful son of the murdered father roves the west in search of the murderer, is suspected of being a rustler, learns that the murderer' and the ..real rustler are one and the father of the girl he loves, substitutes for him to save his life when a posse has him cornered and wounded and is thrillingly rescued by the girl when her father, dying, tells the truth. 'TIS THE BULL (CHRISTIE-EDUCATIONAL) Bobby Vernon keeps the action of this play buzzing along at an even pace and it has sufficient good situations to draw laughter from any audience. The scenes in the arena are ludicrous in the extreme and there is a snappy finish to the picture. In Mexico Bobby, anxious to win the favor of the daughter of a wealthy Mexican, poses as a great American bull fighter. lie meets the champion bull fighter of Mexico, also in love with the senorita with the flashing black eyes. Bobby agrees to fight when his friend tells him." he has fixed it for a fellow dressed up as a bull to enter the ring and |>< "killed." The plot is discovered by tlit other toreador who turns a real bull loos, in the enclosure. Bobby tires him out racing around in front of him and finally drives him from the arena hanging onto bis tail. He lands in the U. S. A. before the bull stops and he says farewell to Mexico forever. A first-class comedy in every respect. SPECIAL CAST IN YELLOW MEN AND GOLD (GOLDWYN) The most has been made of this Gouverneur Morris tale by Director Irvin V. Willat, and the dramatic scenes given their full value. An imaginative story of the sea, lost treasure and romance. Six reels. Helene Chadwick and Richard Dix in "Yellow Men and Gold." (Goldwyn) There is good entertainment in "Yellow Men and Gold" — a romance of America and the Orient — and it has been well produced against rocky island scenery. The adventureg of a poor author in search of lost treasure who is trailed by a bloodthirsty gang of cutthroats and murderers, is at all times appealing and holds the interest for those seeking melodramatic stories. It is a story within a story, and the author has disarmed criticism for some of the story's unrealities, by telling you it is nothing but a fiction writer's conception of a story submitted and accepted, with slight modifications. A neat trick and one which serves its purpose. All parts have been well cast, including Richard Dix, as Parrish, the author; Helene Chadwick as Bessie; Henry Barrows, as Carroll; Rosemary Theby as Carmen; Richard Tucker as Lynch and R. T. Frazier as Abraham, a negro cook. The race at sea between two schooners, laden with treasure seekers, and the hand-to-hand struggles on the island in mid-ocean are well staged. Altogether an entertaining and acceptable ottering. I'arrish. a young author in love with Bessie, a neighbor, writes a story of adventure for a publisher. The play then fades into the romance as he conceived it, showing him finding a wallet under a spotted rock, left by a dying man. supposed to have been murdered by Carroll, an ex-sea captain, and his gang. Parrish is drugged and Carroll and his men make off with the map for the island in search of hidden treasures. Parrish on board the Shantung sets sail also, having given Carroll a false copy of the map. I'arrish and his Chinese crew, with Bessie aboard reach the island and discover the buiucl gold, just as Carroll and his men come up. Bessie is captured and imprisoned on Carroll's ship. Parrish, not knowing this sets fire to Carroll's ship. Then he rescues her and | watches the rival gang go to their death! in the bay. A happy fade-out on hoard the boat ends the romance. Then the I author asks lor the band of Bessit — his book having been accepted, and he is | accepted.