The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Apr-Jun 1922)

April 22, 1922. THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. 43 COMFORT BROWN—FAIRY GODMOTHER. Peerless Paramount Picture in which Child Actress Plays Winsomely. Humour, Introduced by Semi-Dickensian Characters, relieves Pathos in ‘“‘A Prince There Was.” NE ot the secrets of writing a play in which patios his nolarge part is so to introduce humour that the plas is lightened and yet the pathetic appeal is left intact. In cA Prince There Was." a filtn trade this week, the interplay of himuour and pathos is delicately effect, and just as the Paramount shown to the alternated with excellent situation is reached bringing a thrill, the introduction of an unexpected hit of comedy disperses the clouds and brings sunshine avain. A MODERN FAIRY STORY. The film is a) fairy inuch more apt than that of Enehanted Hearts,” which the film is based. Thomas Meighan is the fairy prince, who vas? Mr. Prince, rescues Katherine Woods (Mildre <l title is the novel story modernised, and thus its pon Harris) from ber unsuecessful story writing, which she las taken up following upon her father’s ruin and death, and (a really deliehtfal touch) the fairy vedmother is Comfort Brown, the litte orphan drudge whom Mrs. Prouty, Watherine Woods’ handhudy, slaves and scolds carly nnd date. ‘Pho actress who takes this part is a priceless iittle figure, never over-acting in an) situation, asd this film will from which she is absent. looking Interest cn audience witnessing be continually return in Will centre upon her to the eclipsing of the grown-up actors. tor Ter scenes ‘“MR. PRINCE.” Mr. Prince "is at) first Charles Mdward Martin, a wealthy young American, the ** Manhattan Magazine." whom his) friend Janek Carruthers, editor of calls upon after the former's return Prixce THEre Was." From “A SCENE “You used to be aw prince before you took that on,’ remarks his friend. Come and be max assistant editor.’ He tron Europe and remonstrates with for his inebricty. = You want to rough it. Digitized by Goc gle shall When appears the fairy gedmother 7’ has not decided whether or no he aceept. Jack's offer expecting to find there Jack Carruthers to intercede tor Katherine unknown to her, in order that a rejected story might be vecepted, With attractive artlessnoss she responds to Martin’s invitation to enter, and takes off her furs (a mangy strip around her neck) with all the languid atfectedness of the grown-ups whom she has met in the boarding-house. Having head herestors, Martin decides to become Jack's assistant oditor and imove inte the boarding He insists that he shall be known as ot Mr. Prince.” and Comtort is to keep the louse to know more of Katherine Woods. secret. (She, too, has called him a tairy prince.) BOARDING-HOUSE AMENITIES. The dinner tible at Mrs. Prouty’s provides attractive comedy until Comfort stumbles with a plate and exmns Mis. Prouty’s ~ Mr. Told to pay her rent or vo. Katherine is in despair, but execrations and Watherine’s acd Prince's"? sympathy. “Mr. Prince “ bays her rejected story for 500 doliars (Quuch to Carruther’s amnmoyanee), and a romantic affair springs up between thei. Discovering that ** Prince "is Martin, and believing that his market operations have ruined her father, she spurns him, only becoming reconciled on hearing from Bland, Martin's ex-valet, that lie is not to blume. and that only she ean redeem ina from his old vices *t The fairy wodmother “is taken from her drab surroundings. and the picture ends: somewhat abruptly --with a children’s birthday party with a piebald pony as Com fort's present. A TOUCH OF DICKENS. The minor characters in the play keep the comedy going in Bland, “the perfect: valet,’” whose lite is all packing and unpacking: Mars. Prouty, stout and master quiet though effective style. ful. tarelenting when her rent is not fortheoming, soft and ‘t ear“when times are better with Natherine: and quaint, old Cricket, an neving Mr. national Taw; unsuccessful lawyer and an expert on inter. these three impart something of a Dickens ati sphere. “A Prince wud part, but suceeeds more than many There Was 7 does not pretend to ernndioseness in a play conceived on a that is at all participants are always Inore pretentious seale, There is no situation strained to produce an effect. and the Added on to another with great ease, and the result isa kind of rhythm acting well within their scope. to this, one scene leads Winch Will make this picture attractive to an audience and a good thing for any exhibitor, °° Little Peaches’ Jaekson will win her way into mans a heart. Arthis Atehurth Hall Road. Liverpool, for a kinematowaph dicenee in respect of a Pala Oxton at residential quarter of Birkenh: ad An application on belialt of Sidwell. of proposed — kinema in Grove, better celass Was timed down “by the borough magistrates last week. The proposed site is at preset occupied by premises belonging to the Oxton Carriage Co, Original from NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY