Exhibitors Herald (Oct-Dec 1922)

56 EXHIBITORS HERALD December 16, 1922 CHARLES JONES IN BOSS OF CAMP 4 (FOX A melodrama of the West, of big engineering feats, and of its type it affords good entertainment. There are at least two good thrills and plenty of action. It was adapted from a story by Arthur P. Haskins, and directed by W. S. VanDyck. Five reels. Charles Jones believes in "saying it with fists" and there are enough fights in "Boss of Camp 4" to suit the most pugilistically inclined. As the press book says, it is the story of a youth who wouldn't work until he fell in love, then he worked overtime. You may not regard the story as strictly new, for we've had many screen tales of roads and dams that have to be finished at a certain time with an opposing faction determined to delay the work, but our hero works hard in this case to make it convincing and he is given able assistance in Fritzi Brunette, G. Raymond Nye, Francis Ford, Sid Jordan and Milton Ross. Good photography by Ernest Miller is another of the picture's assets. It is the popular type of story and one of the best things Jones has done since changing his name from "Buck" to Charles. Chet Fanning falls in love with Iris Paxton at first sight. He secures work at Camp Four where Andrew Paxton is putting through a road and discovers the contractor is being duped by crooked foremen. The road must be finished by a certain date in order that Paxton can make payment on a ranch. The foremen plan to delay the work. Chet is made foreman after whipping the bully of the gang. The day the final work is to be clone Chet is tied hand and foot in the woods by Dude McCormick's men and dirt substituted for several boxes of powder placed in the tunnel. He makes a desperate attempt to reach the mouth of the tunnel before the blast is set off, to save one of the workmen who has been stunned and thrown into the tunnel and arrives in time to save his sweetheart from Dude's mauling. There is an exciting moment, too, where Chet saves his sweetheart from being crushed beneath rolling boulders. The latter part of the picture is one succession of thrills. NEAL BURNS IN OCEAN SWELLS (CHRISTIE-EDUCATIONAL) In "Ocean Swells" Christie gives comedy producers the always desirable "something to shoot at " It ranks near the top of current comedy production. Neal Burns, Charlotte Merriam and Bebe Blackburn are father, mother and daughter sojourning at the seaside and pestered by mosquitoes. Escape is sought l>y lifting the cottage onto a flatboat, creating a houseboat of novel character. Mother-in-law brings her numerous family to spend the Summer and son-in-law attempts flight by water. Complications follow with amazing rapidity, involving frequent plunges into the water by all i <>n< 'Tin '1. collision with a bridge, numer« ■ > 1 <~ physical conflicts, and ending when the husband restores the household to terra firma and departs with wife and daughter on a raft. I'.rbc I'.l.-n '.burn, ;i mere lot, stands "lit from the comedy by diving and swimming that would put the majority of adult profi .sionals to shame. Christmas (F. B. O.) This Carter DeHaven comedy, besides being extremely timely, is cleverly worked out. It will get a giggle out of the grown folks and gurgle of delight out of the youngsters. Carter is told by his wife to go out and get a Christmas tree. She hands him the axe and he finally finds a suitable bush on a beautiful lawn. He escapes with the tree just as the owner appears. At home he dresses up as Santa Claus. So does his father-in-law, and there is a mix-up of Santas when they encounter a burglar — dressed also as Santa — who has been robbing flats. They all run up the fire escape to the roof and go down the chimney, in true Santa style, and arrive in the flat blackened up. A goat figures prominently in the comedy. In fact, shares honors with the star. It's just the comedy for the holidays.—J. R. M. BILLIE DOVE IN YOUTH TO YOUTH (METRO) A mild little comedy-drama that will please any audience that likes stories of the stage. It has love interest, is well told, and well photographed. The story was written by Hulbert Footner. Direction is by Emile Chautard. Six reels. This is a pleasing little story of stage life, and while the theme — that of a stage star who runs away from her engagement to escape the unwelcome attentions of her manager — is not entirely new, the excellent production, acting and treatment make a film that can be recommended as good entertainment for any audience. The picture is very largely a oneactress show, the center of interest being Billie Dove. In "Youth to You,th" she looks and acts her prettiest, and she will win scores of fan admirers with this feature. Other excellent actors, including Cullen Landis, as the farm boy hero, Noah Beery, as the austere manager, Mabel Van Buren as the boy's mother, Edythe Chapman and Hardee Kirkland render her fine assistance. Photographically it is a splendid production and the scenes on the Chesapeake Bay and the floating theatre are unique and interesting. Eve Allison, Broadway hit, leaves the city to join a traveling troupe, when she learns that Brutus Tawney is supplying the flat and nice clothes she is enjoying. Pag« Brookins, a farmer boy, comes to see the road show in which Eve is appearing and falls in love with her. Tawney appears to take Eve back to New York. Page learns who she really is, and misconstrues their friendship. He rescues her from Tawney's yacht, however, after forcing a confession from the manager and Eve finds happiness on the farm with Page. SPECIAL CAST IN TOLL OF THE SEA (METRO) Technicolor's initial offering is an all-color picture of great beauty and exquisite artistic worth. The story follows closely "Madame Butterfly," and serves to present a wholly entertaining and interesting production. The art titles by J. S. Eland, also in color, set a new high mark in this field. Directed by Chester M. Franklin. Five reels. "The Toll of the Sea" is the first really all-color motion picture in the strict sense of that description, since it was actually photographed in natural colors and not tinted by mechanical process. As an achievement in a new field it sets a high mark, and as a picture on its merits as entertainment it fulfils all the requirements of the picture theatre. This picture is almost certain to meet with approval and patronage at the hands of those interested in the advancement of the motion picture and it merits serious consideration as a distinct step forward in the art of the industry. Not only is the picture itself in colors but the art titles have been reproduced in color from original oil paintings by John S. Eland, noted English portrait painter. This feature alone is highly artistic and adds a touch of distinction to the production as a whole. The story is based on the old Chinese legend that the sea not only gives great gifts to human kind, but exacts a double toll in that it takes away as quickly as it gives. A young and handsome man is tossed to the shore by the arriving waves. He falls in love with a Chinese maiden. A child blesses their union. Then the young sailor is called back to the states and for the time forgets his Oriental sweetheart. He marries an American girl and the two journey back to the land of cherry blossoms. The poor little Chinese mother realizes the futility of it all. gives up her baby boy to the sailor's wife, and takes up her lonely existence after their departure. Then the sea, which brought her great, although brief happiness, exacts its tol! and the lonely, forsaken mother walks out into the waves and is swallowed up by the "Serpent of the Sea." ROLLING DOWN TO RIO (U. S. NAVY RECRUITING OFFICE) Sponsored by the Navy Department, this two-reel film makes interesting entertainment. Life on a man-of-war is brought intimately before us, and fascinating and instructive glimpses of the city of Rio de Janeiro made for added interest. The big guns in action are shown, work and play of the jackies each day. the show staged by the men when the Equator is crossed, where officers as well as men who have never before crossed the line meet King Neptune and his daughter, and are given a ducking. The review of the men by Secretary of State Hughes on board sli p as well as after the arrival in the South American city, and the game participated in by the visiting jackies of several nations, all made interesting screening. When the U. S. boys win the boat race it makes an interesting finish.