The Film Daily (1922)

THE -;x/K. DAILY Tuesday, October 10, Coast Brevities (Special to THE FILM DAILY) Hollywood, Calif. — A new administration building will be built for Charles Ray Prods., of ornate Spanish type nnining 200 feet on Sunset Drive and 100 feet on Commonwealth Ave. This is to be the first unit of a continuous series of buildings encircling the Ray properties. The next Christie comedy starring Xeal Burns will be "Ocean Swells." Irving Reis will photograph "Mud and Sand." Wallace Worsley will direct Wallace Reid in his next Paramount production, "Nobody's Money." Lambert Hillyer has started the filming of "A'liles Brewster and the Super-Sex," by Frank R. Adams. Wanda Hawley will be leading woman with Wallace Reid in "Nobody's Money," diricted by Wallace W'orsley. Cast of B. P. Schulberg's "Are You a I-"ailure?" will include Tom Santschi, Hardee Kirkland and Lloyd Hughes. James Clemens is assisting Scott Sidney direct "Hazel from Hollywood," a Christie c(jmedy featuring Dorothy Devore. Featuring Bobby Vernon, "Choose Your Weapons," Christie comedy, will include Charlotte Stevens, Earl Rodney, Victor Rodman, Lincoln Plumer and Maude Truax in the cast. John Jasper, builder of Hollywood Studios, Inc., has re-entered production field. On his coming trip to New York he will make arrangements for filming five special productions, it is announced. Arthur .Sawyer has acquired screen rights for Willard Mack's "The Rat," a vaudeville sketch. Film title will be "Your Friend and Mine." Clarence G. Badger will direct. Winifred Dunn is adapting. Lambert Hillyer is directing "Miles Brewster and the Super-sex," from Frank R. Adams' story, for distribution by American Releasing Corp. Charlotte Pierce, Gertrude Claire, Lydia Knott, Tully Marshall and Kenneth Gibson are in the csat. Bebe Daniels and Lewis Stone, who with Kathlyn Williams and Harrison Ford, are featured in the new Wm. de Mille Paramount picture, "Paths of Glory," are playing together for the first time in 10 years. The previous occurrence took place when Miss Daniels was a child actress. Principals in Cecil B. De Mille's next Paramount production, as yet unnamed, will be Milton Sills, Elliott Dexter, Theodore Kosloflf, Anna Q. Nilsson and Paul Gordon. Supporting cast W'ill include Clarence Geldart, Lucien Littlefield, Robert Brower and Kalla Pasha. Story and scenario by Jeanie Macpherscn. H. E. GAUSMAN. Newspaper Opinions "The Old Homestead"— F. P.-L. Capitol TIMES— They've applied the directorial skill of James Cruze, tlie acting abilities of Theodore Roberts, George Fawcett, T. Roy Barnes and quite a number of others, and all the technical facilities of the Paramount Studio to Dennian Thompson's ancient melodrama. "The Old Homestead," and of course they have a photoplay of many fine points and considerable popular appeal as a result. • ♦ • Then the storm comes. And you sit tjp in your seat. It blows and it rains. Trees, houses, people, vehicles — the screen is a whirl of them. You see the storm as a whole, and separate parts of it. Vou see it all and every detail of it. And it is about the most complete and conscientiously destructive storm ever shown on the screen. As a piece of cinematograpliy in itself, regardless of the story and everything else, it is thrilling. TRIBUNE— "Way Down East" has its snowstorm but "The Old Homestead" has its hurricane, and it makes the ending of that stage classic quite as exciting as the Griffith picture. • * * WORLD — This is a sturdy, workmanlike film version of a great old melodrama. Mr. Lasky selected a cast that could not have gone wrong in it. Theodore Roberts is the only real Uncle Joshua we know of in pictures. * * * It takes its place in the middle ground as a picture. DAILY NEWS— Whether or not yoy have ever been on a farm, you really ought to go to see "The Old Homestead* as put into motion pictures by James Cruze and the Paramount forces. All the sentimental things that have ever been written or sung about being down on the farm, and the old home and cows and chickens, have been crowded into this film. • ♦ ♦ The loig thrill is supplied by the storm, and, let us tell you, it is some storm. HERALD— "The Old Homestead" in pictures moves with such speed that it seems like the name of an express train rather than a famous melodrama. Here is none of the deliberate pace of the average b'gosh play but rather the tempo of a CJeorge M. Cohan musical comedy. MORNING TELEGRAPH — "The Old Homestead" promises to be one of the most successful audience-getters of the year. Technically, and from the standpoint of cast, it has nearly attained perfection in spite of a well worn rural narrative. EVE, WORLD— It doesn't jar a single illusion loose. "The Old Homestead" in film form is just as good, if not a deal better, than it was as a play. Who can ask more? MAIL— "The Old Homestead" is a well rn'gh perfect picture. It comes very near being the great American picture. It tells a story of life and scenes that are characteristically and distinctly American, but more than this, it is huinan and cannot but strike a responsive chord in every one who sees it. Its people are genuine, human folks, playing the drama of life, accepting the good and the evil as it comes, ready to laugh when laughter beckons or