The Film Daily (1922)

THE 14 ■^m OAILV Sunday, October 1, 1922 More Old Fashioned Melodrama With Regulation Hokum \ "DESERTED AT THE ALTAR" Phil Goldstone— State Rights DIRECTOR WiUiam K. Howard AUTHOR Grace Miller White SCENARIO BY Not credited CAMERAMAN Glen McWilliams AS A WHOLE As meller as they come; will please a certain crowd but won't do everywhere STORY Just about what you would expect from the title ; some good human interest stuff but no original situations DIRECTION Fair; some bits are very good; ordinary production PHOTOGRAPHY Good LIGHTINGS All right PLAYERS Work hard with roles that are quite unconvincing; Bessie Love appealing and Frankie Lee an old-fashioned kid ; Wililam Scott a fair hero; TuUy Marshall and Wade Boteler the villains EXTERIORS Fine shots INTERIORS Regulation sets DETAIL Stressed at times CHARACTER OF STORY Girl's guardian frames a case against her fiancee when she refuses to marry guardian's son who is anxious to share the fortune the girl will inherit LENGTH OF PRODUCTION About 7,000 feet "Deserted at the Altar" is just another meller with the regulation plotting and scheming usually found in the type of melodrama represented in Pierce Kingsley's stage play adapted from the book by Grace Miller White. The picture oiTers entertainment only for a certain crowd, those who are satisfied with improbable situations and the usual melodramatic hokum. The producer hasn't spent, very much on it and the director has not been extravagant. He provides an adequate cast and some excellent locations but otherwise his efforts are mediocre. There are a few good touches that make up the human interest side of the story and will undoubtedly appeal to a good many. The shot showing the school teacher's recollection of her girlhood romance is a good touch. She is shown riding the now out-of-date tandem with her beau, the present villain of the story. This offers one of the feature's humorous touches and the school room sequence is another that may get some laughs even though the same thing has been used before. Director Howard has used nearly two reels too much in telling the story. The climax especially is long . drawn out and almost tedious in its length. It is ob \ vious all the way that the hero and heroine will be happily brought together at the close and it's just a matter of waiting around for the ending. The lynching sequence is very .much out of place and a highly improbable twist. It isn't likely that any city fellow would remain in a small town long enough after having a case framed against him to permit the townspeople to lynch him. Bessie Love is a rather appealing heroine but she looks far too clever to allow her scheming guardian to put anything over on her. Frankie Lee will win the audience as her brother and the remainder of the cast is more or less well suited. It includes William Scott, Wade Boteler, TuUy Marshall, Barbara Tennant and Eulalie Jensen. Story: A squire and his son plot to steal the inheritance of the squire's ward and her brother Tommy. The boy is injured by an automobile owned by a city fellow who pays the doctor's bill and falls in love with the boy's sister. This spoils the squire's plan for his son to marry the girl, so he hires a woman to present -, herself as the hero's deserted wife and prevent the marriage ceremony. Eventually the woman, in reality the deserted sweetheart of the squire's son, tells the truth and the lovers are happily reunited. Will Probably Do Business Where They Like This Kind Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Once more it is up to you to decide whether or not you want this feature. And it depends entirely upon the class of people you cater to and the type of picture that appeals to the largest majority. If they like melodrama you will undoubtedly satisfy them with "Deserted at the Altar." It will not do for big first runs nor even the better neighborhood houses where they want original stories and good entertainment. In the proper localities the picture will probably do good business. The title will bring them in and it can be boosted by stunt exploitation or catchlines, although it is sufficiently explicit in itself without further explanation. Bessie Love's name might be mentioned. She is the best known player in the cast.