The Film Daily (1922)

THE Sunday, March 26, 1922 3^^ DAILV Poor Story Hampers Star and Direction Wanda Hawley in "BOBBED HAIR" Realart — Paramount DIRECTOR Thomas N. Heffron AUTHOR Hector Turnbull SCENARIO BY Harvey Thew CAMERAMAN William E. Collins AS A WHOLE Mildly entertaining feature with Greenwich Village art atmosphere STORY Rambling and not original. Depends upon the titles to explain the action DIRECTION Not up to feature standard PHOTOGRAPHY Straight work. Some nice locations LIGHTINGS All clear STAR Handicapped by lack of material and thin story SUPPORT Adequate EXTERIORS Good INTERIORS All right DETAIL Fair CHARACTER OF STORY Girl craves romance and joins an artist's colony where they read poetry and talk about the moon. After a few days of this kind of humbug she is ready to return to her business man fiance LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,491 feet Director Heffron was given a big order when he was asked to make a full length feature out of this story, that at best would only have made a two reel comedy, and even then it would have lacked action. For this reason every detail had to be stretched to its limit, every situation had to be milked dry and pushed to its farthest point and plenty of hokum slipped in to till the gaps. Wanda Hawley tries hard to carry-on but is seriously handicapped by lack of material. The title does not seem particularly suitable even though at one time Wanda clips her curls. The story does not enter into^the bobbed hair problem but merely includes it as part of the artist's colony uniform, which also includes Grecian smocks and sandals. No further reference to the bobbing occurs in the production excepting that the cut hair in the waste basket gives a clue to the hero. The climax comes where the romance seeking girl discovers that the fat poet in Grecian robes is a married man and has two children. Resenting the fact that he made love to her she is cured of art and high I)ro\v poetry and is ready for the clinch with her business man lover. Many wordy titles are scattered throughout the picture and help clog the action and delay the situations. In the cast William P. Carleton plays the role of the futuristic poet and William Boyd the part of the young matter-of-fact banker. The players include Adele Farrington, Leigh Wyant and Ethel Wales. The story opens showing the romantic young girl grfeatly impressed by the splendor of the moon and because her lover does not see it the same way as she does, she rejects his engagement ring and seeks seclusion in her room. Her aunt, angered by this move, locks her in, but she escapes through the window and joins her chum in the artist's colony. Here a poet, who by the way is the only male member of the colony, holds daily communion with the muses and is idolized by the girls. The heart sick girl meets him on the l:)each and love follows until she discovers that he is married. In the meantime her true lover has followed her and is ready to take her home. Use the Star's Name But Make No Promises Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor The title will attract and the star has quite a following and her name should be used in announcing this production. If your audience is average and not too critical you can probably please a good majority with this one. But it is not very likely that it will satisfy a discriminating public. The picture contains some comedy bits that can stand talking about. Just mention those which you think your people will like but don't make a fuss about it and be careful not to promise too much in the way of an entertainment. You can also mention some of the star's former productions, "Her Sturdy Oak," "A Kiss in Time" and "Too Much Wife." Stills of the star and an attractive lobby display should help interest them. A catchline might read : "If 3-ou are thinking of bobbing your hair better see the picture first. Wanda Hawley will play in 'Bobbed Hair' at the blank theater."