Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1922)

58 EXHIBITORS HERALD November 4, 1922 DIGES VPICTURES of (AeWEEK FRANK E. WOODS, in last week's Camera, gave some interesting statistics concerning the motion picture industry. Mr. Woods contends that the motion picture is progressing — continuing to develop greater art quality and finer sense of story telling. He says : "If you believe everything that you read in the newspapers and magazines, you will understand that the motion picture art or industry is in a terrible way. Everything is wrong. The stories are rehashes or inane ; the picture incidents are shocking or uninteresting; the thrills are illogical or stereotyped. In short, the motion picture is ceasing to progress and the devil generally is to pay. "Let us inquire a little bit and try to discover if there is any truth in the general indictment. There are about 800 picture plays of five reels or longer produced in the United States every year. Anyone will be able to recall readily from a list of last year's productions at least fifty pictures which are entitled to and have received from the public general commendation. Let us compare this relative number to the product of the stage and printing press. It is safe to assume there are thousands of novels and short stories published every year. Of these thousands how many can be reckoned as exceptional or as showing advancement in literature? Are there any more than fifty in a year's product? "Take the stage. The number of new plays produced in a year in all parts of the country will number several hundred. Out of this product how many great plays so recognized by the public are there that survive? Are there twenty-five ? I doubt it." Therefore, according to Mr. Woods, the exceptional pictures represent fully as high an average of excellence as is found in the contemporary stage plays or published fiction. The difference is* because we do not judge literature by the mass of junk published, but by the exceptional books, and we judge the stage by the successes and not by the failures. Mr. Woods contends it is wrong to pass judgment on the entire product of the motion picture profession by reference only to the very poorest examples. — J.,R. M. "CLARENCE" (Paramount) the adapted Booth Tarkington stage success is one of the outstanding films of the month. The technique is excellent and William deMille has lost none of the subtle humor of the original play in transferring it to the screen. An all-star cast is presented in it, headed by Wallace Reid. "WITHOUT COMPROMISE" (Fox) is William Farnum's latest starring vehicle, a Western story of timely interest, inasmuch as it concerns a political fight in which an honest townsman runs for the office of mayor in the face of stiff opposition. Good story value in this Fox film. "THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN" (Hodkinson) with Will Rogers in the role of Ichabod Crane. Technically excellent, and while acted with complete sincerity and artistic finish, lacks the dramatic punch so necessary to gain the attention of picture audiences. It is a C. S. Clancy production. "THE BOND BOY" (First National) stars Richard Barthelmess and was directed by Henry King. It is a great drama and one that will win further honors for this star. Of strong emotional appeal it is a worthy successor to "Tol'able David" and is another Barthelmess achievement that promises to stand out in recollection. "THE LAVENDER BATH LADY" (Universal) presents Gladys Walton in a conventional story — that of shop girl who dreams of wealth and nice clothes and through a series of circumstances acquires both. As a program picture it will answer every requirement. "TILL WE MEET AGAIN" (Associated Exhibitors) This drama, while conventional as to plot, is interpreted by an excellent cast of players whose names should prove magnets at the box office. It is richly staged, holds the interest and should prove satisfactory entertainment. Six reels in length. Wallace Beery, as Richard the LionHearted, in "Robin Hood" and Paul Dickey as Sir Guy of Gisbourne, in one of the impressive bits of action of the big Douglas Fairbanks picture.