The Film Daily (1922)

THE j2^ DAILY Sunday, July 16, 1922 Star Has Dual Role in Unconvincing Production Clara Kimball Young in "THE WORLDLY MADONNA" Equity — State Rights DIRECTOR Harry Garson AUTHOR Sada Cowan SCENARIO BY Sada Cowan CAMERAMAN Arthur Edeson AS A WHOLE Unconvincing drama saved by good work on part of star. Well directed and staged STORY Does not ring true. Situations forced and overdone DIRECTION Good. Allows star full freedom but fails to gain very much sympathy for her PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS Good STAR Carries entire production by playing dual role. Does good work but is hampered by questionable story SUPPORT Includes William P. Carleton, Richard Tucker and George Hackathorne EXTERIORS . . . ., Fair INTERIORS Good DETAIL Satisfactory CHARACTER OF STORY Nun takes sister's place and goes to jail for her. Contrast of cabaret and convent life LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 5,600 feet "The Worldly Madonna" has lots of good acting, strong drama, contrast and all the other elements that go to make an appealing production, but the story fails to convince and the star gains little sympathy for herself. Clara Kimball Young plays a dual role. In the first part of the production she takes the part of a cabaret dancer and drug fiend. Then to avoid imprisonment she changes places with her sister, a nun. When the man, whom she thought she killed, recovers she leaves the convent and allows her sister to return to the veil. Such a character as this can gain very little sympathy from an average audience. The character of the self sacrificing nun, who is the real heroine is also a little unconvincing. It is questionable whether a nun would impersonate her sister so far as to appear in cabaret for her. This is stretching it a bit too far. In the end of the story the guilty sister repents and marries her lover, but there is nothing to show that she freed herself of the drug habit. Two shootings occur in the opening scenes and you are led to believe that both men are killed. The situations that follow depend upon this, but in the end you find that both men have recovered and because of this none is guilty. Another weak point in the story is the amount of deception employed. The girl pretends that she is' a nun while her sister, the real nun, deceives all into believing that she is the dancer. The hero believes that the nun is his sweetheart and so does the villain. The good work that the star does in this complicated dual role is entirely overshadowed by the weakness in the story. Director Garson has done as well as could be expected with this material. He has allowed the star a good deal of play, but has failed to place her in a sympathetic light. The photography and supporting cast are good. Story : Lucy, a dancer, shoots her lover in a quarrel and escapes to the convent where her sister is a nun. Here she changes clothes with her sister Janet and plays the part of a nun while Janet returns to town and goes to prison for the shooting-. The nian recovers and Lucy is welcomed back to the cabaret where she is forced to sing. Then both appear to save the lover ; and all is explained. The Star's Name Is Your Best Drawing Card Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor It all depends upon how well Clara Kimball Youngstands with your patrons. If she is popular in your vicinity then you can safely run this one. Her admirers will be glad to see her regardless of the story. You can safely promise some good acting but do not say very much about the story or they may be disappointed. Mention the cabaret scenes and the convent shots but it might be well to cut out the scenes showing the star smoking in the convent. They are likely to ofifend those of Catholic faith. Mention some of the star's former releases if you have played them and use the posters and stills. The use of a trailer and slides may help attract.