The Film Daily (1922)

VHE H 4 DAILY Tuesday, June 6, 1922 Newspaper Opinions "Stroke of Midnight"— Metro Criterion HERALD—* * * The picture has all of the Scandinavian predilection for the weird and the spectral, the brooding impulse to rub elbows with death. * * * Seastrom gives a remarkable study of the ne'er do well. N. Y. WORLD—* * * A composite of "Christmas Carol," "Salvation Nell" and "The Wages of Sin." ♦ * ♦ Not a smile from start to finish. * * * For those who like their tragedy straight ♦ * * this is the cinema perfect. Better acting never was seen on the American screen." * « * TIMES — * * * The Swedish company and Mr. Seastrom have taken a theme which has been done hundreds of times by others * * * and they have made it live as a story on the screen. » * • Sometimes its continuity is broken — it has been badly edited for American circulation ♦ ♦ * but except where you are forced to make a mental jump, it takes you from scene to scene convincingly. * * * Spiritistic scenes employ double exposure, of cpurse, and, for the most part, they are strikingly effective. * * * SUN — * * * A searching but sombre study. * * * It is worthy of observation by the discerning— which doesn't mean that one has to be a doctor or a psycho-analyst to find it interesting. Victor Seastrom * * * acts the role of the vagabond with pungent intensity. * * * JOURNAL — The great and perhaps only attraction of "The Stroke of Midnight" at the Criterion theater is the excellent acting of its four principal players, * * ♦ From its opening scene in a murderer's cell to its closing view of a desolate hovel, "The Stroke of Midnight" is morbid. TELEGRAM—* * * A remarkably absorbing film drama. * ♦ » The foreign aspect of the picture lends an additional appeal to this remarkable film. * * * EVENING WORLD—* * * A thriller * * * If we ever were tempted to do a Walter Camp and name an All-Swedish Movie Team, we'd cast our unanimous vote for "The Stroke of Midnight." MAIL — * * * A grewsome film, morbid in theme and introducing a grizzly ghost passage that does not contribute any merriment to the occasion, though this self-same episode is the most interesting portion of the film. "Domestic Relations"— First Nat'l Strand HERALD—* * * Miss MacDonald always looks lovely. • * ♦ Allows a subordinate actress, Miss Barbara La Mar, to be pretty also. William P. Carleton, Jr., shows a good understanding of the character of the judge. * * * N. Y. WORLD— The cinema booby prizes for 1922 to date go to the author and producer and title writer. * * * But with Katherine MacDonald and her company there is no fault to be found They did their best. « * * AMERICAN— Katherine MacDonald is admirable in the film. William P. Carleton, as the judge, gives a satisfactory performance. * * * TRIBUNE—* * * Not Miss MacDonald's fault that she was not a success. She continues to be the most beautiful and gracious star on the screen, and even John Barrymore can boast no more distinguished profile. But the picture itself, "Domestic Relations," IS one of the most unnecessary things we have seen. * * * MORNING TELEGRAPH—* * * Miss MacDonald does what is probably some of the best work of her screen career in this * * * She has been well directed by Chet Withey, who should be credited with doing wonders with a none too original story. The star is given good support. * ♦ « POST — * * * The lesson actually conveyed is that the husbands and wives of this production are totally lacking in that saving grace known as a sense of humor. * ♦ * As far as the ability to act is concerned. Miss Katherine MacDonald, one fears, is starred because of her beauty. SUN — * * * The interesting experiment is tried of running two parallel sets of problem plays side by side, and yet so ably have they been directed by Chet Withey that despite the repetition one is almost as interested in their wind up as in the usual neck and neck finish. Miss MacDonald plays agreeably. * # « JOURNAL — Katherine MacDonald, the star in "Domestic Relations." * * * is to be forgiven for past trifles. * * ♦ she vindicates herself admirably in her latest contribution. * Written in romantic TELEGRAM ^in * * * MAIL — * * * The film despite its excellent cast, * * * is uninspiringly done and lacks real punch. But Katherine MacDonald is always beautiful, which is all that is required of her in this picture. Another for Linton of Utica (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Utica, N. Y.— W. H. Linton has announced that he will construct a new house here on Lafayette St. The plans call for a 1,800 seat theater. Linton has been operating the Hippodrome here since 1915 and also controls the Linton and Hippodrome in Little Falls and the Richmond in Herkimer. Theater for Dallastown, Pa. (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Dallastown, Pa. — Augustas Wagman and Roman Wagman will construct a theater here on Main St. To Add to Cleveland Chain (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Cleveland — B. C. Steele who was formerly with the Lucier in Lakewood has joined the Penn Square and Terminal. In the near future two or three houses will be added to this chain and Nolan will have full charge of the circuit. Canton, O. House Remodeled (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Canton, O. — The Alhambra has been remodeled to seat 950. The Kessler Theater Co. operates it. Buy Second Centralia Theater (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Centralia, 111.— C. W. Hall and associates in the Illinois have purchased the Grand and closed it for the season. It will probably reopen in the Fall. Fox, Kempson's St. Louis Manager (Special to THE FILM DAILY) St. Louis — R. H. Fox of Chicago is here to represent Kempson Pictures in this territory. Building in Corvallis, Ore. (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Corvallis, Ore. — Work on a new theater to be erected on Madison St. by Whiteside brothers, has been resumed and will be rushed with the expectation of completing the structure by fall. Topeka House in New Hands (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Topeka, Kans. — The Best is now under the management of Lee Wykoff, and Chester Hays. Take Over Holyoke House (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Holyoke, Mass. — With the acquisition of the Strand, which Goldstein Bros, took over recently, their chain now numbers 15 theaters. A new company, known as the Holyoke Theater, Inc., composed of Samuel Goldstein, president; Charles E. Macintosh, vice-president; Nathan Goldstein, treasurer, is operating the house as the G. B. Strand. 1 For truthful reproductive quality use EASTMAN POSITIVE FILM You can't play real music on an instrument with two strings — neither can you reproduce the full quality of your negative with only highlights and shadows. You need the full range of Eastman Positive Film halftones that carry quality through to the screen. Eastman Film, both regular and tinted base is identifiable throughout its entire length by the words "Eastman" "Kodak" stenciled in black letters in the transparent film margin. EASTMAN KODAK Rochester, N.Y. co: Know What's Going On Subscribe to THE FILM DAILY Now The Film Daily 71 West 44th St., New York City Kindly enter my subscription to The Film Daily for one year, starting immediately, to include THE FILM DAILY— 313 Issues— Every Day Including Weekly Reviews — 52 Issues 1921 Year Book— Cloth Bound— 500 pages Subscription, $10 — Foreign, $15 Name Address Theatre