Exhibitors Herald (Sep-Dec 1923)

52 EXHIBITORS HERALD November 24, 1923 Deare, is exceptional. A very clever youngster. Douglas Monro contributed a good character study as the uncle, and Miss Bannerman was adequate as Mrs. St. John, as was Mr. Owen as Mr. St. John. THE CAST: Cecelia St. John, Marjory Bannerman; Heathcote St. John, Reginald Owen ; Archie St. John, Peter Deare ; Uncle Jeremy, Douglas Monro; Mrs. Gresham, Gertrude Sterroll. Does Best Work of Career "LIGHT THAT FAILED." Paramount attraction directed by George Melford. A special cast, with Jacqueline Logan the featured player, appears in this Kipling story. Length is 7,500 feet. The picture is a little slow getting started, but when it does the interest is all-absorbing, and Jacqueline Logan's work is all that can be desired. From the moment she appears on the screen in the role of the woman of the streets the action snaps up. The narrative then goes forward with a compelling directness that brings about a tightening of the throats and a free use of handkerchiefs by the audience. Miss Logan does some of the best acting of her career. Technically her work is almost flawless and she brings a personal quality of sympathy to the role that makes her acting definitely excel anything she has done heretofore. Percy Marmont, as Dick Heldar, the artist who goes blind, thus giving the title to the story, is held down. But with his rather limited opportunity he again reveals himself as one of the trulv talented players of the screen. David Torrence in the part of Torpenhow, the correspondent friend of Dick, adds to the fame he has been steadily building up for himself in the last two years. His part is not a tremendous one but what it is, is perfectly played. Kipling devotees may find fault with the nutting of the story in the time of the Great War and attaching it to it. To those who looked at the picture for its own sake this is merely a change and not a fault. The alteration, if anything, adds interest. THE CAST: Jacqueline Logan, Percy Marmont. David Torrence, Sigrid Holmquist, Mabel Van Buren, Luke Cosgravo, Peggy Shaffer, .Winston Miller and Mar* Jane Irving. A Trip to Universal City "THE THRILL CHASER" presents Hoot Gibson in his latest Universal vehicle, a swift moving and entertaining film written and directed by Edward Sedgwick. Six reels of scenes around the Universal lot with a thrill finish. This picture will prove interesting to others than Hoot Gibson followers. It is a sort of follow up on "Hollywood." "Souls for Sale" and "Mary of the Movies" and is an improvement on all of them. Its novelty consists of introducing to you many of Universal's famous directors and players and gives an insight into howpictures are made at Universal City. The titles are especially well written aiid the action is never allowed to lag tor a moment throughout the six reels. Gibson is cast as a cowboy who upon learning that the drugstore cowboys in pictures get $2,000 a week, immediately goes to Hollywood. He works as extra man in various pictures and by acting the perfect dumb-bell, gets thrown out of picture after picture. Finally he is hired to go to Arabia to impersonate a prince and while "doubling" for the weak-spined one, falls in love with his affianced wife. Hoot saves the city by riding to a distant point for French troops, and also wins the girl. THE CAST: Omar Jenkins. Hoot Gibson; Alala, Billie Dove; Prince Ahamad, William \i. I-awrence: Sheik Ussa, Joseph O N.il: Abdul Bey', Lloyd Whitlock. Well Told Mystery Play "THE LEAVENWORTH CASE," Vitagraph play, with special cast. Directed by Charles Giblyn from story bv Anna Katherine Green. Seven reels. "The Leavenworth Case" is more or less familiar to all readers of detective talcs, but it loses none of its entertainment value through transference to the screen. Its highly dramatic moments have been well retained by Director Giblyn. The story is well told and not made too obvious by the actions of the characters, although the secretary's actions somewhat "give him away" before the final denouement. The picture is well staged and lighted and full of dramatic interest; the story flows smoothly and works up to a splendid climax. Scena Owen was well cast as Eleanor Leavenworth and Martha Mansfield as Mary. Bradley Burke gave a good performance as the lawyer and Wilfred Lytell put "pep" into his work as the mysterious Anderson. The story concerns the mysterious death of Leavenworth in his study; an odd will that is found, and the incriminat Percy Marmont and Jacqueline Logan in two important bits of action from "The Light That Failed" (Paramount). ing evidence of a revolver and handkerchief belonging to Eleanor. How the real culprit, the secretary, is finally made to confess, which clears Eleanor's name and leads to her happiness, ends the story. THE CAST: Seena Owen, Martha Mansfield, Paul Durett, Bradley Burke and Wilfred Lytell. Delightful Little Comedy "SIX CYLINDER LOVE," a William Fox attraction, with Ernest Truex as the star. Adapted from the stage play of William Anthony McGuire and directed by Elmer Clifton. Seven reels of good, clean, wholesome entertainment. Ernest Truex in this screen version of his. successful stage play, is a riot. The diminutive comedian scores a decided hit in this Elmer Clifton production and provides as good entertainment as the stage play did. It is a Fox special and one of the best comedies of the season. Many of the humorous lines of the play have been employed to advantage and the beautiful photography, excellent sets and general completeness of the picture makes for unusual and pleasing entertainment. The story on the screen follows the play. It tells of the Sterlings who arc happy in their little bungalow until an auto salesman induces them to buy a second hand car. His friends increase many fold, and he is kept up all hours of the night entertaining. Soon Gilbert finds his salary is not sufficient to meet the demands made upon it. He thereupon "borrows" funds from his employer. When Staplcton, his employer, finds it out, Gilbert sells his house and goes to live in a cheap flat, to re-pay the money. Finally he sells the car to the janitor for $1,000 and pays off his debt to Staplcton, who proves a real friend by offering him his former position. THE CAST: Gilbert Sterling, Ernest Truex; Marilyn Sterling, Florence Eldridge; Richard Burton, Donald Meek; Geraldine Burton, Maude Hill; Phyliss Burton, Anne McKittrick; Marguerite Rogers, Marjorie Milton; Bertram Rogers. Thomas Mitchell; William Donroy, Ralph Sippcrly; George Stapleton. Berton Churchill; Harold Winston, Harold Mann; Tom Johnson, Frank Tweed; Mary, Grace Gordon. DeMille Resumes Old Duties as Director General for F. P. L. (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS AXGELES, Nov. 13.— Cecil B. DeMille and Famous Players-Lasky have "hooked up" for life. All future products of the famous impresario of "The Ten Commandments" and other film triumphs are to be made for Paramount and DeMille is to resume his active executive duties as director-general of the Famous Players-Lasky productions. Announcement of the new arrangement was made here by Adolph Zukor, president, and Jesse L. Lasky, first vice-president in charge of production, who said: "All future products of Mr. DeMille will be made for this organization, thereby assuring a continuation far into the future of our association in the making of Paramount Pictures. In addition to continuing the production of his o\vn pictures, Mr. DeMille will resume the executive duties of director-general, of which he asked to be relieved three years ago to permit him to give all his time to his own production."