meet affliction in the dark liours. JOURNAL — The play proves to be as diverting an entertainment as it must have been away back in the 80's when it broke all local theatrical records for long runs. '* * * The principal characters played with the simplicity that signifies great art and with a knowledge of expression and effect that registered every emotion. EVE. TELEGRAM— The original humor and pathos and characterizations have been carefully transmitted to the screen by a well chosen cast, POST — A picture which the entire family will enjoy. James Cruze, the director, has wisely directed "The Old Homestead," and furthermore has staged a remarkable driving wind and rain storm which, in excitement, equals anything of that nature done on the silversheet — yes, even the snowstorm of "Way Down East." "The Bond Boy"— First NationalStrand TIMES — It has its virtues. Henry King, as director, has made many genuine motion pictures, and Richard Barthelmess, as the poor country boy who is bound out to an old skinflint and later accused of his murder, is true to his part and often arouses a responsive sympathy in the spectator. AMERICAN — All the advantages of the screen are undeniably attained in "The Bond Hoy." The picture has everything in its favor — -Richard Barthelmess, discriminate direction, emotional appeal and an entire lack of bromidic banality. • * ♦ the background of the Kentucky mountains ofifers an appropriate and picturesque setting for the dramatic situations. MORNING TELEGRAPH — Richard Barthelmess scores again in his latest contribution to the screen, decidedly so, for his 'The Bondboy" is without question one of the finest motion pictures produced in many moons. It is the finest kind of drama. There are touches of deep pathos, expertly acted scenes that tug at the heartstrings and just enougli of a let-up in bits of comedy to relieve the tenseness of the excellent story. "The Bondboy" is a decided credit to all concerned in its making. WORLD— In "The Bond Boy," Richard Barthelmess is a poor young farm hand who, though innocent, is convicted of murder on circumstantial evidence and who refuses to defend himself because by so doing he would blacken the name of a woman. He wears his usual get-up of oversize shoes and trousers. And he makes of his own character at times a rather movipg and human thing. HERALD— -One indelible impression that stands out is the scene showing young Joe Newbolt, wrongly condemned to death for murder, watching the shadow of the rope on the gallows. * * • King, who usually is able to surmount the commonplace methods of directing, manages to make his trial scenes realistic, occasionally amusing and supremely human, but he could have shortened this one by half a dozen sobs. EVE. WORLD— Richard Barthelmess is stepping gradually upward with each succeeding picture. "The Bond Boy" has reached heights that even he did not dream of. GLOBE— "The Bond Boy" is another "Tol'able David." * ♦ * "The Bond Boy" has hardly the richness of that -film from which it has drawn its inspiration, but is a good melodrama with plenty of human interest. If you do not grip your seat and pray for the success of that unhappy youngster you are a pretty hardened sort of film fan. MAIL — Here is a story that undoubtedly crontains real beings, and it is almost painfully true to the life with which it deals, and, as a portrayal of life, is worthy of attention. But there is an eternal depression in its atmosphere, always a hovering shadow, relieved by scarcely a ray of hope. * ♦ * Barthelmess is, of course, splendid in his interpretation of the boy's role. JOURNAL — If it were merely written that this is the finest work Richard Barthelmess has ever done, the statement would be the truth, but far from the whole truth. The actor revealed unguessed depths of sincerity and understanding and an aibility to portray emotion that was astounding. * * * Richard Barthelmess's work alone would have made it a splendid film. EVE. TELEGRAM— That excellent alliance, Richard Barthelmess, the star, and Henry King, the director, has outdone itself with the production of "The Bond Boy." SUN — Despite minor faults. Director Henry King has kept one more of his Southern stories on a very high level, and Barthelmess again gives a performance that entitles him to a place among the screen stars who hold the altitude record for lofty acting. POST — Richard Barthelmess does consistently good work before the camera. But ■'The Bond Boy ' is not a particularly good story ; it is true that it holds the interest of the spectator throughout, but this is due more to the acting of Mr. Barthelmess and two or three of the other principals than the series of events that go to make up the story. Winnipeg News Notes (Special to THE FILM DAILY). Winnipeg, Can. — W. S. Jones has resigned as manager for First National and is leaving for California. He is succeeded by W. H. Mitchell of Calgary. The Manitoba Exhibitors Asso. has secured action from the authorities of Winnipeg and neighboring municipalities limiting traveling carnivals to short engagements. THE YEAR' BEST ADVERTISIN OPPORTUNn 1923 FILMI YEAR BOOK Used Every D^ Throughout tl Coming Year E EXECUTIVES EXHIBITORS EDITORS CASTING DIRECTORS Everywhere Now in Preparatia I ■ -m I