Exhibitors Herald (Jul-Sep 1922)

SPECIAL CAST IN THE LADDER JINX (VITAGRAPH) A light, pleasing comedy-drama that gets over by its well chosen settings, good acting, attractive production and crisp, cheerful titles. The story is treated semihumorously all the way through, at times bordering on slap-stick. A Jess Robbins production. Six parts. Jess Robbins has followed up his first success, "Too Much Business," with another which, though it does not contaui the human interest nor as many amusing situations as the former play, is quite good entertainment. Edward Horton. who also has the leading role in this film, is as pleasing as ever, and reminds one strongly of Sydney Drew. His work as Arthur Barnes is natural and convincing, and he is given good support by Margaret Landis in the role of Helen Wilbur; Tully Marshall as Peter Stalton; Wilbur Higby as James Wilbur; Otis Harlan as Gridley; Colin Kennv as Richard Twing; Tom McGuire as Judge Brown; Will R. Walling as Officer Murphy and Tom Murray as Detective Smith. The story is enlarged with interesting and semi-humorous situations chiefly concerning the heroine's attempt to have her fiance avoid walking under ladders, stepping over brooms and doing other things which will bring him ill-luck. But the trouble starts when young Barnes tries to undo his early indiscretion of walking under a ladder, by getting mixed up with a burglar descending from a roof, being mistaken for the burglar by an "astute" detective, and being late for his sweetheart's dinner, at which his engagement was to be announced. However, it al! ends happily, with the guilty ones landed safely in jail, and the engaged couple doing a fade-out. MILE-A-MINUTE MARY (EDUCATIONAL) This Christie comedy, featuring Dorothy Devore, is mildly amusing principally because of the antics of a Ford car and a country hick. It has more plot than the usual comedy and gives promise of something different in the beginning but switches to the conventional in the latter reel. Dorothy and her three girl friends go camping. A country boy supplies them with wood and eggs. She forgets to mail a letter her father gave her, in regard to an oil well on which he holds an option. Her father arrives to visit them and she finds the letter. He hastens away to close the oil deal, is kidnaped by crooked oil men, and finally rescued bv Dorothy and delivered to the office of 'the land company one minute before his option expires. VIOLA DAXA IN FIVE DOLLAR BABY (METRO) This is a fairly good, smooth-running story of life in New York's tenement district, so devoid of eternal triangle elements as to make it acceptable hot weather entertainment. Carefully directed by Harry Beaumont and well photographed. Five reels. "The Five Dollar Baby." properly exploited, should do well in communities where they have had a surfeit of sex plays, eternal triangles and domestic problems which so many directors appear to believe must be contained in every picture. The picture, "suggested" by a story from the typewriter of Irvin S. Cobb, and well directed by Harry Beaumon! for Metro distribution, provides a pleasing vehicle for the petite charms of attractive little Viola Dana, and she gets all there is in the role. The story is of a hobo who finds a deserted baby on the steps of a foundling asylum and pawns it for five dollars ai the pawn shop of Ben Shapinsky, whose sign reads "I loan money on anything." In the basket containing the baby is a letter which states that the finder of the child, which is a girl, will learn of his reward at a certain trust company on the girl's eighteenth birthday. With visions of money, the hobo pays the interest all of the eighteen years and then discovers that he "is to get his reward in heaven." In the meantime the aged pawnbroker has learned to love the little girl and the hobo conceives the idea of holding him up for a large sum of money on threat of redeeming the pledge and taking the girl away. The girl, on her return from boarding school on her eighteenth birthday, is given a party, at which are the two youths who have fallen in love with and want to marry her. The hobo makes his demand and rather than lose the girl the old pawnbroker tells him to come back the following night and the money will be ready for him. The girl, learning that her benefactor is about to impoverish himself, takes the money from the safe. Angered at the trick he believes has been played upon him the hobo attacks the pawnbroker, but the latter is saved by Larry Donovan, the girl's choice of her two admirers. After an exciting scene, the hobo is arrested, the pawnbroker's money saved, and everything ends happily. JACK HOLT IN THE MAN UNCONQUERABLE (PARAMOUNT) A real drama concerning the pearl fishing industry, a willful young man and a pretty young lady. A couple of stiff fights handled especially well add to picture's value. Directed by Joseph Henabery. Six parts. Jack Holt's third starring vehicle is remarkably good drama. It has several unique twists to the plot and there is action enough to suit the most rabid melodrama hound. The fight in the Chinaman's cellar, the sinking of the pearl diving craft and the many humorous touches given the story compel interest from start Viola Dana and support in a scene from Metro comedy-drama "The Five Dollar Baby'