Exhibitor's Trade Review (Sep-Nov 1921)

October 15, 1921 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW 1381 The News of the Week "Musketeers" Captivates Boston Hub City Press Critics Agree Latest Douglas Fairbanks Feature Is His Crowning Achievement — Big Opening at Selwyn Theatre There The heralded dignity and cold reserve of the Boston theatre audience was swept right out of the Commonwealth when Douglas Fairbanks' film production of The Three Musketeers had its first showing at the Selwyn Theatre there, according to United Artists. Boston newspaper articles proved to be just as earnest in their praise of the picture as a whole and the specific work of Mr. Fairbanks as did the theatre crowd. Without exception the critics placed The Three Musketeers at the top of anything Mr. Fairbanks yet has done, and among the best pictures that ever have been produced. "There have been those who have mourned at the decadence of the average American motion picture," writes the reviewer for the Boston Globe, "but the production of The Three Musketeers has proved beyond a doubt that the foreign producers can still learn a lot from Americans. "Douglas Fairbanks has made us a D'Artagnan as we would have him," says the critic of the Boston Transcript, "overquick with the sword and temper, slow to smile and quick to think. That Mr. Fairbanks would make a passable D'Artagnan none could doubt; that he could be for two hours the fiery young Gascon of Dumas' tale and not a clever actor assuming the trappings of a romantic part, is revelation itself. "Rarely have there been such hand-tohand encounters, while seldom has there been such sword-play and daring-do upon our placid screen. Swash-buckling days those were, and neither star nor director have lost one whit of them." F. H. Cushman in the Boston Telegram declares that The Three Musketeers on a whole is a work of which Mr. Fairbanks may "justly be proud," and goes on to say: "This plot has been embellished in order to afford opportunity for illustrating the many adventures of D'Artagnan, the Gascon, and his three companions, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, all of whom, as chosen members of the King's Guards, would rather fight than eat." "The Three Musketeers is the first costume picture made in this country that does not suffer by comparison with the similar pictures made abroad," says E. F. Harkins in the Boston Daily Advertiser. "The whirl of adventure and romance is perfected and symbolized in this new D'Artagnan as never before. This is by far the greatest of all the Fairbanks screen successes; a positive triumph for him as star and producer both." "No one can complain that this film lacks action," says Philip Hale in the Boston Herald. "Mr. Fairbanks is the romantic hero. Always good-natured except when his horse is laughed at, he kills his man gaily, makes love fervently, and is in every way a musketeer after Dumas' own heart." "In The Three Musketeers," says Edward H. Crosby in the Boston Post, "Mr. Fairbanks gives a novel and highly entertaining interpretation of the lad from Gascony, displaying those exciting and courageous traits, characteristic of men from that province. He is as agile as ever, even more so, and his sword combats are positively thrillers. It was a thoroughly enjoyable performance on the part of Mr. Fairbanks." "Douglas Fairbanks' work as D'Artagnan proves him an actor as well as a comedian," writes Katherine Lyons in the Boston Traveler. "The role of the dashing, swash-buckling swordsman suits him so perfectly it is easy to understand his ambition to play the part. "The Three Musketeers opened at the Selwyn Theatre for what should develop into a record run of packed houses," says Frieda Day in the Boston American. "This picture stands forth as a sign that there need be no fear of the foreign opposition on the screen." Martin Johnson's Jungle Picture Attracts Interest Unusually keen exhibitor interest is said to have been aroused by Martin Johnson's Jungle Adventures, the initial production of the Exceptional Pictures Corporation, which recently played a prerelease engagement at the Capitol Theatre, New York City, receiving the praise of metropolitan critics, including daily newspapers, weekly newspapers and the trade press. Telegrams and letters from exhibitors in every section of the United States are said to have been received at the offices of Exceptional Pictures requesting information regarding this unusual feature production and expressing the desire to book it at an early date. It is known that several of the largest national distributors are in consultation with Alexander Beyfuss, vice-president and general manager of Exceptional Pictures Corporation, at the present time, with the object of securing Jungle Adventures for release. THE SON OF WALLINGFORD Eight Pictures Announced by Gold wy II, Inc. Eight pictures are included in the second group of its fifth year product, soon to be released by Goldwyn Pictures Corporation. The group consists of Poverty of Riches, Will Rogers in A Poor Relation, Tom Moore in From the Ground Up, Max Linder in Be My Wife, The Grim Comedian, The Night Rose, with Lon Chaney, The Man from Lost River, with House Peters, and Vivian Martin in Pardon My French. These photoplays embrace a wide variety of subjects and treatment. Poverty of Riches, written by Leroy Scott and directed by Reginald Barker, is a drama of thwarted motherhood. Its cast includes Richard Dix. Leatrice Joy, John Bowers, Louise Lovely, Irene Rich, DeWitt C. Jennings, Dave Winter, Roy Laidlaw, John Cossar, Frankie Lee and Dorothy Hughes. Will Rogers has a role as the povertystricken inventor, Noah Vale, in A Poor Relation, adapted from Edward E. Kidder's famous stage comedy. The author of that classic American comedy himself states that Will Rogers' acting of the part is on a par with that of Sol Smith Russell, who created the role, and played it year after year all over the country. Clarence Badger directed. Tom Moore has been fitted by Rupert Hughes in his new comedy of an Irish immigrant who rises from ditch-digger to builder and contractor while a big skyscraper is being constructed, and who wins the daughter of the bankrupt builder. E. Mason Hopper directed, bringing out all the little human, humorous touches. Max Linder has another of his original and irresistible comedies in Be My Wife, written and directed by the star himself, distributed by Goldwyn. In the cast are Alta Allen, Caroline Rankin, Viola Daniels, Lincoln Stedman, Rose Dione and others, including "Pal," the dog actor. Vivian Martin has a farce comedy in Pardon My French, from Edwin Childs Carpenter's story of Polly in the Pantry. This is a Messmore Kendall production, directed by Sidney Olcott. In the cast are George Spink, Thomas Meegan, Nadine Beresford, Ralph Yearsly, Grace Studiford, Walter McEwen and Wallace Ray. The Grim Comedian, Frank Lloyd's production of a Rita Weiman original screen story, is a drama of life behind the scenes of New York theatrical life, with a cast including; Jack Holt, Phoebe Hunt. Gloria Hope, Bert Woodruff, Laura Lavarnie, Mae Hopkins, John Harron and Joseph J. Dowling. The Night Rose is a melodrama of adventure in the underworld life of San Francisco, written directly for the screen by Leroy Scott, famous for his stories of underworld life. Lon Chaney, Leatrice Joy, Cullen Landis, Jobn Bowers, Richard Tucker, "Lefty' Flynn, Mary Warren, John Cossar and Edythe Chapman head the cast. The Man from Lost River is a Katharine Newlin Burt original screen story of adventure in the forests of the Great Northwest. Frank Lloyd directed the picture. In the cast are House Peters, Fritzi Brunette, Allan Forrest, James Gordon, Monte Collins and Milla Davenport.