The Film Daily (1922)

THE Sunday, October 1, 1922 j2^ ammmma DAILY 17 Fair Jack London Production With Gutting Obvious "THE MOHICAN'S DAUGHTER" American Releasing Corp. DIRECTOR S. E. V. Taylor AUTHOR Jack London SCENARIO BY S. E. V. Taylor CAMERAMEN Oliver Marsh and Lester Lang AS A WHOLE Holds attention but sequences are too abrupt STORY Interesting Indian story, not entirely plausible but holds attention well DIRECTION. Satisfactory but seems to have been cut considerably PHOTOGRAPHY Generally good LIGHTINGS Some very artistic, others too dark PLAYERS Nancy Deaver very appealing, Saxon Kling and Nick Thompson give good performances EXTERIORS Beautiful INTERIORS Adequate CHARACTER OF STORY Half breed Indian girl accused of murder by jealous Indian suitor is rescued by white lover LENGTH OF PRODUCTION 4,700 feet This picturization of Jack London's story "Jees Uck" while probably losing somewhat in being trans, ferred to the screen still makes an interesting if somewhat improbable entertainment. The settings which have been taken on the shores of Lake Champlain and in the surrounding forests are very beautiful. Although the story is obviously movie-stufif, and the introduction of an adventuress entirely unnecessary, the picture holds the attention all the way through. Miss Deaver has been well-cast in the role of the half-breed girl and gives a very appealing performance. Nick Thompson is a satisfactory villain and Saxon Khng as the white lover does good work. There is a counter-plot that is unnecessary and unconvincing and could easily have been omitted, and the picture has evidently been cut considerably thus losing much of its smoothness. Some of the sequences are quite abrupt. However the story holds the attention well until the very end. Then, instead { showing the action of the climax, a title is used to explain, leaving the audience somewhat bewildered by the sudden turn of events. The Indian atmosphere, while somewhat theatrical is by far the most attractive point in the picture. Story : Jees Uck, half-breed Indian girl is accused by a jealous chieftain of murdering the tribe's medicine-man. She flees to her white lover at the trading camp for protection. When the tribe attacks the post, she misinterprets the presence of an intriguing white woman and surrenders herself to the tribe. Her lover follows and getting into the chief's tent by a ruse, finds evidence of his guilt in the murder and delivers him to the authorities. Use Jack London's Name for Your Strongest Appeal Box Office Analysis for the Exhibitor Those who like Jack London's stories will undoubtedly be drawn to this if you feature it as a picturization of his story, "Jees Uck." It is probable that a great many people have read "The Sea Wolf" or "John Barleycorn" who have not read "Jees Uck," and a display of his name will get their attention. There is a good cast that you can feature and if your crowd likes this sort of thing it will not be misled by the title. You can certainly make promises for the locations as some are splendid. A good comedy would help in case they don't care for the feature, and otherwise build up the rest of your program.