The Film Daily (1922)

THE Sunday, April 23, 1922 ■^!^ DAILV 17 Unoriginal Story Keeps "The Truthful Liar" in the Average Glass Wanda Hawley in "THE TRUTHFUL LIAR" Realart — Paramount DIRECTOR Thomas Heffron AUTHOR Will Payne SCENARIO BY Percy Heath CAMERAMAN William Collins AS A WHOLE Gets oflf to slow start though enters into fairly suspensive murder mystery but misses the punch STORY Not an original screen plot by any means but supplies an adequate part for the star DIRECTION Should have exercised more care in preventing anti-climax which causes remainder of story to drag PHOTOGRAPHY Satisfactory LIGHTINGS All right STAR Suitable in the part SUPPORT E. A. Warren in minor character part gives the best performance ; Edward Hearn not important as leading man; others Casson Ferguson, Lloyd Whitlock, George Seigmann and Charles Stevenson EXTERIORS Few INTERIORS Suffice DETAIL Ample CHARACTER OF STORY Young wife gets into all kinds of trouble trying to hide from her husband facts about her visit to a gambling house. LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,243 feet Wanda Hawley didn't get an altogether original story when Will Payne's "The Truthful Liar" was selected. The press sheet claims it is Payne's first story written directly for the screen. Even though the ])iece doesn't contain situations that distinguish it very much from some other screen plays, it might have pro vided a slightly better entertainment through a little more careful direction. It is permitted to reach an anti-climax too early in the story and thus the interest in the remaining sequences is not as strong as it might otherwise have been. Even though the director has created a fair suspense in the murder mystery episode, it is not sufficient to make up for the damage done by an inopportune anti-climax. The identity of the murderer is not so carefully concealed from the spectator in spite of the suspicion which the director tries to cast on both the heroine and her former suitor. The actions of the Italian and his Sicilian sign of vengeance indicate that he intends killing Potts, a political crook. Too much time is used to reach the main climax, which consists of a series of blackmailing incidents which finally culminate in a murder in which the heroine is involved. There is an illogical twist in which the Italian exposes himself to capture by carrying out the blackmail planned by the man he killed. But it provides the proof for the heroine's acquittal and the happy ending. Wanda Hawley will please her admirers in the role of Tess Haggard and she is assisted by a capable supporting compan)r with E. A. Warren giving the outstanding performance as Peter Vanetti, the Italian. Story : Tess Haggard amuses herself in the absence of her husband by running around with her friends, among whom are Arthur Sinclair, Tess' former suitor, hated by her husband for that reason. Tess persuades Arthur to take her to Steffen's gambling place for a lark. Gunmen raid the place but the police interfere. The jewelry collected is taken to headquarters. The commissioner, a friend of Tess' uncle, sends the jewels to her house for her to identify hers. Meantime Haggard has come home. They quarrel and Haggard orders Arthur out of the house. This is only the beginning of the many complications which are finally cleared and Tess and her husband made happy. Will Do if They Are Not Too Fussy and Like the Star Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Some careful cutting in the early reels would benefit the picture greatly and speed uj) the action so that it would ofifer a more sustained interest than it does in its present shape. The murder mystery is the main situation, but it is shoved quite into the background by the unnecessary footage accorded the less important incidents such as the sequence dealing with the rings. "The Truthful Liar," on the whole, is an average offering and as such will do about average business. The story is not big enough for anything better. Should the star happen to have a following in your neighborhood you might find it will go very well. The title is fairly attractive and can be effectively exploited with catchlines. Posters and stills will help.