Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1923 - Mar 1924)

54 EXHIBITORS HERALD March 8, 1924 Fair Entertainment In This Feature "DEFIANCE," a William B. Brush production, written by John T. Prince. Directed by Bertram Bracken. Length, 5,550 feet. Intrigue, romance and action make '"Defiance" a Rood program picture. It is a different sort of story in many ways and again it plays upon man}' of the same old chords that supply the theme for scores of passable pictorial tunes. Michelo Brescia and his daughter Lucia immigrate to America to enjoy the opportunities that are said to be on every hand in "the land of the free." After a few Avecks in this country they face starvation and Brescia determmes to end it all by throwing himself and his beautiful daughter into the sea. Lucia falls in a boat and is rescued unbeknown to the distracted father who is saved from a watery grave by a passing policeman. Lucia falls in love with her rescuer, Guido Savori, but another — one Francisco, a villainous old fisherman — also craves her. To gain his end, Francisco caused the finger of scandal to point toward Lucia, who has been keeping house for Guido and Luigi Bevani. his good friend, and the latter's little crippled sister, and as a result the girl is driven from the peaceful little home while her lover is absent. Francisco seizes the girl as she is roaming aimlessly along the beach and he sells her to Pietro, Guido's uncle, an artist by day and a smuggler by night, who is in partnership with Dr. Choog Foo. Both the artist and the Chinese doctor grow to love the girl but the latter's aflfection is that of a lustful nature. From this point on, there is a constant struggle for Lucia's hand and it is the methods employed to gain their end by the quartet of pursuers — her lover. Guido. Pietro, the artist, Foo and Francisco, the heavies, — that go to make up the interesting story. Lew Cody is Pietro, gives an excellent characterization as does Joseph Swickard . as the father of Lucia. Renee .Adorce gives a satisfactory performance in the role of Lucia. Others in the cast are James B. Leohn as Dr. Foo; Dick Sutherland as Luigi Hevani, a kindly fisherman and friend of Guido; Charles A. Post, as the dastardly Francisco; Naldo Morelli as Guido, Kathleen Chambers as Sylvia Bareto, Evelyn Adamson as Maria Baretto and Marguerite Kosik as -\licia Bevani, the crippled child. The Cast: Lew Codv. Renee .\dorec. James B. Leohn, Charles .\. Post, Naldo Morelli. Kathleen Chambers, Evelyn .Adamson. Marguerite Kosik and Dick Sutherland. Boy Scouts Will Like This "ABOUT FACE," a JuvenileEducational comedy in two reels. Directed by A. E. Gillstrom. Versatile little Johnnie Fox, Jr. is the pivot around which this comedy revolves. It will doubtless be a knockout in neighborhoods where the Boy Scouts are numerous. The story concerns a Boy Scout dismissed from camp. He gets into trouble at home and after a lively chase by the village police returns to camp where the .Scout Master gives him another chance. H wB^^ 1 ^^^R^Miw ~ mm ^^^H^-# /i^ i " lis ■ ^^^^^^1 K^*^"'^^l 1 ■P^ ~^^^^H 1 IP " • 'A-^i y-^^^jk i JOHN GILBERT in a scene from the Fox production, *'The Wolf Man," in which he is starred. Conventional Tale Given Good Production "THE WHITE SIN," F. B. O production, starring Madge Bellamy. Written by Harold Shumate. Directed by William Seiter. Length, 6,230 feet. This is a Palmer Photoplay Corp. story, not very novel in theme or denouement, depending upon a spectacular fire finish for punch. This latter is well handled and introduces some excellent color work giving the fire scenes a lifelike aspect. The cast is an excellent one numbering such well known stars as Madge Bellamy, Hallam Cooley. Otis Harlan, Edith Wales. John Bowers and others. There is much excellent photography and Director Seiter has managed to keep the action moving smoothly leading up to the exciting fire climax. Madge Bellamy in the leading role works hard to make her conventional heroine seem real. Coincidence plays an important part throughout. Hallam Cooley is the villian who commits the "white sin" and aside from one or two scenes m which he overacts, is adequate. John Bowers is introduced during the latter half of the picture and finishes as the hero. Francelia Billington, an old favorite, has an important role and Billy Bevan is given a comedy part. It is the old. old story of the country girl who runs away from the hick town because her aunt will not let her attend an ice cream social. She becomes a maid on a private car, and thence on a private yacht. She is married to a rich idler on the boat, and he tells her the marriage was not legal because the boat was not three miles out. Eventually she arrives at the rich idler's home and he is reported dead. She falls in love with his brother, but he returns suddenly. Then she learns that the marriage was legal. There is a fire in which the idler loses his life and Hattie Lou and Grant Van Gore (all rich folks have a Van to their names) are happily married. The Cast: Madge Bellamy. John Bowers, Hallam Cooley, Francelia Billington. James Corrigan. Billy Bevan, Ethel Wales, Myrtle Vare. Crook Story With Big Punch "TORMENT," a First National production featuring Owen Moore and Bessie Love. Produced by Maurice Tourneur, from a story by William Dudley Pelley. Scenario by Fred Myton. Photographed by Arthur K. Todd. Six reels. The recent Japanese earthquake with its attendant destructiveness forms the background for the big dramatic scene in "Torment." It is another regeneration .story, with crooks outwitting crooks, and serves to pass an agreeable hour's time. It keeps you busy following the plot of the story which starts in Russia, switches to -America and thence to Japan. The scenes during and following the earthipiake, when a horde of gem thieves get caught in the underground vaults of a Yokohama bank, are very realistic and jjive the necessary grip and thrill to the stor>'. A well chosen cast headed by Owen Moore and Bessie Love do good work tliroughout. Joseph Kilgour was excellent as the millionaire, Flint; Morgan (ieorge efficient as Mrs. Flint; Morgan Wallace a splendid type for Carstock, the arch villian and George Cooper convincing as Fogarty, another crook. Jean Hersholt played Boris Romanoff, while Owen Moore scored as Carstock's tool, Hansen and Bessie Love, as Mrs. Flint's maid. The story begins in Russia, where a revolution is in progress and there is a search for the crown jewels. Boris Romanoff, trusts them to another and escapes with his life. In America he plans to sell them to aid his countrymen. A crook and his accomplice plan to steal them and go to Japan to view the jewels. The great earthquake traps them all in the cellar vaults of the bank. The crooks decide to reform and go straight if they ever get out alive. Finally a rescue party saves them from death and happiness comes to Hansen and Marie, the maid. The Cast: Bessie Love, Owen Moore, Maude George, Joseph KHgour, George Cooper. Morgan Wallace, Jean Hersholt. Valentino Shines In Old Two-reeler "A SOCIETY SENSATION," Universal, starring Rodolph Valentino and Carmel Myers. Two reels. This re-issued and revamped Universal feature makes an acceptable two reel tiller and will doubtless draw the ladies if properly advertised. Stress the fact that Rodolph Valentino, the handsome man of the screen, is the principal figure, although in the original story Miss Myers w-as the central attraction. There's good photography, excellent titling and the whole is tinted beautifully throughout. The story revolves around a poor girl who is informed she is of noble lineage. She rescues a wealthy society man from the surf and falls in love with him. Jim Cox, her burly fisher lad lover, attempts to kidnap her but young Bradley saves her and marries her. The action is brisk and there are ample closeups of Valentino. Williams Goes to K. C. J. D. Williams, of the Ritz Carlton Pictures, was in Chicago last Tuesday, registered at the Blackstone. He left Wednesday for Kansas City and will go from there to the coast.