Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1922 - Mar 1923)

:ebruary 3. 1923 E X H I B I T () R S H E R A L I) 57 MARY CARR IX THE CUSTARD CUP <FOX) ^ very entertaining and amusing picture which will, with its variety cf emotions, appeal to most audiences. Good characterization and interesting story with the • pathetic note dominating are its principal talking points. Story by Florence Bingham Livingston. Seven reels. feiters arrest Penzie, and the children are kidnaped to keep them quiet. It all ends happily, however, when the waif from the city dump apprehends the lady and turns her over to the police; her husband is arrested, and Penzie is made happy by the proposal of her husband's oldest friend. THE CAST Mrs. Penfield, "Penzie** Mary Carr Ltltic Miri.m Battista Crjnk Jerry Devine Thcd Jeitmich Wlrston Frederick Esmelton Cussic B csley Myrta Bonillas Alccncan Curry Louis Hendricks Mr. Wopp!e Edwin Boring Length, 6,166 feet "The Custard Cup" has these qualities humor, dramatic moments and sentiicntal appeal in large measure and for <is reason it will appeal to the manly of film patrons. Although it has it a slight story and is rather d-awn jt, it has been handled with skill and e very intelligent performances of ary Carr, little Miriam Batista and a ell-chosen supporting cas;, lift it aoove e average in entertainment value. The ry common fault of spinning out the otage is noticeable and accounts for ost of the duller moments in the proiction. Judicious cutting would help considerable, especially one scenj in e garden with the waif and the old an fooling with the hose. This is entirely 0 long. -Mary Carr, as "Penzie." appears in a rt for which she is exactly suited — a rt of "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage itch" role — and it is largely due to r efforts that "The Custard Cup" is e big picture that it is. Miriam Batista nies in for second honors as the urin of the slums. The subtitling was done by Ralph ence. Many of these are funny, but ere are far too many of them, and ite a few to no purpose. For instance, : first title reads: "A nickel is better in a dollar because it goes to church tery Sunday." It is chock full of these d many expressions of hoirrely philoshy. The photography is excellent • d a well-handled pleasure boat disaster nished the usual movie thrill. Mrs. Penfield. known in the "Cusd Cup" district as "Penzie," after the •ath of her husband and three children, ds pleasure in mothering homeless '•its in her humble little cottage. She ■'they and feeds three youngsters and eir pets on the slight income from her operties, is called into consultation by : the neighbors and befriends a voung limed couple— the head of a counterXing ring. She takes her little brood 1 an Alderman's outing, and when the i interfeiter's wife gives her money to spnd, Penzie innocently becomes their 1 1 in passing the "queer." The boat < ches fire and they are rescued by a I sing hydroplane, manned by a "flv l> from the "Custard Cup."" Detec,cs get on the trail of the counter PRISCILLA DEAX IX THE FLAME OF LIFE i UNIVERSAL) Here is a production that bristles with the dramatic and has a climax that is suspenseful to the last degree. Capable players in vivid roles, combined with a star that has a large following makes it fine entertainment for any screen. Directed by Hobart Henley. Length, 5,700 feet. This new Universal production is Frances Hodgson Burnett's story. "That Lass o' Lowrie's." adapted to the screen. It is a picture that bubbles over with suspenseful incidents and there is a rescue in a flooded coal mine that will make the patrons grip their seats. Fast moving from start to finish, its interest is unfaltering. Priscilla Dean gives her usual excellent performance with Robert Ellis and W allace Beery in the important supporting roles. Beery especially is cast in a part which he carries off to perfection— that of the Dan Lowrie. the cruel father of Joan Lowrie. Robert Ellis is. Fergus Derrick, the over-man at the mines. And if you don't believe women can stage a fight for the screen that is equal in thrills to any ever put on by the "stronger sex" you should see Priscilla Dean and a fellow mine worker mix it in a rough and tumble affair. It makes a lot of film battles look like pink tea parties. Followers of the star may be disappointed in the fact that with very few exceptions is she seen in anything but her old shabby clothes, hair pulled straight back, and her face well smudged with coal dust. Also, those who like a strong dish of romance in a tale of this type will probably find the amount served somewhat insufficient. But these are really less important considerations and are overshadowed by the many big and dramatic scenes. On the whole it is a strong, fast moving story that should jar any audience with the force of its appeal and its excellent characterizations. The story tells of Joan Lowrie. who with the other girls working at the coal mines in England is preiudiced against her employers. The kindness of the over-man eventually wins her trust and in a thrilling rescue she saves his life from a disaster caused by her father, who had previously been discharged. BIGGEST BUSINESS in many months. and surpassed by only two pictures, is the record announced for "Secrets of Paris" during its engagement at the Cameo theatre in Xew York. This film is presented by C. C Burr, president of Mastodon Films, Inc. The two pictures which surpassed it in box office receipts were Mae Murray in "Peacock Alley" and John Barrymore in "Sher'ock Holmes." Mastodon officials attribute this remarkable bus:ness to the unusuallv exciting story told in "Secrets of Paris," which is an adaptation of Eugene Sue's "The Mysteries of Paris." Remarkable business is reported also from Philadelphia and Los Angeles where the picture played at the Victoria and Symphony theatres resoectivelv. Was This Lobby Display Junked? IF SO— WHY? Hundreds of exhibitors are going to play this same production and they are going to exploit it ! It cost you money to build this lobby display. Some other exhibitor could use this same set and he would pay for the use of it. Tell Him through Exhibitors Herald Classified Advertising What you have and How much he can get it for. Exhibitors Herald Classified Advertisements 5c a word $1.00 Minimum Payable in Advance Cost you little Get you a lot